Cam / balance belts

[sy247]

I have just had the cam and balance belts changed on my 944 S2 with an indy specialist. In the service book and on the previous invoices when the belts were changed, the car went back in after 2500 miles to have the belts re-tensioned.

I was surprised when the mechanic told me that this was not necessary and that he had over tightened a bit to compensate for any stretching. What is the general opinion on this please?

 

[johnk]

ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! would have thought the belt will be whinning a bit now as well as a bit of excess tension on the pulleys.... not heard that one

 

[edh]

It would be interesting to know which specialist to avoid for belts? []

 

[PJS917]

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

 

[sy247]

Do I need to get this attended too ASAP then or can I wait till the 2500 have passed and take it somewhere else? It is not whinning as far as I am aware. He did say if they are overtightened they will whine.

 

[morris944s2john]

The belts on my 944S2 have whined/whirred after each and every belt change. Thats why I am buying all the tools (including a tension gauge) and doing the job myself this time.

 

[zcacogp]

Belts have a tension setting for a reason ... they need to be checked after being replaced to ensure that they are settling in correctly.

Your indie has a) Over-tightened the belts (possibly), and b) Claimed that they don't need checking, thus meaning that if there is a problem then the first you will know about it is when you hear some remarkably expensive noises from under your bonnet.

I agree with the earlier comment - name the indie so we know to take care.


Oli.

P.S. Think it's 2500km not 2500 miles.
P.P.S. Ask your indie nicely and remove the covers yourself and the 2500km/mile check can be done for free.

 

[edh]

Or join the PCGB and borrow one of their gauges?

......Got there before Paul [][][]

 

[Diver944]

I would always have them retensioned after the recommended mileage, it's just not worth the risk not to. If they are over tight they will whine annoyingly so if yours are quiet I suspect they are fine. The balance shaft belt is a huge elongated affair and just a few percent of stretching will be a few cm. There is only so much slack that the tensioner can take up so I would prefer it was set to the optimum after the stretch period.

 

[peanut]

name and shame the idiots. They have clearly had no training whatsoever. No wonder most of our water pump bearings fail soon after changing the belts.
If we get our belts done cheaply at an independant maybe it would pay to get them checked at 1000 miles which I believe is the correct mileage recommended by Porsche