morris944s2john
New member
I would get it changed ASAP! I had a Cam belt go at only ~30,000 miles at 5 1/2 years.
Belt Change
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pylonracer
New member
Yes you are quite correct a belt change ASAP is required, but you can see from your own experience that there is some variable that makes belts fail at different time periods. My guess is that this is due to tension setting, probably too much tension.
The problem with the 1/4 turn technique is that one persons idea of the effort required to acheive the 1/4 turn is different from the nexts. Hence the creation of a standard testing device (the Porsche tool), I remember when I used to get the 944 serviced at an OPC many years ago, that they used to recheck the belt tension after it had bedded in (streched)
Regards
Baz
The problem with the 1/4 turn technique is that one persons idea of the effort required to acheive the 1/4 turn is different from the nexts. Hence the creation of a standard testing device (the Porsche tool), I remember when I used to get the 944 serviced at an OPC many years ago, that they used to recheck the belt tension after it had bedded in (streched)
Regards
Baz
morris944s2john
New member
Yes, I understand many garages, even some specialists just give the belt a twist to check the tension. I have noticed a more whirry sound from the front of the engine after garage done belt changes in the past- which may be indicative of overly tight belts. Hence I'm going to do all the belts, rollers etc myself and I have a tensioner gauge to make sure its not too tight.
Your cars belt may also have been overtightened (if it was done by a garage without the tension gauge). On my S2 the teeth stripped on a 2" section of belt. Luckily on start up- I was lucky no damage was done and the engine was fine after a local garage fitted a new belt.
I think it pays to be paranoid abour 944 cam belts as failure could effectively write the car off.
Your cars belt may also have been overtightened (if it was done by a garage without the tension gauge). On my S2 the teeth stripped on a 2" section of belt. Luckily on start up- I was lucky no damage was done and the engine was fine after a local garage fitted a new belt.
I think it pays to be paranoid abour 944 cam belts as failure could effectively write the car off.
pylonracer
New member
I think that if you can hear a whining noise from the tensionsers etc then the belt might be tight.
I did have the idle pulley break up once, and by miracle the belt did not jump any teeth whilst running without belt tension. This was during the period of time when the car was fully serviced by an OPC, I don't think the problem was due to the OPC's work as I don't believe the idle pulley was in the service schedule.
Change the belts regulary is the motto of this tale, probably like changeing engine oil, better done at regular frequent intervals!
Regards
Baz
I did have the idle pulley break up once, and by miracle the belt did not jump any teeth whilst running without belt tension. This was during the period of time when the car was fully serviced by an OPC, I don't think the problem was due to the OPC's work as I don't believe the idle pulley was in the service schedule.
Change the belts regulary is the motto of this tale, probably like changeing engine oil, better done at regular frequent intervals!
Regards
Baz
Indi9xx
New member
About 6 years ago I performed a 944 belt seminar for club members and it seemed to be really popular, I still see people who were not there mention they have seen a photocopy of the original "hand out" information sheet from the day.
As the values of 944's are going down ever lower, some owners are electing to do their own work on the cars, as paying a specialist cam for some be to to expensive. I can understand this.
With this in mind, I am happy to propose a couple of solutions to this problem.
1: Parts, The procedure, and telephone support.
If anyone wants to make sure they get all the right parts to do the job, I will put them together a kit of all the parts required along with a printed procedure for doing the job. I will also be available to these people at the end of a phone if they get stuck. Along with a cut price for these people to have the belt tension checked after 1500 miles for the retension check.
2: Seminar anyone?
If there is interest, I do not mind arranging another belt seminar, where I will show people how to perform the job in the real world.
Some words of warning.
1. Do not use the quarter twist method.
2. Do not follow english language instructions in the first revision of the workshop manual as seen in many PDF versions, they have a translation error.
3. Never ever ever use the quarter twist method on the balance belt, you will end up with an engine that sounds like a washing machine and may well break the balance belt which may then feed itself into the cam belt and cause some serious damage to your engine!
4. Use the right parts, not cheap knock offs, if you cant recognise the cheap knock off parts, do not buy from cheap sources, get genuine or buy from someone who knows the difference.
As the values of 944's are going down ever lower, some owners are electing to do their own work on the cars, as paying a specialist cam for some be to to expensive. I can understand this.
With this in mind, I am happy to propose a couple of solutions to this problem.
1: Parts, The procedure, and telephone support.
If anyone wants to make sure they get all the right parts to do the job, I will put them together a kit of all the parts required along with a printed procedure for doing the job. I will also be available to these people at the end of a phone if they get stuck. Along with a cut price for these people to have the belt tension checked after 1500 miles for the retension check.
2: Seminar anyone?
If there is interest, I do not mind arranging another belt seminar, where I will show people how to perform the job in the real world.
Some words of warning.
1. Do not use the quarter twist method.
2. Do not follow english language instructions in the first revision of the workshop manual as seen in many PDF versions, they have a translation error.
3. Never ever ever use the quarter twist method on the balance belt, you will end up with an engine that sounds like a washing machine and may well break the balance belt which may then feed itself into the cam belt and cause some serious damage to your engine!
4. Use the right parts, not cheap knock offs, if you cant recognise the cheap knock off parts, do not buy from cheap sources, get genuine or buy from someone who knows the difference.
pauljmcnulty
Active member
I can't imagine any reason why this isn't a goer in the New Year if you're prepared to run it? Thank, Jon. [
]
Diver944
Active member
Jon doesn't log on here every day so it would be much better to just give him a call:
01202 4888800 www.jmgarage.com
It also removes the risk of this thread going a bit too commercial for the poor Moderators to handle []
01202 4888800 www.jmgarage.com
It also removes the risk of this thread going a bit too commercial for the poor Moderators to handle [
]
pauljmcnulty
Active member
ORIGINAL: Diver944
Jon doesn't log on here every day so it would be much better to just give him a call:
01202 4888800 www.jmgarage.com
It also removes the risk of this thread going a bit too commercial for the poor Moderators to handle [
To be honest, I'm happy for any of the indies to offer workshops to teach the DIYers the basics. And, offer forum members a good deal on the correct parts and aftersales service.
So, all you other indies out there (and I know you all read the forums [
]) why not get this sort of thing running all over the country? And, why not for different repairs? [8|]
easym5
New member
Hi yes i would also be interested
This is my first post as i have just bought my first Porsche which is a 1991 944 S2 Guards red with bridge spoiler and 17" cup alloys
I have found this forum to be a great help and i have good mechanical skills and plan to do water pump ,belts,tensioners etc also the cam chain pads after xmas so a price for all parts from a UK supplier would be great. I have had a price from a guy in the USA but would prefer to stay British
I love this car and it is the only one to tempt me away from the bmw e34 models that i have had for the last 15 years.
So am looking foreward to 944 ownership and all things that go with it regards Chris
This is my first post as i have just bought my first Porsche which is a 1991 944 S2 Guards red with bridge spoiler and 17" cup alloys
I have found this forum to be a great help and i have good mechanical skills and plan to do water pump ,belts,tensioners etc also the cam chain pads after xmas so a price for all parts from a UK supplier would be great. I have had a price from a guy in the USA but would prefer to stay British
I love this car and it is the only one to tempt me away from the bmw e34 models that i have had for the last 15 years.
So am looking foreward to 944 ownership and all things that go with it regards Chris
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