cam belt intervals

[Mike_Pollock]

Lets get this straight. There has ALWAYS been a Porsche recommended interval of 48,000 miles or 4 years - whichever comes first.

Thats not quite right, I have a 1983 manual which says only that the belts be checked for tension every 12k, with no further mention of the belts in the schedule. There is mention of changing transmission oil at 60K so they did look beyond a 50k life!

It is an American version but as originally designed, the belts were for the lifetime of the car.

The 1989 version of the manual shows 48k/4 year replacement.

As an aside the 1989 manual shows 100k belt change intervals for the 928 and have you seen the length and routing for them!!!

I think as there were belt failures (for whatever reasons) they started to cover themselves with the changes to the schedule.

I know that my '83 car had a belt go, as I have seen the gouges in the plastic of the belt cover!

So regular replacement is required.

 

[huw]

Clearly the belts issue is almost as contentious as the sills issue. From what I'm reading, condition of sills and overall condition are the most important factors and I can get the belts done. Just didn't want to buy a car and immediately have to spend another £500 or so. Thanks everyone for your input.

 

[pauly]

ORIGINAL: huw

Clearly the belts issue is almost as contentious as the sills issue. From what I'm reading, condition of sills and overall condition are the most important factors and I can get the belts done. Just didn't want to buy a car and immediately have to spend another £500 or so. Thanks everyone for your input.

The spending STARTS after you buy the car [].

 

[JamesO]

Like any old/classic car unless you do the work yourself the large bills will arrive sooner or later.
For example if you diy a belt change (not rocket science) excluding any possible extras will cost around £40 and half a day of your life.

I would be prepared to bet most of the lower value classics still on the road are maintained by the owners or those with deep pockets.

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: A9XXC

Thats not quite right, I have a 1983 manual which says only that the belts be checked for tension every 12k, with no further mention of the belts in the schedule.

Wow, I don't know that Mike - you live and learn every day

Mine is an 89 so the manual the revision in it. I guess in those 6 years Porsche must have already had to fix some engines due to belt failure, hence the revision.

 

[stevie d]

My '85 square dash manual is the same stating the cam and balance belt should have their tension checked every 12k service but no further mention of replacing them . Meanwhile my '89 manual says to check tension and condition of the toothed belt (cam only?) every 12k service for lux & turbo whilst the 's' model needs only to be checked every 24k service . All models should have cam belt replaced at the 48k service according to the manual but no mention of balance belt or any time factors other than mileage . I've just tried to send a technical enquiry to Porsche uk to get a contemporary , definitive answer to the belts and water pump question but there's a problem with the form and it won't send . I'll try ringing them on monday when they are open and hopefully get them to e mail me the answer which i can then post on here for everyone to view .

 

[stevie d]

Sorry for the delay but I've only just received an email today from Porsche confirming the recommended intervals for changing the belts and the water pump . They would not give a general rule for all models and required my chassis numbers before advising . So these times are for an '85 square dash 2.5 Lux and for a '89 2.7 Lux . I have cut and paste the emails to here as follows :

Dear Mr Webber

Further to our conversation last week, I am pleased to advise of the
following:

For the Porsche 944 MY 1985, it is recommended that the Timing Belt,
Balance Belt and Water Pump, is checked every 12 months / 12,000 miles, and
replaced at 36,000 miles.
For the Porsche 944 MY 1989, it is recommended that the above are checked
every 12 months / 12,000 miles, and replaced at 48,000 miles.

I trust the above assists and thank you for contacting Porsche Cars Great
Britain Limited.

Kind regards

Clare Bayer
Porsche Customer Assistance
Porsche Cars Great Britain Limited

Tel: 0118 919 1744
Fax: 0118 916 5199

This didn't really clear up the matter of how frequently the belts and pump should be changed in terms of age rather than mileage so i asked for further clarification and received the following email in response :

Dear Mr Webber

Thank you for your call and I am sorry my response was misleading.

I can confirm that there is no specified time in years as to when the
Timing Chain and Balance Belt require changing on both vehicle's. However,
as part of the service schedule, these are checked and replacement is
recommended if required.

There is no specified time, or at what mileage, the Water Pump is required
to be replaced.

I trust the above provides clarification.

Many thanks

Clare Bayer
Porsche Customer Assistance
Porsche Cars Great Britain Limited

Tel: 0118 919 1744
Fax: 0118 916 5199

So according to Porsche the belts are changed based purely on mileage or condition and NOT age . And the water pumps need only be changed based on condition and NOT mileage or age . It would seem therefore that the rule of thumb on here and TIPEC for belts changed every 4 years and water pump changed every second belt change is not necessary and we've all been spending big bucks doing so when there was no need !

 

[944Turbo]

I bet if it broke even with an annual OPC inspection and FSH they wouldn't be interested in financial support in the event of a failure. The 4 year rule comes from experience and many ruined engines. I Don't recall any failures of belts replaced at 4 years there are some failures with older belts.
Tony

 

[pauljmcnulty]

So according to Porsche the belts are changed based purely on mileage or condition and NOT age . And the water pumps need only be changed based on condition and NOT mileage or age . It would seem therefore that the rule of thumb on here and TIPEC for belts changed every 4 years and water pump changed every second belt change is not necessary and we've all been spending big bucks doing so when there was no need !

This argument is just plain wrong; the schedules for servicing have to be adapted and changed as the cars age and experience kicks in. Porsche recommend changing brake fluidand coolant every two years, but do owners follow this? You have to understand that many service items are age-related as well as mileage-related, and that most people use somewhere around 10-12K per year as an average. Hence 48K should take four years, you don't expect to leave the belt 40 years on a car that only does just over 1000 miles per year, surely?

As a very good example there is no actual schedule for changing the timing chain and associated parts on 16V cars. But, that's because Porsche don't expect to be using the rigid schedule at higher ages and mileages. Perhaps you should leave your oil unchanged if you don't do the mileage others do? Or continue with very old and perished tyres, cracking at the edges, because they aren't worn out yet?

We've seen enough failures over the years to choose not to risk it. If you don't believe all the specialists, and the combined experience of the thousands of owners on the various forums over the years, then fine.

 

[macandsue]

I bought my 86 lux in 1999 I didn't like the sound of the front of it after about 300 miles and I took it into Dick Lovett at Swindon. It would appear that the replacement water pump had a slightly bigger drive pulley to make it more effective. There was a kit to go with this , to stop interference with the belt whose rear side drove it. Whoever had fitted it had just cut two lugs of and pretended it was ok, the kit was in those days about thirty quid. Lovetts fitted a new pump and kit and belts about £1000 altogether. There was 74,000 miles on the clock. The belts were checked again for tension about 2k later. At 121,800 miles the camshaft belt tensioner fell apart, belt jumped and it was goodnight engine. The belt was unmarked except a few scuffs. This was 47k after it was last looked at and about 7years. All other servicing , oil and brakes, fluids suspension and drive shafts were done by me or independants and the car ran like a dream until 10 seconds before it blew.So it isn't just about belts you really have to have a look in there on a fairly regular basis.I put another donk in which I bought from Porsch - Apart and all belts and a tensioner were replaced. 2000 miles later a tension check was carried out. and it is now at 133,000. I have it on good authority that these new belts are for life!!!! who wants to take that chance? This second engine by the way has no oil leaks and uses none at all .I use it every day, don't put the miles in though as we ,Sue and I, have three of the monsters to play with , and watch this space for some interesting facts about the last belt change and its aftermath on one of the others . You will weep.