Timing belt... Dun Dun Dun....

[MTec007]

OKAY, i just replaced the water pump on my car and i thought the belt looked good, (and the 2 screws that held the harmonic balancer inner ring had stripped heads, so i couldnt change it) so i just did the water pump. fired up beautifully and i waited for it to circulate the cooling system to check for leaks, i rev it up to 3500 a few times and let it go. exactly when the cooling system kicks on the car dies. i instantly check everything i can think of. i crank it once, and by that sound, i knew the timing belt broke. i checked it and confirmed. what are the chances that nothing happened to the motor? slim to none right? %$#$! i cant even put another belt on for sh..s and grins, because i cant remove those 2 screws to remove the harmonic balancer. it doesnt matter, the b3 isnt non interference any way..

[Damkid]

the b3 isnt non interference any way..

Umm the B3 IS non-interference, throw a new timing belt on and you should be good to go

[wybnrml]

The B3 IS non interference, so the engine should be fine.
Edit: Damkid beat me to it.

[MTec007]

really? i thought it was not? were talking the 88 B3 right? not the FI or aspire B3.. well i guess i can calm down and stop destroying stuff now eh?

[wybnrml]

All the Mazda B-series engines are Non Interference.

[Damkid]

really? i thought it was not? were talking the 88 B3 right? not the FI or aspire B3

Doesn't matter what year it is, they are all non-interference

EDIT: wybnrml beat me to it this time :lol:

[MTec007]

my only problem is i cant get that harmonic balancer off.. any ideas? ill need new screws too but i can only go to the hardware store and hope they have something.. if i get them out

[bikerdude0269]

OKAY, i just replaced the water pump on my car and i thought the belt looked good, (and the 2 screws that held the harmonic balancer inner ring had stripped heads, so i couldnt change it) so i just did the water pump. fired up beautifully and i waited for it to circulate the cooling system to check for leaks, i rev it up to 3500 a few times and let it go. exactly when the cooling system kicks on the car dies. i instantly check everything i can think of. i crank it once, and by that sound, i knew the timing belt broke. i checked it and confirmed. what are the chances that nothing happened to the motor? slim to none right? %$#$! i cant even put another belt on for sh..s and grins, because i cant remove those 2 screws to remove the harmonic balancer. it doesnt matter, the b3 isnt non interference any way..

Mabye you could use an easy out tool to get the stripped bolts out!

[MTec007]

they are actually screws, phillips head screws but ill have to see if i can get some of those

[MTec007]

what could have caused it to break in the first place?

[MTec007]

if the timing belt tensioner is too tight could that cause the belt to break? when i tightened it, i treated it like a regular drive belt.. the belt looked like it pulled apart, seperated

[lessersivad]

Use a hammer and cold chisel to knock the heads off the screws or at least to smack them from the side. They may or may not come out. There is no need to replace them if you can't remove the threaded part.

[MTec007]

are they not in the way of removing the harmonic balancer? so they are there for a reason..

[bhazard]

Oldness

[lessersivad]

are they not in the way of removing the harmonic balancer? so they are there for a reason..

Here's your answer. Took like 5 seconds to find.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15758&highlight=phillips+screws+balancer