Protege fanbelt noise. Overheating. Help!

Tiny
DOUG
  • MEMBER
  • MAZDA PROTEGE
I own a 2002 Protege. After having timing belt and water pump replaced, a recurring high pitched fanbelt squeal (incredibly loud) began to plague me. Repair center tightened and replaced belt 3 times to no avail. Then, water pump failed and engine overheated. Water pump replaced, but squeal remains, especially under 45 degrees. A friend who teaches at Nascar Institute says he thinks 2nd water pump's bad, too. Repair center unwilling to replace 2nd water pump unless certain that's the problem. Ideas?
Wednesday, January 4th, 2006 AT 7:55 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,271 POSTS
If the timing belt runs the water pump it sounds like they tightened the timing belt to much and it caused the water pump to go out.
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Wednesday, January 4th, 2006 AT 10:43 AM
Tiny
DOUG
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Thanks, Ken. I'll ask my repair center about that.
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Wednesday, January 4th, 2006 AT 12:46 PM
Tiny
COSMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 347 POSTS
The timing belt does not run the water pump.

Cosmo. Mazda Tech
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Thursday, January 19th, 2006 AT 5:00 PM
Tiny
DOCOLDS
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
There is another post regarding the same problem with a 1998 Protege in which I have described all the steps I have taken to try to alleviate the same condition. Do you know what brand water pump is in your car? I am currently having problems with not one, but two Proteges. Both have had aftermarket water pumps installed, and I am beginning to wonder if they aren't the source of the problem.
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Monday, January 23rd, 2006 AT 7:35 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,271 POSTS
Could be, cheap water pumps have been the source of much trouble. I always use top quality auto parts from OEM and after market parts. :D
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Tuesday, January 24th, 2006 AT 10:27 AM
Tiny
DOCOLDS
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
I am currently considering trying a GMB pump on it. The pump is the only thing I have not addressed since the problem arose. The car has had the belts and alternator replaced, I have checked the alignment of the belt, and I have cleaned any debris from the grooves in the crank and water pump pulleys. I have tried loosening the belt to take any unnecessary load from the water pump and alternator bearings, and I have tried tightening the belt to eliminate slippage. As far as I can see, there can only be one answer- the water pump. I just want to make sure there isn't anything I am overlooking before I drop the hundred bucks and a Saturday afternoon monkeying around with the stupid thing.
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Wednesday, January 25th, 2006 AT 5:17 PM
Tiny
JOHNNYJOHNSON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have a 2000 Protege with 185,000 miles. What you have is NORMAL. Mine has squealed for years. I replaced the water pump after it failed (started leaking), replaced the thermostat, flushed the entire cooling system, new high quality belts, new alternator. The squeal is still there SOMETIMES but only at first and if I put a load on the car like lights and AC at the same time. Once the squeal goes away after about three minutes it never comes back. KNOWN DESIGN FLAW for that car.
Great car though.
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Thursday, July 27th, 2017 AT 1:01 PM

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