Topic: *My custom tool* for my '90 Miata; timing belt / water pump and...?
[Edit: pics of the holding tool I made in a new post 03/22]
A leak started under the water pump / thermostat area, right in the center front. So I got the water pump / timing belt kit, and I'm finally getting to it after two years daily driving it - never revving over 5k rpm, though.
WHILE I'm in there, any suggestions as to _other_ favorite routine maintenance jobs that might get missed with a limited kit like that?
I bqusted the two bolt heads off of the bolts holding the thermostat housing together; that delayed me completing this. My tools are not organized, so I wound up buying more tools I already had, but couldn't find. Temp sensor was corroded, and broke with almost no effort when I removed the connector; there's a lot of corrosion in that area.
When I took off the top timing belt cover the belt looks new. No wear I can see, either on the ribs or the edges of the belt, and no cracks. But I have no idea how old it is, either; so I'm replacing it.
More background:
I'm second owner, manual, A/C (needs recharge, at least), no hard top, clear title. Probably sat for most of 5 years, with only about 500 miles over that time. Originally had 12 and 14 year old tires, so I've been babying it.
When sold to me, 3 miles more than previous year's inspection sticker showed, and had just had an oil change - totally clean oil on the stick. So I think the previous owner took care of it.
Rusty rockers behind the door on both sides, and door bottoms, and there are repair attempts that show; this isn't a concourse Miata.
Upper radiator house still has a label on it. The other hoses look in decent condition; no leaks I can see other than the one I mentioned, and no cracks. Screw-type house clamps on the upper _and_ lower radiator hoses. The smaller hoses have what look like original spring clamps on them.
Oil mist residue under the hood; looks like it's coming from the plug thingy on the valve cover (EGR?). Generally clean in the engine compartment otherwise; never any oil drips where I've parked it.
Adding a cup of coolant a month for so long eventually turned into a pint (an hour / 40 mi.), which was manageable; until the one day the coolant (what was by then just distilled water) just constantly dribbled out as it sat, until it was more than a gallon low. That's when I parked it.
