1998 Mazda 6 Series engine and engine cooling problems

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA 626LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND AT TIMES WOULD STALL. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE TIMING BELT. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 198,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIRS.”

“WHILE DRIVING EXIT THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. PUSH TO THE SIDE AND COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. AFTER TOLL BACK TO HOME, WE CAN START THE CAR NEXT DAY. *TR”

“TL- THE CONTACT HAS 1998 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A RECALL AND THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 00V134000 THAT THEIR VEHICLE IS NOT A PART OF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER STATED THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED. THE CONTACT HAD THE TIMING BELT TENSION SPRING BREAK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRVIE WAY AND TRAVELING 5MPH AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD 114000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE AND 11400 MILES CURRENTLY. UPDATED 06/25/10. *LJ UPDATED 07/27/10*J”

“1998 MAZDA 626, WHILE DRIVING THE HIGHWAY GOING 60 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND WE COASTED TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. HAD IT TOW. CAR DIAGNOSTICS PENDING. *TR”

“THE EXTERNAL SPRING IN MY TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAS BROKEN, AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THERE IS ONE ON THE MAZDA 626 2.0 LTR ENGINE (4 CYL). *TR”

“1998 MAZDA 626 LX 2.0L 4CYLINDER ENGINE. RETURNING BACK TO THE GUEST HOUSE AFTER DROPPING A FRIEND OFF AT THE AIRPORT THAT EVENING, AFTER GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE, I HEARD A CRACK (FOLLOWED BY A GRINDING NOISE) FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE. WITHIN MOMENTS AS I SLOWED THE CAR TO A SAFE SPOT, I HEARD A WHIPPING NOISE FROM THE SAME REGION. THAT LATER HAPPENED TO BE THE SERPENTINE AND ALTERNATOR BELTS BOTH BROKE JUST AFTER EXITING THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON AT ONCE.., AND THEN, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT, THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE GUEST HOUSE. THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT AND THE DIAGNOSES WERE THE GEARS IN THE WATER PUMP WERE BROKEN WHICH FROZE THE ALTERNATOR BELT, THE ALTERNATOR BELT-NOW STIFFENED- SHREDDED AND MANGLED THE SERPENTINE BELT. THEN THE SERPENTINE BELT TORE ALONG THE GROOVED LINES. PLUS, THE ENGINE IS NOW LEAKING COOLANT. REPAIRS???? I AM WAITING FOR THE ESTIMATE TO COME IN. I HAVE BEEN WARNED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE CHEAP TO FIX. $500-$700 I ASKED? NOPE! HE SAID, AFTER LETTING OUT A CHUCKLE..., MUCH HIGHER HE REPLIED. AT LEAST $1000 OR MORE. *TR”