how to change water pump, belt, and tensioner on 3.0L v6

[zoom zoom maz6]

So as a motor of age (118k on the clock) my water pump bearings are screaming like a mother in labor. Not a pretty sight I must say, and I want it rectified before I have a bigger mess……..

Start by removing the,

Battery terminals
Battery tie down
Battery tray
Intake hose
(All very basic, if you can’t figure it out pm me, or call a mechanic…. Its gets much worse from here)

Now that you have some work room it is time to get that belt off. Using a 15mm wrench attach to the tensioner nut and rotate toward the forward of the car……

Should look like this
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2325.jpg

(it is also wise to get one of these for later)
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2323.jpg

At this point you can remove the tensioner as well. It is attached by 2 8mm bolts
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2321.jpg

Top 2 bolt holes. (here is the old and new ones look like in comparison)
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2322.jpg

Fyi the new one has a metal bushing as apposed to the OE which was rubber; very nice indeed.

Now on to the upper radiator hose, most will have these attached with those wonderful squeeze clamps, but mine are the screw types as I detest them.

Now to the cam drive pulley. The last part in the way from getting to your bolts…….

I will warn you I did it this way and I will show you why this is the incorrect way. Will wait for conformation on the correct way.

Picked up this at harbor freight
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2331.jpg

Did this
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2332.jpg

And resulted in this
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2333.jpg
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2334.jpg

After further research a FORD power steering puller will remove this safely w/o damage. Upside is for fewer than 40 bucks is getting me a brand new one….

Now onto the pump

(Comparison of my OE verses Auto Zone unit)
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2337.jpg
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2338.jpg
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2336.jpg

All bolts are 8mm bolts that mount it. 3 are long bolts that bolt the entire unit to the block, and the rest are there as a pressure for the gasket)

Will post later which holes are the long bolts, those are the ones you want to leave till last so that you have something on the other side to put force on

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2336.jpg

Once everything is out, it will look like this.
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2340.jpg

After you have everything out put water pump sealant on the gasket and replace pumps.

Use a ford power steering INSTALLER to press the cam pulley on.

If I knew what I was doing a head of time, this would not have been overly difficult. Probably a 6 out of 10….

[edrive73]

Good job mang! Nice how to.

[zoom zoom maz6]

good job........ breaking shiz, but yeah.

I still learning from Josh, not an expert yet ;)

[zoom zoom maz6]

As I promised a part 2:

So I re-installed my new pump

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/markinglongboys.jpg

Red bolts are long studs into block. Pink bolt is a long black grade 10(if I had to guess) bolt. These are the only bolts that hold the pump assembly to the actual block

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2345.jpg

The proper tool to both install and remove is that of a ford power steering pulley kit. I got this press set at harbor freight for 20 bucks (if you want to borrow let me know and we can work something out)

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2346.jpg

I must take this second to thank Walter, he came over today and made sure I wasn’t totally incompetent…….. Sometimes it is good to have someone give you a hand, even if he was just as lost as you.

The new fresh pulley had all the writing on the wall and even circled the problem with the first one (ha ha, got to love ford)

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2341.jpg

Using my new tool, a ½ drive wrench and a 13/16 wrench(even though the stupid kit said it was 1” which wasn’t even close)
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2347.jpg

After that it time to put everything back together. You will want to clean up firsts and make sure that no spare gasket sealer is on anything it isn’t supposed to be on, I have a nasty habit of making messes as you can see.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/flippelax/mazda6/water%20pump%20write%20up/IMG_2349.jpg

Then put your new belt back on, your tensioner, and hoses.

PS I believe I could do this entire thing w/o removing the cam pulley as is the 2 bolts behind it are not long shanked and could be removed once the one’s that go into the block are removed.

[mazda6nut]

Finding your post was a life saver. Thanks for taking the time to take pictures and post them. Now I picked up the pulley remover from harbor frieght however I can't seem to figure out which tool is use to remove the pulley. Can you assist?

PS
Nice rack!

[mazda6nut]

I figured out a way to pull off pulley with Auto zone steering wheel puller along with 2 nuts, bolts and 6 washers. It came off like butter with out bending pulley.