Car died tonight...I don't think I want to fix it...
I could be an asshole and say that you pointed out the only other big possibility
But I won't haha. I hadn't had the time to pull the t-belt covers off and inspect the timing yet and I don't have a compression gauge, otherwise the comp. check would have been done on day one :( But, yes, you called it 
Unfortunately I will not be able to work on the car until next Tuesday...yay. I don't know if I even want to bother with it and just have the car towed to R*Speed and have Hector find and fix the problem.
But I won't haha. I hadn't had the time to pull the t-belt covers off and inspect the timing yet and I don't have a compression gauge, otherwise the comp. check would have been done on day one :( But, yes, you called it 
Unfortunately I will not be able to work on the car until next Tuesday...yay. I don't know if I even want to bother with it and just have the car towed to R*Speed and have Hector find and fix the problem.
Just pull your valve cover and upper tbelt cover and look at your shiz. You can do it.
I bet timing belt fuckery.
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So if I were to have washed the oil off the cylinders in all my attempts to crank the engine over (with the fuel injectors spraying normally for start up), how much compression loss might there be? Over 100psi lower than normal? I suspect the "super rich" I was smell wasn't in fact abnormally rich, but the drop in compressoin not burning all the fuel going itno the combustion chamber.
I know I could put some oil in the cylinders and have a go again, which I will likely do, but just wondering about this before I do that.
I know I could put some oil in the cylinders and have a go again, which I will likely do, but just wondering about this before I do that.
So if I were to have washed the oil off the cylinders in all my attempts to crank the engine over (with the fuel injectors spraying normally for start up), how much compression loss might there be? Over 100psi lower than normal? I suspect the "super rich" I was smell wasn't in fact abnormally rich, but the drop in compressoin not burning all the fuel going itno the combustion chamber.
I know I could put some oil in the cylinders and have a go again, which I will likely do, but just wondering about this before I do that.
I know I could put some oil in the cylinders and have a go again, which I will likely do, but just wondering about this before I do that.
pull damn valve cover it is 13 bolts if i can do it you can too. do you really want to prove me to be superior mechanic
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I have not had time to touch the car at all today, and won't until the beginning of next week. I'm just tossing around ideas until I get my hands on it. You are not a superior mechanic.
I'm starting to think more and more that the t-belt slipped.....unusual as it seems to me on a 40k engine and in all the miles I've ever driven in a Miata. But then again, I've snapped a camshaft in half on a stock head, broken a PPF, destroyed 2nd gear while in 4th and a few other weird things I never expected.
I'm starting to think more and more that the t-belt slipped.....unusual as it seems to me on a 40k engine and in all the miles I've ever driven in a Miata. But then again, I've snapped a camshaft in half on a stock head, broken a PPF, destroyed 2nd gear while in 4th and a few other weird things I never expected.
Last edited by Doppelgänger; Sep 20, 2012 at 10:26 AM.
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...is the winner.

And the resulting timing ****...

Honestly, I've never known someone personally who has had the timing jump. Every case I've known around me has a been a broken belt...including the time mine took a **** in my NA. I also put it on the back burner because cams were turning when cranking. But Erat guess it right first lol.
So I have most of the front torn down. Today was the first day in two weeks I had time to **** with the car. Got the timing covers off and other stuff, but still need to pull the upper rad hose (will pull radiator out for the t-belt repair just to make more room). Will do a few other things while I am in there this weekend.

And the resulting timing ****...

Honestly, I've never known someone personally who has had the timing jump. Every case I've known around me has a been a broken belt...including the time mine took a **** in my NA. I also put it on the back burner because cams were turning when cranking. But Erat guess it right first lol.
So I have most of the front torn down. Today was the first day in two weeks I had time to **** with the car. Got the timing covers off and other stuff, but still need to pull the upper rad hose (will pull radiator out for the t-belt repair just to make more room). Will do a few other things while I am in there this weekend.
Wowza. I've had the timing belt on and off far too much lately to still be running my 8 year old belt. But alas, I'm lazy. I'll be having one of these threads shortly I'm sure.
+1 for cut valve covers!(?)
+1 for cut valve covers!(?)
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Ugh, called the local dealership to get a price on a new t-belt, idler and tensioner, new belts and VC gasket.... $245. While I'm in there, I want to replace the engine mounts with MazdaComps. Since I can't get the mounts locally, I see that FM carries them and while I'm shopping at FM, I might as well buy their t-belt tools to make life a bit easier for me...so that all is another $130+ shipping. So I'm looking at about $400 to fix this ****.
I guess it could be a lot worse.
I was wanting to send the VC off to be polished, but God knows how much that will cost. I also have a spare IM manifold that I removed the VCTS from and was thinking about swapping that out, but mine is old and dirty and would need to be cleaned out.
I guess it could be a lot worse.
I was wanting to send the VC off to be polished, but God knows how much that will cost. I also have a spare IM manifold that I removed the VCTS from and was thinking about swapping that out, but mine is old and dirty and would need to be cleaned out.
Cut that nearly in half and just do the local stuff. Youre changing the timing belt, not removing the engine, the motor mounts can be done another time.
And with the valve cover off, the only benefit of the FM tools would be torquing the crank.
But if your bank account is crusin for a brusin...go for it. I do like my new bottle opener.
And with the valve cover off, the only benefit of the FM tools would be torquing the crank.
But if your bank account is crusin for a brusin...go for it. I do like my new bottle opener.
Same..esp since its a 40k engine..I don't see the need to buy all that isht from the stealership, nor replace all the "other" stuff.
Unless of course you don't mind makin it rain like that, and WANT to.
Unless of course you don't mind makin it rain like that, and WANT to.








your timing belt. I had that happen. The said bolt then made a nickel-sized hole in my valve cover (think OH YEA koolaid guy, but with a bolt)