this is the most accurate miata timing belt guide on youtube

This is the best timing belt video on KZfaq. Everything is demystified and explained clearly. I always recommend this video to people asking if their timing is right or not.

The way you explained it makes me want to take a class with you🤣

this guy has litterally helped me so many times but he’s never at the top of the search bar😢 best channel on youtube for miata repairs

We just put back together our Spec Miata today and this video gave me much peace of mind and more knowledge. Thank you good Sir!

FIrst time installing a timing belt and I did it this way. Worked flawlessly! Thank you

best timing belt tutorial

Hands down one of the easiest videos to follow! Something we have been struggling with. 💯

From a 25+ yr aircraft mechanic (jets - no timing involved - just add noise and it runs), this was perfect! Straight and to the point. Thanks!

Thanks Al all the way from England the best and easiest from a pro

I am a bit late to the party here. Basically, thanks for simplifying this process. Any one with doubts just follow this guide. My engine has stopped with none of the marks showing anywhere near anything else. i guess it had stopped at 180' out of TDC for cylinder 1. OR somehow moved while i was buggering about with belts and pulleys etc. I flapped and panicked but found this guide. I then didn't worry about turning things individually of one another. did exactly what he said. A bit of trouble will be had wriggling the belt on and holding the inlet cam in alignment. when you let go it will slacken the belt until you release the tensioner then it all pulls tight and lined up. I pissed about with this for about 30 minutes. Checked it 904 times. Used a few other pictures to double check. Slapped it all back together and only had to turn the key to test......so i tidied the garage......filled up the washer fluid.....checked tyre pressures...made a coffee, basically anything to avoid turning on the engine. with hands shaking i turned the key and kchhBrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Magic. The relief of not being a certified dickhead is massive (and probably temporary). Thanks again, Al.

this is by far the greatest miata timing tutorial I have ever seen. Thanks a Lot Sir!

This is literally one of the best automotive informative videos out there

Dude I’m 26 and have never done timing. This video makes me feel confident. I just need to check my timing on my nb2. But if I do have to adjust it because timings off, I’m GLAD I found this video.

Thanks for this! I had to tighten a couple loose bolts behind the cam gears.. and messed up my timing in the process. Your video made sure I got it right the 2nd time!

Thanks Al, you've made it very clear! I'll be doing the t/b, w/p, front c/s seal etc. over the winter.

Absolutely cleared up every bit of confusion I had about this, and made me re-gain so much confidence in my abilities as an intermediate mechanic thank you so much man so helpful.

Perfect timing haha I’m doing my timing belt right now! Thanks Miata dad! Keep making videos!

Thanks for taking the time to show step by step how to proceed. I did it on my Miata already and it's as you said super easy but need to pay attention every step.

I was pulling out my hair counting the teeth on mine not even 6 hours ago now I’m excited to get back in the garage and get it set right! Awesome video! I wish I had an auto shop teacher like you man!

You remind me of my high school shop teacher! Thanks for this video! Helped me do my timing belt on my project Miata. Great instructions! I think a few closer shots would have helped but you made it simple

You've helped relieve the stress I've had in regards to doing this job, always video!

I wish my teacher did this well of a job demonstrating and explaining in a straight forward way when I was going to school, thanks for the help!

Thank you sir. Very instructive and explanatory. Feel confident to change mine now.

Woo another one 👍

Thank you for a detailed video. I’m going to do a timing belt and water pump this summer

Gracias por la explicación muy clara, saludos desde Guatemala!

Very instructive and very good explanation 👍👍

omg has your video helped me, I was crying yesterday trying to do this on my car.

ty for your video...I am grateful for your instruction!

Perfect video! Thanks alot

Very well explained and a great teacher. Thanks

you actually just saved me i was terrified to do my timing belt myself thank you!

Thank you very much,,I have a Mazda protoge with the 1,6 liter 4 cyclender that needs a water pump replacement ,i am gonna re do every thing new with a kit.thanks for the video.

Great instructional video cheers Al.....

perfect video, shaved my head .020" and was worried about timing

i hate that this video is so good

Thank you finally got everything lined up!

HO-LEE Sh_t, I can express my gratitude enough

Thank you very much.

Thank you!!

You sir are the man!

Best video ever

I've been using the exact same method for 20 years after trying the first time to decipher the factory manual procedure.... and it has worked every time. I've sent this and your other timing vid to dozens of newbies and have gotten lots of thanks. Re the "TDC looks good" reference is that nobody knows how long the extension or screwdriver is...

Ive used the key bump method my self. Worked great lol. I know you like to see the notch but like you said the pin will be straight up. I don’t blame the people counting the 19 notches just to confirm it’s correct because in alot of the timing instructions that come with belts it tells you to do that even know it is unnecessary. but yah this is like the easiest timing belt to do so when you say it takes ppl days that surprises me.

Thanks man

I can honestly say I had never smacked a wrench on a crank bolt get it out, but hot dog did it work a treat! Best tip from any anything I've ever gotten.

DAMN! Make it so easy!!

Super helpful! Great vid. One question: if head has been shaved, which side is the “half-tooth” on. Above the timing mark or below? If crank to exhaust cam are correctly indexed. Both those are dead on as you mentioned in the vid. Thanks in advance.

Im just finishing my timing belt on a vvt 2004 Miata. Is there anything different between the vvt and non vvt. Also do you have a video on valve clearance. How to measure valve clearance. I measured mine though not sure I did it right. Thanks for all the work and sharing of knowledge.

Thanks!

Great Video

To remove the crank bolt I removed the swaybar brakets and attached the socket and a braker bar to the bolt, lowered the car and jump started it. I didnt work till the 7th try. But at least it did XD

superb explanation of the shaved head vs1/2- tooth off issue - Question? - if one has a choice in this situation would it be better, performance wise, to advance the intake cam by that 1/2 tooth?

Ur the man!

Nice description

Any advice on removing and retightening the crankshaft bolt with the engine in the car?

Nice and simple. I was thinking when you put the cam gears back on they can go in any position, is there a dowl pin that locks them into one position with the cams? Seemed like you were saying that.

Good joob thanks👏

Wow thanks buddy, you made this very simple. I was thinking of purchasing Flyin Miata's timing Ninja but now I can see that's unnecessary.

I'm just about to do this job & I've watched a few KZfaq videos, this is by far the best & most informative. Thanks 👍

I just lock the flywheel into place via the access port to undo/torque up the lower timing gear nut

Thankyou Al I'm buying a nb series 1 and have to change the water pump in the driveway of their house before I can drive it home I got quoted $700 Austrialian to fix it so thanks for the $700 bucks mate as they are supplying the water pump

I’m going to check my work tonight, mine was boggy, started but very rough for 2-3 minutes and then shuts off!! Let see if I’m off a tooth or two

This dude should be protected at all cost

Are you Greg Peter's dad? ;) Great video!

Great video, my ‘97 belt snapped. I replaced it and the car tries to start but won’t. Watching your vid shows TDC with lobes facing out. I had the marks in place for tdc, but the lobes were facing each other. Any idea what I did wrong. Ty

I know this video is a year old, but I need help! I'm doing a 1995 1.8 engine swap in my 1990 NA Miata. I've done a ton of research regarding the project. I've made sure to watch youtube videos and check forums before attempting anything on the engine. I've recently replaced the waterpump, cam seals, and bottom crank seal. Next up was the timing, hence this video. But I've run into an issue. After aligning the cam gears, I went to align the bottom crankbolt with the arrow and the notch, however, I can't turn the crankbolt around enough to get it aligned. I haven't forced anything as I am too scared that I am hitting a valve with a piston. In all the timing videos I've watched including this one, the bottom crank bolt is already aligned before doing the timing, in my case, it's not already aligned. I know everything is supposed to rotate in sync, otherwise pistons will hit valves, but how do I time it right when I can't get the bottom crank bolt aligned. What am I missing?

I felt like it was a pretty straightforward process when i did mine. Much easier than an Audi 2.7t 😅

Hi, I've started this process and I am stuck. It's a 1999NB. I am down to the alternator belt removal and the lower bold that's on the back of the alternator is frozen and starting to strip. I can't get the tension out of the belt for removal. Is there a way to get the bolt off or a work around to get the belt off? I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

This extra half tooth slack makes sense now because I had that on mine... before my harmonic balancer snaped off at 60mph. Not fun, waiting on parts to fix.

My Miata has a timing plate behind the crank pulley and it fits both ways my car wouldn't start so I turned the plate round and it started

With my intake can gear set at 12 - 4 and my ext can gear set at 12 - 8 my cam lobes face inward?

What about the belt tensioning procedure? The crank needs to be rotated 1 5/6 turns to get the cams into the right position for the tensioner spring to apply the correct tension to the belt. That’s what the second mark is for on the oil pump, 60 degrees left of the TDC mark.

On the 1.6, I prefer setting the intake cam one tooth advanced from factory spec for my daily driver and then, of course, the ignition timing needs to be retarded about 8 degrees. Results in a big gain in low end power with little if any loss on top (I assume because of the increased overlap). Also gains in fuel economy. Haven't checked, but I also assume it gains in NOX production, but should reduce carbon and CO2. :) No emissions testing where I now live so I don't need to worry about it.

I'm having a problem with the timing belt rubbing on the water pump, Any tips to fix it?

Basically did the same thing on an engine stand no multiple wrenches

Why would someone make their own marks with pen on the came gears instead of using the provided indents from Mazda? The previous person who owned my NB1 did that, I don’t understand why they would use their own marks if the backing plate and cams have what you need.

Just to add to this….make sure to check TDC on #1 cylinder. If you turn the crank 360 degrees, it’s now TDC on #4 cylinder. You can’t tell which cylinder is at TDC unless you use a straw or a long screwdriver in the spark plug hole to see that number one is at TDC .

Same spaghetti code that breaks nighthawk with kinetic surges. Yes kinetic surges shouldn’t be buffing Goldie but they shouldn’t be lowering the damage it does either.

When to aline the I on the gear why does it have so much tention it just keep going back

@5:04 Your exhaust cam timing is off by one tooth. Engine will still run. Motor is designed for 19 teeth between hash marks and 5:04 shows 20 teeth. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/etJ4nbyC3dCtfZ8.html Your old video 19 teeth spacing kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gc-IhdeSy6_ImZ8.html This video 20 teeth spacing🤪 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gc-IhdeSy6_ImZ8.html This video 19 teeth spacing Consider the hash marks on the cam gear edges and not the letters and cam spokes. Ford/Mazda engine designers put them there. Need paint pen marks and set lighting camera angle in front and use your "invisible see thru hands" if available. Head being decked 20 will not cause half a tooth alignment error. Teeth are 0.140" or 140 mil spacing, so 35 mils 1/4tooth, 17.5mils 1/8th tooth error. Note: 35-40 mils total head and deck skim is near max before interference issues. Greatest cause of alignment error is belt stretch which can reach 2%. 2% is 0.140" x ~40 teeth crank to exhaust cam = 5.6", 5.6 x 0.02 = 0.112" 112mils =0.8 teeth.

I must be dumb cause I can’t seem to do it the same way you do it lol

I dont get it, when my cam gears are set perfect the belt WILL NOT go on what so ever, but when one cam gear is a hair off it slids right on

Hey I just did a timing job on my miata and I got a p0012 code for over-retarded cam shaft timing any suggestions? On what I did wrong

As good as He is I think He is pulling our leg about not knowing what way the engine turns.

I don't understand I did my timing belt like u did now it sounds like a tractor and gas lifter tick bad

I have my miata on time and it won’t start it’s like spinning fast when I turn the key on

All this is super easy when the engine is sitting on a table, at eye level, with no interference. This ease disappears when the engine is still in the car.

I'm so lost, did all of this and put it back together like 8 times for it to still run horribly and barely drive. Running out of ideas

What a hack. Where do I begin You use an impact to remove bolts that many people break using only a ratchet. Using open end wrench to turn a crank? Almost strips the tensioner. Hits a crank with a hammer. Ever heard of a sheered or bent key? Uses a ratchet for the starter removal technique instead of a breaker bar Mazda literally tells you to rotate the engine twice to adjust tension. Never counted the teeth. You must be the king of flappy timing belts A shaved head increases compression. You see that a lot in spec Miata? The crank turns to the right if you're facing it. As all engines have for longer than you've been alive. But ok Mr been doing this for 20 years and teach kids

Thanks

Alright, ok, alright, ok, okay...annoying

!!!!!!!!!