30k change your timing belt "or"

[rob944s]

30k or how long 6 months 12, 24, all of us are diffrent of how we drive our cars, for some it`s every day, others it`s once a week, some show their cars every 12 months, some advice please?

 

[944turboS]

36k or three years is what I've been recommended

 

[John Sims]

I'm with Graeme - must check Beakys monsterous pile of invoices as I'm pretty sure he is due a new belt now.

 

[carlmthompson]

Mine were done at 48k and 7 years, 68k and 11 years, and the car is now at 82k and 17 years. (so thats 7 years, 4 years and 6 years between changes).

They were given a clean bill of health two years ago when I had them checked.

Saying that, I'm going to get them done this year inc. the rollers etc. as the consensus seems to be that I'm pushing my luck!

 

[Diver944]

The factory schedule is 48k or 4 years whichever is soonest. The sensible consensus is to err on the side of caution and follow 36k or 3 years. In my 8+ years of ownership I now need to use all my fingers and toes to count up the number of 'belt snapped' stories I have read []

Why risk a bill in the thousands or a new engine [] for the sake of a regular £400ish belt change?

 

[rob944s]

I must say too hear of very expensive repair bills in the event of a broken cam belt would 2 years or 30 k be a good thing too do or is that bieng a bit over protective?????

 

[944Turbo]

Other problems are failing rollers and water pump, worth doing the water pump every 6 years as well, I think it is recommended rollers done every time,
Tony

 

[sawood12]

I don't think that the 944 is any more prone to timing belt failures than any other car despite recent horror stories. I think it is more a case of as the cars are getting older more and more people are taking them to mechanics who don't necessarily understand the process of replacing the timing belt on a 944. Testiment to this is the fact that there are plenty of 944's and 924's that are knocking on for 30yrs old now that have lived their lives without suffering a belt failure. It could be that some mechanics don't understand that the rollers and water pump needs replacing fairly frequently, that it is best to change the balance shaft belt which is something that people tend to forget. Because the balance shaft belt has a different replacement schedule to the timing belt and that in threory it can fail in a safe way people tend to overlook it, and before you know it you've propbably clocked up 60k miles on the thing. I'd hazard a guess that a significant chunk of 944 timing belt failures were as a result of the balance shaft belt failing and taking the timing belt out with it. Basically how many stories of timing belt failures are from people who have adhered to the prescribed replacement schedule (including the 1000 mile post change tension check), had the work carried out by a notable Porsche Specialist using proper OEM parts? I'm not sure i've heard of any (queue for someone to shout up with 1st hand experience!!!!).

I personally will look to replace between 30 and 35k miles wherever a major service falls between that mileage. I certainly wouldn't go more than 4 yrs - again i'd probably replace between 3.5 and 4yrs and i'd always replace the balance shaft belt.

 

[rob944s]

Thanks Scott, can you tell me when the balance shaft belt is recomended to be changed "by the book" you say this is diffrent to to the timing belt? as getting them all done at the same time seems like a brilliant idea,,,,,,

 

[Diver944]

When we talk about belts, we are generally talking about both the camshaft and the balance shaft belts. The official Porsche interval for the balance shaft belts is 60k miles but as the belt itself is circa £50 it would be rather silly to go to all the trouble fit the cambelt one year then do virtually the same operation again next year to get to the balance belt.

 

[sawood12]

Paul, of course you are talking about people in the know and err on the side of caution when it comes to belts. When I go back through the maintenance history for my car the balance shaft belt has not always been replaced at the same time and it has always been serviced at either an OPC or a specialist (I wont mention which) - though the specialist I use recommended that I replace the balance shaft belt with the timing belt.

 

[ians]

I just checked my service history last night and it appears that both belts were changed 32k miles and 9 years ago, so sounds like they are due.

What is the consensous on what exactly to get replaced? Both belts a given, but what about rollers/tensioner? Some of the menu based servicing prices I've seen (RPM Porsche for example) just include belts, no rollers.

Can someone advise what I should sensibly get done, and how much to expect from a decent indie?

Also I read about the camshaft timing chain needing inspecting. Car has done 94k. Do I need to do anything on that?

Cheers,

Ian

 

[pauljmcnulty]

If the belt's been on for 9 years I'd be dubious about starting it! [8|]

RPM did my belts, rollers, seals. Water pump was fine.

All in about £700 including the vat, IIRC.

 

[Guest]

Absolutely Paul, just done all mine including rollers and a new hose...your price is spot on, I did water pump at the same time for another £400. In for a penny...[8|]

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: ians

both belts were changed 32k miles and 9 years ago, so sounds like they are due.

What is the consensous on what exactly to get replaced?

If it really has been 9 years then I would also do the rollers and tensioners unless your Indy is positive that they will last until the next change.

If you have an S or S2 then the consensus is to get the camchain and slipper changed every 50k miles which also gives the mechanic a good chance to inspect the cams for worn sprockets or any early signs of the case hardening failing

 

[pauljmcnulty]

ORIGINAL: scz

Absolutely Paul, just done all mine including rollers and a new hose...your price is spot on, I did water pump at the same time for another £400. In for a penny...[8|]

Just out of interest, RPM would have done the water pump at the same time for just the cost of the pump - about £150 IIRC. Whilst the car is in bits it's a simple job to change the pump as well so shouldn't add to the labour cost.

 

[ians]

any idea what the rollers /tensioner should add to the cost? I assume its a trivial job to change them when the car is stripped down for the belt change.

Cheers

Ian

 

[pauljmcnulty]

ORIGINAL: ians

any idea what the rollers /tensioner should add to the cost? I assume its a trivial job to change them when the car is stripped down for the belt change.

Cheers

Ian

See other thread!

Suffice to say that it's cheaper to get the whole lot done than to have the belt changes, and then 3000 miles later have it changed again because the seals are leaking! []