60k service on my Miata - ballpark figure?

[Laconian]

Hey guys,

The Miata's slightly past due for the 60k service interval (timing belt, fluids, blahblahblah...) I'm going to call around and see how much some local shops will charge. What would a reasonable dollar amount for this be?

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I know what it would cost me, my guess is a dealer might go as high as 1800?

Non Dealership shop might be from 800-1400?

I'm just guessing here, i don't have work done at shops but i'm well aware of the rate(100 dollars an hour).

What year miata is this? I thought they had timing chains in them.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I have a 60K service reciept for my Z(done by previous owner). To replace timing belt/waterpump/coolant/oil/transmission fluid, new plugs/wires/filters with parts and labor it was about 1400. This was from a well known(respected) import specialist place in the metro.

[Laconian]

It's a 1995. My manual lists "Engine Timing Belt" as a maintenance item for 60k.

I will ask them to use Redline for the transmission oil, that'll probably be some extra  $$$, but I've read lots of good things about it!

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Are you planing on taking it to a dealership?

[Laconian]

Possibly, it depends on how competitive the dealership's price is. I made a post asking for shop recommendations on a local Miata club forum, I'm waiting to gather replies before I start calling around. I have had some positive experiences with my local Mazda dealer in the past, they are a decent operation.

Have any of you guys used Redline before? Should I expect a shop to have it handy, or would I need to buy some in advance and bring it along in my trunk?

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Possibly, it depends on how competitive the dealership's price is. I made a post asking for shop recommendations on a local Miata club forum, I'm waiting to gather replies before I start calling around. I have had some positive experiences with my local Mazda dealer in the past, they are a decent operation.

Have any of you guys used Redline before? Should I expect a shop to have it handy, or would I need to buy some in advance and bring it along in my trunk?

Depends on the shop, i use it(for the transmission, mobil 1 in the motor) in my Z. I looked around and just ended up ordering it from jegs, no place around me carried it(MT90).

I'd check with the shop when you have your list narrowed down, otherwise i'm guessing it is something you will have to supply.

[Laconian]

Thanks. I was planning on upgrading my sound system (it sucks horribly in its present state), it looks like my car's going to be a money pit this summer.

[Rupert]

It's a 1995. My manual lists "Engine Timing Belt" as a maintenance item for 60k.

I will ask them to use Redline for the transmission oil, that'll probably be some extra  $$$, but I've read lots of good things about it!

It's a non-interference timing belt; this, I know.

You could do a lot of that pretty easily for much cheaper...

[Laconian]

Okay, wow.
miatarepair.net : $550
local Mazda dealer: $1100!!!!!!

Such a no brainer.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I'd assume both would be using OEM mazda parts?

What is miatarepair.net? How can they fix your car over the internet?

[Laconian]

No question that the dealer will use OEM parts. I'll make a point of asking the mechanic at miatarepair ("Coops Miata") if he uses them.

Miatarepair.net is just the website of a local shop that works exclusively on Miatas. One of the guys on the Miata group recommended it, apparently this guy's pretty popular with the autox and track crowd.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

No question that the dealer will use OEM parts. I'll make a point of asking the mechanic at miatarepair ("Coops Miata") if he uses them.

Miatarepair.net is just the website of a local shop that works exclusively on Miatas. One of the guys on the Miata group recommended it, apparently this guy's pretty popular with the autox and track crowd.

Ok, sounds like a good shop then. If many miata owners are using it i'm sure the guy does quality work and i'm sure(99%) that he will use OEM parts.

It's not hard to undercut a dealer, the parts for your miata(timing belt, some tensioners and waterpump) wouldn't cost much more than 200 dollars.

[Laconian]

It's a non-interference timing belt; this, I know.

You could do a lot of that pretty easily for much cheaper...

Yeah I know... Were I to do it myself I would prefer to do it with somebody looking over my shoulder and guiding me along. Plus my car has been professionally serviced for its whole life with all the documents to prove it, I would like to keep the paper trail going.

I wish I had a local shadetree mechanic buddy who I could learn from on weekends or something. My dad imparted no knowledge on me whatsoever beyond changing plugs and oil. :)

[Rupert]

Buy that book that the Flyin' Miata guy wrote. It's really easy to understand and has really good color photos, unlike your average Haynes or Chiltons. I did a bunch of stuff with the Miata under the guidance of that book.

[Rupert]

In fact,

http://www.enthusiastbooks.com/si/35024.html

[Laconian]

My Miata's running on borrowed time right now (62000 miles). I'm getting a little antsy about having to wait for the book to arrive, obtaining the parts, etc. with the knowledge that every additional mile increases the likelihood of a broken timing belt.

Although the engine is non-interference, you say? Hmmm...

[FlatBlackCaddy]

My Miata's running on borrowed time right now (62000 miles). I'm getting a little antsy about having to wait for the book to arrive, obtaining the parts, etc. with the knowledge that every additional mile increases the likelihood of a broken timing belt.

Although the engine is non-interference, you say? Hmmm...

I wouldn't be so uptight about it, you can probably go to 80K before the belt breaks.

Either way you won't damage the motor if its non interference.

[Secret Chimp]

My Miata's running on borrowed time right now (62000 miles). I'm getting a little antsy about having to wait for the book to arrive, obtaining the parts, etc. with the knowledge that every additional mile increases the likelihood of a broken timing belt.

Although the engine is non-interference, you say? Hmmm...

Look in your manual. Notice how in California and Massachusetts you don't change the belt until 105,000 miles? Think they gave CA and MA different belts?

[thewizard16]

Service? Your car has 60,000 miles, you should throw it away and buy a new one.






Why does the belt need changing at 60,000 miles though? Unless they're using shoddy belts, I thought it was normally 90-100,000 miles on a timing belt.

[J86]

ha its been probably over 150k on my belt...

[Laconian]

Look in your manual. Notice how in California and Massachusetts you don't change the belt until 105,000 miles? Think they gave CA and MA different belts?

Yeah, what's up with that, anyways? I tried looking for any kind of discussion or debate on the subject, but nobody seems to be questioning Mazda's wisdom.

[Laconian]

This doesn't look easy. http://www.miata.net/garage/timingbelt.html

And Chimp:

Although the California Owner's Manual says 105,000 miles, this is just to satisfy a state requirement that says timing belts should last 100,000 miles or more. Still, it should be done at 60,000 miles.

[Secret Chimp]

This doesn't look easy. http://www.miata.net/garage/timingbelt.html

And Chimp:

Mine has just over 90k and probably has the original belt on it. If the car continues to run well all that's going to happen is maybe the belt will stretch half a tooth.

It didn't look easy to me at first, but I've read it over a few times and I'm going to do it myself. I'm only doing it now because my water pump has a weird leak that seals up as soon as the car has been running for a few minutes. I've done many things on my Honda and have a fairly confident self-learned skill set, so I think I can do it. If you're not any kind of a shadetree I wouldn't go for it

[sportyaccordy]

One.

Million.

Dollars Mmmmm HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

[Onslaught]

A shop that works on MX-5's should have redline there. Even my unequipped, joke of a shop has it. And I like the stuff by the way.

[Laconian]

I got some background on the place that charges $500. It's run by an autoshop teacher who used to work at a community college. Back when he did the work exclusively the quality was good. Now he's a little less mobile and he has students do some of the work, and apparently the quality has suffered.

Bah. Time to get a few more quotes.

[Secret Chimp]

I would ask srsly on you regional forum of Miata.net. There might be some guy who you can hire personally vs. a mechanic shop. There's a fellow out here on the Buckeye Miata Club page that offers those services.

[crv16]

Yeah I know... Were I to do it myself I would prefer to do it with somebody looking over my shoulder and guiding me along. Plus my car has been professionally serviced for its whole life with all the documents to prove it, I would like to keep the paper trail going.

I wish I had a local shadetree mechanic buddy who I could learn from on weekends or something. My dad imparted no knowledge on me whatsoever beyond changing plugs and oil. :)

I changed the T-belt on my Civic this past fall.  It wasn't a big deal, just followed the directions from the factory service manual.  I had never changed a t-belt before this.  It took me about 4-5 hours to change the t-belt, serpentine belt, water pump, PS pump belt and spark plugs.

I'm just too cheap to pay someone $400+ to change a $18 belt. :)

[sportyaccordy]

I changed the T-belt on my Civic this past fall.  It wasn't a big deal, just followed the directions from the factory service manual.  I had never changed a t-belt before this.  It took me about 4-5 hours to change the t-belt, serpentine belt, water pump, PS pump belt and spark plugs.

I'm just too cheap to pay someone $400+ to change a $18 belt. :)

Yea, but I imagine you have a wide assortment of tools, including a nifty crank pulley remover, etc. I recently bought jackstands, a jack, a socket set and some wrenches... it came to well over $150. Factor in the parts, specialized tools, and the most important factor, your own time, blood, sweat and tears (a collective manhour factor) and it really doesn't seem that bad after all.

For me, the best way to maintenance has been through car clubs. The going labor rate from fellow MAxima and Accord enthusaists has been about 1/3-1/2 that of the standard mechanic's rate. Plus of course, there's the added bonus of getting down and dirty- if and when you want to.[/rant]