what is this and how bad is it?

[SteeleMX3]

Alright so, I was doing some stuff on my baby and noticed this thing on the other side of the VC as the Dist was completely cracked, don't know how I didn't notice it before, not like I'm not in there much, but I'm wondering what it is, possibly why it's cracked, and how essential it is.



cheers

[PATDIESEL]

It is the timing cover and it is fine if it is cracked. I am guessing that you are talking about the black plastic part....and not something underneath it.

[mikeinaus]

thats not the plastic cover for the timing belt is it?

[SteeleMX3]

Yah it's just the plastic part, I thought it may have been a cover but never too careful. Thanks for input
I guess if its not biggie I'll get to it when I can but I think it's definately getting replaced, when the girl is too hot steam (possibly smoke) actually billows out of the crack.

[mikeinaus]

dont worry about replacing it its not very critical. if steam is coming out your water pump is probably leaking.

[mikeinaus]

when the girl is too hot steam (possibly smoke) actually billows out of the crack

loss of coolant is same for me except XTREME...I put in a new galon every couple weeks, possibly up to a month, rawrghh! I don't think it's something like a leak cuz nothing leaks on idle or while off, and I don't think it's water pump from reading this thread but I spose I could be wrong
sorry to put this back on coolant lol, but any suggestions????

definitely your water pump... wont leak until its hot enough to turn the water to steam and make alot more pressure to force it out. id get that replaced sooner then later. mine was only leaking steam for a day after the swap then it went away thats why ive held off on it.

[SteeleMX3]

dang, I guess it's off to the yard with me to get another one...unless a used pump is a bad idea

[mikeinaus]

just grab a new one. you can get em on ebay for $40

http://cgi.ebay.ca/92-93-1-8L-Mazda-MX3 ... 3503wt_834" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[fowljesse]

A used pump is a bad idea.

Sorry to say.
It's not necessarily a bad idea, but for the amount of work involved, and the relative low expense of a new one, it would be silly to put in a used one.
Also; unless you know for sure that the timing belt is less than 10,000 old, I strongly recommend that you change it while you're in there, especially since it's had steamy coolant shooting onto it for a while! You should check your bearings all around there, too. They're sealed, but steam is sneaky. I had a bad idler bearing, so I pressed it out, and pressed a new one in for much cheaper than it would have costed for the whole idler.

[fowljesse]

In lieu of the last post: I'd go to a local parts store for the pump, since there are 4 different configurations, and there's no way to know what yours is until you take it out. believe me, or look it up. I found out the hard way.

[SteeleMX3]

not bad, cheers man

[Daninski]

Buy a kit, it comes with the tensioner as well.