Hey guys, my girlfriend has a 01 626 with a v6 in it. The valve cover gaskets have been leaking forever (at least a year.) I keep putting that project off because it looks like the rear gasket is going to be a PITA to change. Im providing that fact incase its relevant to the big issue.

Last night she pulled into the driveway and the car was idling rough and the engine was making a noise like something was banging around under the hood. I took the car up the road and it ran poorly and when I reved the motor it had a very odd tone, kind of like an indy car. I lifted the hood and did not see any issues. When the car is running, the noise sounded like it was coming from the valves or timing belt. Today I took a few minutes and unplugged some wiring and removed the coolant reserve bottle. I was able to pull back the top front corner of the timing belt cover and I saw pieces of plastic resting against the sprocket. I was able to pull one piece out with pliars and it is about 2"x2" and slightly curved. It looks like a piece of the timing belt cover. Also, the drive belt (serp. belt?) is cutting into the timing belt cover near the fire wall. Its as if something inside the cover is pushng out on it and forcing it into the belt.
About 2 months ago I changed the timing belt in my 02 frontier with a 3.3L v6 so I think I am going to try to diagnose this issue. What do I need to remove to get the timing belt cover off? It appears as though it is in at least 3 pieces? Do I have to remove the passenger side motor mount? Do I need to remove the AC lines? Im guessing that all of the pulleys will need to be removed? Is there more than one tensioner for the drive belt? Any help is greatly appreciated! I do not know much about mazdas.
She said she noticed this problem when she started her car after work. Also, the check engine light has been on for a few months but I never found anything wrong with the car when I checked it and I assumed it was just a bad sensor somewhere.

 

Hey there!
I had the exact same problem on my 99 plate 626 a few month back.

The noise that started sounded a little like my brake pads were worn right down and grinding against the disc. Left the car for a few hours, drove for about a mile, then a constant noise coming from the engine bay. Narrowed it down to something to do with the timing belt.

My dad took everything apart, and found that the tensioner spring had snapped, and was wearing away the timing belt.

From what I can remember, to get access to the timing belt, the water pump belt, power stearing belt, front driver wheel, engine mounting all had to come off...!

Was a fairly big job to replace the belt and tensioner etc. Everything all packed tightly together! That's Mazda for ya !

Hope what I have put will help you a little!

 

Can you find out where he got the replacement tensioner or tensioner spring? The cheapest price I have found for a tensioner is $170 from mazda, but that CANT be right!

 

Yea, we got the timing belt kit (belt, tensioner, and another bit, but can't remember the name of it!) for just under £100 from a place called Partco in UK. The spring was £5 direct from Mazda - not included in kit for some reason!

If you can't get it cheaper where you are, ask someone to send it over for ya!