Genuine 1997 Mazda MPV Piston

1997 Mazda MPV Piston Parts and Q&A

• Q: What steps must be taken before removing the piston and connecting rod assemblies on 1997 Mazda MPV?

  A: The oil pump, oil pan and cylinder head(s) have to be removed before the piston and connecting rod assemblies. First, touch with your fingernail to establish any ridge at the upper limit of the amount of travel of the ring, at the distance of about 1/4 inch below the top of each cylinder. In case of the presence of ridges because of carbon deposit or cylinder wear, they should be completely cleaned off using a ridge reamer in order to prevent the breakage of the pistons. After clearing the ridges, invert the engine and place the crankshaft upwards. Check the side clearance (endplay) before the removal of the connecting rods with feeler gauges and be sure that the play is removed. In case the endplay is more than the service limit, more connecting rods are possible and in case of connection of new rods or a new crankshaft, the endplay can be lower than the minimum specification and thus it has to be machined. Label identifying marks on the connecting rods and caps, and in case they are not labeled, make marks with a center punch. Relax the connecting rod cap nuts so that they can be removed by hand and then loosen the number one connecting rod cap and bearing insert without dropping the insert. To guard the crankshaft journal and the cylinder wall during the removal of the piston, slip a short piece of plastic or rubber hose over all the connecting rod cap bolts. Take out the bearing insert, and force the connecting rod / piston assembly through the engine top, with a piece of wood or plastic hammer handle pushing on the upper half of the bearing surface. In case of resistance, make all ridge material removed. This process should be repeated with the rest of the cylinders. Removed caps of connecting rods and bearing inserts should be replaced in the respective rods and the cap nuts should be fitted by fingers to ensure that they are not accidentally damaged on the bearing surfaces. The pistons should not be isolated of the connecting rods.