{"id":5663,"date":"2022-06-03T19:05:42","date_gmt":"2022-06-03T19:05:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=5663"},"modified":"2024-02-08T09:42:39","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T09:42:39","slug":"cam-belt-failure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=5663","title":{"rendered":"CARS: MX5 Breakdown!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It\u2019s late, getting dark\u2026 testing the ECU with OBD.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yesterday Teresa and I packed our picnic basket and headed out for a lovely lunch at Anglesey Abbey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sadly, between Fordham and Burwell, on the B1102 Ness Road, an orange engine diagnostic light came on, followed – in seconds – by the engine conking out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were relatively lucky inasmuch as a lay-by appeared on our left exactly as this happened. Our forward momentum was enough to get us in and parked, off the main road, and safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several other people were parked in the lay-by. I asked the nearest if he wouldn\u2019t mind helping us try and jump-start our car off his battery. Fortunately I carry jump-leads 90% of the time (due to previous experiences!). He obliged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But sadly that didn\u2019t work. I thought I ought to try, as I\u2019d had an engine failure about six to eight weeks ago, where I\u2019d just run out of petrol and the battery had also died. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this time there was still petrol, and the battery appeared to be ok. And the jump-lead start failed. So\u2026 time to call the AA!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Got this via Amazon Vine, some time ago.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Not the swankiest of its kind. But useful.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The AA engineer got to us quicker than I\u2019d ever experienced before (20-30 minutes?). And very quickly diagnosed a failed cam-belt. I asked how he could be so sure, without seeing it; the cam-belt is enclosed, at the front of the engine, behind two other external belts (and all sorts of other gubbins) .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said it\u2019s the sound. There\u2019s no tell-tale compression, apparently. If there were compression you\u2019d have that wheezy but rhythmic \u2018turning over but not catching\u2019 sound. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My AA membership didn\u2019t include getting us and our dead car home. So I called a company to see if they – Manchetts – could \u2018recover\u2019 us. Yes, for approx \u00a3250-ish! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What about the AA? They could do it, for about \u00a3180-ish. So I went with the AA, naturally! Chatting with the AA engineer on the way home, about our options, he seemed to feel that it was highly likely the cam-belt going had killed the engine, bending rods, or some such. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, when I got home, and started researching this issue, it got very confusing. My mum and her husband Malcolm had, on learning what\u2019s happened (we were supposed to go and see them on Sunday, but that\u2019s not happening now!), also looked into it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They came up with some more encouraging info (thanks!), suggesting that Mazda engines are built in such a way that a cam-belt failure isn\u2019t necessarily fatal. Oh, how I hope this proves to be the case for us! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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P1345 code\u2026 que pasa?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We simply don\u2019t have the funds for a new car, or even a repair to the current motor. And I really love this car. So I\u2019d prefer to keep her going, if at all possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started watching YouTube videos on cam-belt changes. And I\u2019ve found a good few. One, by MX5parts.co.uk is pretty good. But an even better one is by TheCarPassionChannel. (Watch it here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both videos show the cam-belt being replaced by one guy, working at home, using basic tools. So there\u2019s a bit of hope it\u2019s a job I may be able to do myself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

TheCarPassionChannel\u2019s video is the better of these two, because he moves the camera(s) around much more, such that you get a far better and clearer view of everything he\u2019s doing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annoyingly everything\u2019s shut – at least everything I\u2019ve tried, car parts and service\/garage wise – for the Queen\u2019s Platinum Jubilee. So I can\u2019t get quotes on repairs, or pricing for parts, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, numerous plans have been scuppered. A trip to the seaside today. A Curtis Mayfield tribute gig in London tonight. A visit to mum\u2019s at the weekend. Hey-ho!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pressing the VIN button didn\u2019t do anything. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So, what to do!? I\u2019m kind of hoping I can install a new timing belt myself. As per the videos I\u2019ve been watching. But it\u2019s not a simple job, by any means. And how am I going to get about to my teaching?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some time later the same day\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I just remembered Amazon Vine sent me an OBD unit some while back. Ages ago actually! And until now I haven\u2019t used it. With what feels horribly like it might be a terminal fault, I thought the time had come to track it down and use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a bit of stressed searching, I did locate it, and give it a go. It was getting late and pretty dark – about 10pm – by the time I went out to check the car. So I had to do it by torchlight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding the ECU\/OBD interface point was the first challenge. You have to plug the OBD in first, then turn the ignition on. I read the manual, which is in mangled Engrish, and far from excellent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DTC button is what you press to get the codes. I was hoping for a fully explanatory readout. But all I got was \u2018P1345 Manufacturer Control\u2019. This means you have to look the fault code up on ye internet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so it is, that now, 11pm, the day after the engine conked out, I\u2019m still not really too much the wiser about what\u2019s gone wrong or what to do. The info I got googling MX5 P1345 is rather diverse and varied!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope somewhere that can help me might be open on Saturday. Otherwise it\u2019ll be Monday by the time I can talk to anybody. And it might very well start cutting into my teaching\/earnings. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yesterday Teresa and I packed our picnic basket and headed out for a lovely lunch at Anglesey Abbey. Sadly, between Fordham and Burwell, on the B1102 Ness Road, an orange engine diagnostic light came on, followed – in seconds – by the engine conking out. We were relatively lucky inasmuch as a lay-by appeared on … <\/p>\n

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