1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Timing: Do it myself or take it to dealer?

Old Jun 5, 2004 | 10:17 AM
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Timing: Do it myself or take it to dealer?

Hi all,

I was thinking about get the timing dead on, so I called the local dealer (only mazda here) ........

"Oh, you installed the engine yourself?!........ million things could go wrong, I don't know....... I can not give you a quote and have to charge $84 bucks an hour."

Man, I thought car shops are supposed to help people instead of letting them down. Then I was not very sure about taking the car in any more and thinking about getting a timing light and do it myself. Anyone know how much time(money) it take for the dealer to do? And should I attempt to do it myself?

Thanks
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Old Jun 5, 2004 | 10:39 AM
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I would do it yourself. It took me two days to do it, but that was because i didnt look over to see my coil wires switched.

If everything is hooked up right it takes like 5 mins.
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Old Jun 5, 2004 | 10:40 AM
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BTW, i just use the $40 autozone inductive timing light. works great.
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Old Jun 5, 2004 | 10:44 AM
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Originally posted by RotaryRyan


If everything is hooked up right it takes like 5 mins.

yep, i would do it myself if i were you
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Old Jun 5, 2004 | 11:39 AM
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Ok, I will go for it!!! Thanks guys
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Old Jun 5, 2004 | 11:45 AM
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I need to get myself another cheapie walmart timing light to replace mine that stopped flashing. Don't bother with the expensive dial type lights (they usually don't work very well anyway).

RotaryRyan is right. Once you learn how, it only takes a couple minutes.
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Old Jun 5, 2004 | 12:03 PM
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Ofcourse im right. j/k

I got so mad when i couldnt figure out my timing. it was two very long days, till carl came along and said the magic words - "Check your coil wires"
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Old Jun 5, 2004 | 12:55 PM
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My friend's REPU was like that. I pulled all the wires from everything and started over.
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Old Jun 5, 2004 | 01:40 PM
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I am heading to Walmant...
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Old Jun 5, 2004 | 01:42 PM
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hmmmm. the walmarts here dont sell timing lights. they use to but...... It was like a ford one and it was more expensive than autozone
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Old Jun 5, 2004 | 11:41 PM
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I'll go to walmart soon. I have no idea if they still sell timing lights in my area. I hope they do.
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Old Jun 5, 2004 | 11:58 PM
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any Dealer or high end shop use diagnostic tools and often times dont know how to do things the way "we" do, and for there stuff to work you have to have a newer car usually with the obd stuff....and in peak condition, otherwise they have to fix everything else before they can fix the problem you have caue there equipment just keeps throwing trouble codes...... just FYI.... at least thats how it was explained to me by a former shop owner and master tech. but he was all computer bias, refused to touch anything with a carb.
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Old Jun 6, 2004 | 12:45 AM
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OBD II makes me want to retch.
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