02 Protege Dx Timing Belt Question.

02 Protege just hit 60k and I'm going to change the timing belt myself. Since the vehicle has only 60k is it necessary to change the tensioner pulley and idler pulley? If so, why? Some people change them for the sake of changing them and others say its necessary. Since there is no book on these things I'm looking for another opinion. Thanks for the help!

p.s. Anyone know where to get a manual on these cars? And has anyone used or know anything about a parts maker for these Mazda's called GMB? They make water pumps, ideler & tensioner pulleys etc...

The shop manual on those cars say the timing belt should be replaced at 105,000 miles unless you are in Canada or some other location with extreme cold conditions.
http://www.familycar.com/CarCare/TimingBelt.htm

Clifton

YOu can download a Protege manual here.
http://www.floptical.net/mazda/

Clifton

Who provides this information on the timing belt change? It just says familycar. Who do they reference?

My reference is the 2002 Mazda shop manual maintenance schedule on page 00-00-29. It reads.
"Timing belt.
Inspect at (60,000 miles).
Replace every (105,000 miles)."
I posted a link for the shop manual above.

Clifton

A typical life for a timing belt is 120K miles. On newer cars with non-interference engines having the belt break is inconvenient, but doesn't mean an engine replacement. They feel it's safe to call for a replacement at 105k miles. With older interference engines a belt break is catastrophic so they have you replace it a half it's expected life.