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Max has sprung a leak - front of the motor, looks like behind the waterpump.

Time for replacement job by the looks.

It is also recommended to do the timing belt at the same time isn't it??? (194Kkm on the clock).

Any tips, tricks, or traps for new players when undertaking this particular task?

You'd be crazy not to do the timing belt at the same time.

Do the timing belt, water pump, crank seal and cam seals.
You can do it yourself in a day if you have the right tools and parts.

If it is your only car then get the crank timing gear. In my car I had to destroy it to get it off, so it may be useful to have one handy.

U.S. forum probably has all the answers UA. Good luck with the job. Call if I can be of any help.

JBT wrote:U.S. forum probably has all the answers UA. Good luck with the job. Call if I can be of any help.

Will ALWAYS accept help in exchange for beer, and meat. Have BBQ - will char.

Brisbane project day lads??? Any takers?

Saturday and Wednesday mornings are no good for me. Any other time is OK with notice. Sunday 18 June is no good.

I can help out on the weekend, though not this weekend. I've taken the front gear off of my motor many times so I'm happy to help out.

As for advice - everyone else has beaten me to it. Get the timing belt and water pump gaskets + the water pump at a minimum. Permatex gasket maker is also very useful. Crank seal... if you feel like doing it you may as well. It's an opportune time.

Thanks JBT - Sabre - Would love the assistance - will avoid it this weekend, so will tentatively mark in the following Saturday morning?

I'll have a good look at it and do some diagnosis this weekend. I also have a Mazdaspeed LSD to be rebuilt, so if I get my act together, I might look to reinstall it on the same weekend.

I'll PM you for details/address etc. Let me know if you prefer any particular brew. If there happens to be motor racing on TV on the same weekend, then it's a perfect excuse to have the TV on in the workshop.

Cheers.

Uncle Arthur wrote:Thanks JBT - Sabre - Would love the assistance - will avoid it this weekend, so will tentatively mark in the following Saturday morning?

Ummmm, UA, I can't help on Saturday mornings or Wednesday mornings as per my previous post. Saturday from lunch o'clock is OK though.

That's fine JBT - will probably take the greater part of the morning (given a reasonable start time around 10am ish, so an afternoon stint is still a fine offer for you to make.

Either way - I'll confirm details of what looks like being required after this weekend when I start to have a better look at where the problem sems to lie (really hard to see without taking the sump tray out yet).....

Give me a hoy Mikey,

Malibu is getting close to needing this done (120,000kms now), so I could be up for a drive. I do owe you a big visit anyway!


Jules

Well guys,

Half the job ended up getting done yesterday- what started out as I'll just start pulling things apart to see where it is leaking is now at the stage of intake off, camcover off, timing belt disconnected (but not fully removed - held on with two bulldog clips to retain the timing), bolts undone butwater pump still in place, and front of engine degreased......

Water pouring out of the back of the waterpump, so it needs to go.

Next Saturday I will complete the job.....

Replace water pump
Replace crank seal
(not touching cam seals at this point)
Replace timing belt
Rebuild it.
Test it
Smile or cry

So Jules - you're more than welcome to come up and we can do the timing belt - I have all the necessary tools now, except for the DIY tool that you need to use to reattach the crank bolt.

Sabre/JBT- your offer of help is welcomed.

Hegzie - feel free to drop by - check out Jules' malibu and show off the 'zaust note.

Cost?

About $390 for parts and tools including
-waterpump ($180)
-crank seal ($20)
-timing belt ($80)
-oil filter ($10)
-oil ($31)
-sikaflex formagasket ($10)
-1/2 inch long handle socket driver (for crank bolt) ($15)
-torque wrench ($40)
-coolant ($5)

And I'm blinging things in the process as well.

Such progress UA
Can do in the afternoon. I have a torque wrench. Do you have to replace the crank seal?

JBT wrote:Such progress UA
Can do in the afternoon. I have a torque wrench. Do you have to replace the crank seal?

That budget is what I already SPENT on Saturday afternoon between REPCO and Stupidcheap!!! I suppose as the guy at REPCO pointed out, I'd be paying all that PLUS labour at MAZDA.

I don't necessarily HAVE to do the crank seal, but with nearly 200K on the motor it makes sense to do it..... and I'd hate to have to pull it all apart again in 6 months for a job I could do now.

Speaking of tools to do the job - Sabre - do you have the DIY or other tool to use to hold the crank in place while reattaching the crank bolt?

Second - what's the recommended way to remove and to replace the crank seal?