Hi there,

My wife is the proud owner of an mx-5 1800cc 16v 1999 model with BP engine, and in recent weeks it was starting to use a little water. This progresivly got worse untill yesterday morning when i used it to go to work and on start up not only was is puffing and panting, i was within minutes finding my self cakooned in a cloud of white smoke. this eventually cleared and as the engine got to temp started to run as normal. I am persumming that the cylinder head gasket has blown from a water port into the cylinder as there is no indication of milky oil. The question i have is how difficult is the work involved in replacing the head gaskets and cam belt as i dont have a manual and am finding it difficult to to locate one. I have sourced all parts required apart from the head bolts (are these stretch bolts that need replacing) My engineering skills are excellent being an Aircraft Technician i have in past done similar work on other cars so feel like this should be as achievable as they were. Any help hints or tips would be appriciated.

Mike the tech

 

Hi Mike,

You've actually posted in the Mazda 5 forum but I can probably help.

The MX5 head gasket is a fairly straight forward job, the head bolts are not stretch bolts and the cambelt's very fairly logical and, from memory, has a spring loaded tensioner. If you can't get hold of the information I'll post a synopsis of the cambelt replacement procedure and headbolt torque etc.

You'll probably need the head refacing as well.

Nick