Water pump and vented battery

Louisa Currie · Post by **Louisa Currie** » Wed Mar 20, 2002 1:51 pm

Hi all, I've checked the list archives but can't find anything in the
subject lines on water pumps so ...

Can someone please explain in simple terms what the water pump does? and
why it would cost $400 to replace?

Also, why does it matter that my MX has a sealed battery and not a vented
one?

Cheers
Louisa

ross campbell · Post by **ross campbell** » Wed Mar 20, 2002 2:17 pm

Louisa, I can sell you a new water pump for around $75. Some one is
charging you way to much. Fitting is straight forward and takes about a
hour.Battery is vented into tubes which run to the outside of the car. This
is to stop the fumes from leaking into the cars interior.Ross.

Gary Morrison · Post by **Gary Morrison** » Wed Mar 20, 2002 2:50 pm

Correction... fitting is straightforward if you are able to do the required
mechanical work on your engine...

Remove radiator upper hose after draining coolant
Remove intake pipes
Remove Power Steer and Alternator belts
Remove Coil pack, plug wires etc
Remove Cam Cover
Remove front covers over cambelt
Remove water pump pulley
Replace water pump (maybe more stuff to remove first)
Then put back together in reverse above order.
You need to reseal the front and back of the cam cover in about 6 places
with silicone sealant.
Refill radiator

Oh and the rear bolt on the coil pack is a b*tch to get out and back in.

I recently replaced a cambelt idler pulley, which involves doing almost all
of the above and it took me about 2.5 - 3 hours.

If your dealer is doing it, and using a Mazda water pump, you're probably
paying at a guess...

$110 pump
3 hours at $55
Coolant $25

Total $300
GST $37.50

$337.50

Post by **zorruno** » Wed Mar 20, 2002 5:37 pm

I think the designers were worried that battery acid may leak out under
heavy cornering... and into your picnic basket

also MX5's AGM (absorbed glass matt) batteries are pretty much 100% sealed
as they are 'recombinant'- the o2 and H recombine in the battery
compartment. They also do have a very low hydrogen emmission level compared
to lead acid batteries.

With the MX5s battery - the liquids are suspended in a fibreglass material
(fiber Boron-Silicate) between plates. They still work in extreme cold, and
don't leak even if broken. AGM batteries don't discharge much either if
unused. They are expensive though...

You could use a normal battery - some have - but I wouldn't recommend it.
Normal car batteries are not designed for use in enclosed space.

and no - I didn't just look this up on the net - we use them all the time in
the security industry ;-P

cheers
zorruno

[...]

Louisa Currie · Post by **Louisa Currie** » Thu Mar 21, 2002 12:46 pm

Hmmmmm - thanks for all your replies.

I will have to take a pass on your offer of the water pump Ross - I don't
know anyone with the mechanical skill to fit it!!

So - off the Mr Mazda I go - More money thrown into the bottomless pit known
as my MX5!

Thanks again.
Louisa