My MX5 is making a new noise.
That is not as worrying as when the smoke comes out, but it is not a
good thing.
(Cars run on smoke -
that's why when it escapes you're usually in trouble).
Anyhow, no smoke has yet appeared, but the noise is a worry.
It seems to emanate from the water pump housing, isn't obvious
on idle or when the motor is cold,
but appears with a vengeance on the overrun when it's warmed up.
My fellow members in the local MX5 owners' club have provided a
range of suggestions from a sick
alternator to a problem with the timing chain tensioner.
I know nuffink.
That is why I took it to my local mechanic who had just replaced a water
pump on my son's Mazda 323.
Interestingly, it has covered a similar distance (about 120000 kms).
aybe there's something about
Mazda BP-ZE engines and water pumps at 120000 kms. Or perhaps
here is some kind of perfidious virus.
They shared a garage for a time. There was no social distancing.
MLM* (whom I trust) had a listen and reckoned it was nothing to worry about.
When I asked him if it would
be OK to drive to Canberra (which had been my plan) he said "sure".
I trust him, but not that far. I have changed my plans.
Yesterday I took a deep breath and drove it the 146 kms to Automotive Plus
(free plug) whose boss mechanic,
after complaining that the motor was hot (it was - after driving from Toowoomba),
declared that it was most
likely a water pump bearing.
It got me home, and the noise is no worse.
So now, I have to decide whether to get the job done locally, or at the
specialist's setup in Brisbane.
The latter will require two days. You can't expect people to work on a
hot motor after a 146 km highway run.
I'll keep you posted.
Hence the II.
*My Local Mechanic.
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