Miata Mailing List: November 1994, Message #40
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   From: jturner@ringer.cs.utsa.edu ( John M. Turner)
Subject: Re: Getting free stuff on warranty
   Date: Tue, 1 Nov 1994 20:09:08 -0500

> 
> you write:
> > As far as getting things replaced under warranty, I got the crankshaft,
> > all main bearings, timing belt, [...]
> > Be sure whoever changes the timing belt (yourself included) is very careful
> > when working around the pulley on the front end of the crankshaft.  Mazda
> > admits that the connection point between the crankshaft and this pulley is
> > a weak point on the 323-based engines, and it can be easily overtorqued.
> 
> why the crankshaft & main bearings?
> is this an offshoot of you or someone else erring while changing
> the timing belt (per your comment re: torque)? just curious.
> 

Well, I let the dealership change the timing belt, as I was out of town for
the weekend.  I got the car back, and a couple of days later, the gear on the`
front end of the crankshaft was no longer attached firmly, but spinning
freely.  The gist of the problem was that the camshafts were no longer turning,
therefore the engine didn't run.  Apparently, there is a large bolt that 
is screwed in the front end of the crankshaft to attach the gear.   (The
gear is the one that is at the bottom of the timing belt loop.)  Anyway, 
when the dealer put the new timing belt on, they stripped that bolt 
somehow, and as a result, the gear was left to spin freely (or not spin
in this case...) and the crankshaft didn't turn the gear at all.  The only
way to fix this is to replace the crankshaft, which they did after a month
of arguing whether the dealer would pay or the extended warranty.  
Personally, I think the dealer should have fixed my car, and figured out who
would pay for the fix later, since I wasn't the one paying for it.



John "J.T." Turner
jturner@ringer.cs.utsa.edu