when doing the timing belt do i need to remove the crankshaft bolt?

 

http://www.miata.net/garage/timingbelt.html

It's not that difficult a job. Removing the radiator helps you gain some space to work in. Getting the bolt off, for me, required nothing more than 5'th gear, the parking brake, and a breaker bar with a length of pipe.

 

that bolt is a bitch. so i take of the bolt and that little cover just slides off and the belt is free?

 

Use a long breaker bar. I think the breaker bar I used was about 5 feet long.

 

Remember to clean out the threads, use thread locker, and tighten it to spec when you replace it. I've run across two long nose cranks this year that were screwed up because it wasn't done right. Best to buy a new bolt, they're cheap.

 

when I did it off the car, all i needed was an impact wrench

on the car, I'd go with Joe's advice...Removing the radiator gives to lots of extra space to work around....however, you dont need to. just pull the valve cover, belts, pulley for WP, all the covers (10mm gets a lot of use) and there it is. tensioner is 14mm, the end.

 

gotta go to work, but im pretty far along, just need to get one hose off the water pump. anyone have a temp sensor they wanna give (or sell) me? mine broke when i was trying to get the timing belt free

 

Assuming you mean the one atop the thermostat housing, that one is the on/off switch that controls the fan. The sensors for the dashboard and ECU (yes, they are separate) are on the back of the head below the CAS. Just FYI.

 

time to give mazda $30. wlecome to the club...i broke mine tigthening a coupler on the TB.

 

well i guess it was the fan switch then, alright thanks for your help

 

The thermoswitch for a Kia is cheaper. Do a search on m.net for the part number. I used to get mine from autozone before I put Links both my Miatas (no need for the switch after that).