I just had my timing belt changed by the dealer (finally at 83,000 miles). I would have done it myself, but the cost of tools I don't have, plus no space to do it, made it more feasible to pay someone to do it. The engine runs much quieter (it sounded like a diesel) and smoother now. However, there were some problems the dealer found...

First is the engine mount. It is the big one that suspends the belt-side of the engine. I suspected one of them was broken because the engine jerks so much on throttle-off, but wasn't sure because of the jerking problem associated with 3rd gen's. Anyways, this mount is totally collapsed and requires replacing. Since this mount is so weak (I can't believe it can even support the weight of the engine... a pair of 1/8 inch thick very soft rubber disks!), I want to replace it with a polyurethane (or similar) mount. The only place I know of that sells this is Mazdaspeed Motorsports (or whatever they are calling themselves now) and I can't order from them since I am not affiliated with a race team. Is there any other place that sells them?

Second is the timing belt tensioner. The tech replaced the tensioner spring because it was about to bust (so he says). However, they want to replace the entire tensioner ($200 plus labor) because the grommet that the spring attaches to is worn and may damage and spring. I don't really buy this (they've told me I need a new air filter during oil changes when I just put one in a couple of hours before!) and when I replace the engine mount, I will remove the lower cover and look for myself, but I would like some opinions on this.

Thanks!

 

I believe you can buy the engine mount on www.protege5online.com

He might not have it listed but send him an email, Im sure he can get it for you. He had group buy going not too long ago on the other board.

 

Thanks SedanMan!

I sent off an e-mail to him. It is listed, but I just wanted to make sure it will fit the 1.8L (I'm sure it does).

Does anyone know the driveability with these mounts on? I know more vibration will come through... but what else?

Also, can I just use the main mount, or do I have to use both mounts that come?

I just got off the phone with Corksport. After a rather rude conversation ("did you take it to the dealer?" "yes, but I am out of warranty" "well, you sure got a short warranty, didn't you" "gee, I've had the car for four and a half years now" "oh... what year did you say it was?"), I found out that they can sell Mazdaspeed Motorsports parts.

 

there is no aftermarket replacement to the #3 engine mount... the mount in your car should be decently stiff to begin with since it is the same one used in the sport20... the engine rocking in the 1.8 3rd gens and automatic 2.0/1.8 3rd gens is NOT normal

the tensioner rotate on an eliptical axis with bearings on the actual roller part itself.. the piece itself looks very solid, but the only real tension to the belt is the piece rotated to apply tension and the spring itself that helps maintain the tensioner in place

 

Cool, thanks. So, let me clarify this to myself...

The #3 engine mount is the is the large mount sitting above the accessory belts. Aftermarket replacements are only for the lower/transaxle mounts. The jerking I'll just have to live with (which I have for over four years now).

Any wear caused by the spring to the tensioner won't have any effect on the function or life of the spring. It is just dealer BS to make more money.

Please correct me if my self-clarification is wrong before I start ordering parts.

 

only 1 of the 2 AWR mounts will fit your car... it is the #2/front mount... you don't want to do this... it will stress out the other 3 mounts

 

Man, what I would do for my '91 EGT back... nothing like the over-engineered, rock-solid BP... hmmm... I wonder what it would take to swap and get the Miata's S-VT heads on it...

 

too much

 

Now that I have driven the car with the new timing belt a few days, I have noticed some differences:

- The first day, the car was emitting black exhaust on acceleration.
- There seems to be about 20 less horsepower.
- Fuel economy has reduced.

I don't think the techs installed anything wrong. The engine idles much smoother and quieter than before the new timing belt... much less valve clatter. I think I can write off the black exhaust from carbon build-up from the engine's valve timing being slightly off with the old, stretched timing belt. However, what about the power and fuel economy?

 

sounds like it's mistimed

 

take it back and tell them it may be off a tooth or two. What about engine temp?? Does it seem to heat up really fast and get a good bit hotter during normal driving?

 

what the hell is going on with this???

 

Engine temp: normal
Idle: normal speed, no noticeable fluctuations
Acceleration: normal, no lags or flat spots (just less power)

Everything feels perfectly normal, minus some power... power curve, starting, cruising, coasting... nothing out of the ordinary.

 

I haven't change a timing belt on a FS yet, and kind of forgot about the electronic ignition packs. My friend and I changed a 2.0L VW 8v's timing belt last summer and missed a tooth on the intermediate shaft (which turns a distributor). The engine idled ok but the MIL came on and it heated up really quickly. Sorry I can't help you more, but one tooth off could cut power, so I would still take it back and have them check it...

 

Well, my low-fuel light came on as I left work, so I stopped for gas before the 40-mile commute home to Oceanside. After I filled up, to my surprise and delight, the missing power came back! So, it looks like I may have had some bad gas. Whew!

Thanks for the help! The engine mount I'm going to get aftermarket, built by a company called Anchor. It is probably a lower quality mount, meaning more vibration will pass through, but hopefully less flexible so it will lessen the engine jerking. We'll see... thanks again.