Distributor Vent Kit

[polar964]

Of all the advice regarding 964's, one piece of advice which apears to be strongly recommended if not already done is to fit a vent to the distributor.
Should one be fitted irrespective of year or is it for earlier models? When i called at my local dealership i was told it wasn't listed and didn't come listed under updates. I know I can obtain a kit from elsewhere, but thought i would pass the question by you folks first. (oh, by the way, my 964 is a '93 C2 having done 114k)
Paul

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Paul,

If not already fitted it is an absolute essential. I would also be tempted to ask why one has not been fitted in all these years. Without it the secondary distributor drive belt is at risk through ozone build-up in the distributor body. The addition of the vent kit (less than £10) provides a positive air flow through the distributor body and vents the ozone to the outside - helping to play our part in Global Warming!!! (only kidding!!).

Regards

Dave

 

[Hacki]

Absolutely right, Dave. In case the secondary distibutor belt breaks that will probably cause a massive engine damage. So in fact, the vent kit is essential!

Hacki

 

[Steve Brookes]

How hard a job do people think it is to change or at least inspect the dizzy drive belt? I've got a vent kit fitted but the state of the belt is one of those things that gnaws away at the back of my mind.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

ORIGINAL: brksy16

How hard a job do people think it is to change or at least inspect the dizzy drive belt? I've got a vent kit fitted but the state of the belt is one of those things that gnaws away at the back of my mind.

Steve,

It's not the easiest thing to inspect OR change. To inspect it you'll need to take off both distributor caps and turn the engine over whilst looking down into the depths of the secondary distributor. You can just about see the belt but getting a good enough look to judge it's condition (other than not broken) is difficult enough.

Changing the belt is no mean feat either. Porsche offically do not condone changing the belt - they would rather sell you a reconditioned distributor assembly. However, the belts are available (Bert Gear for one) as is the small pin needed for reassembly of the distributor. It's not a home DIY job but not particularly difficult if you have the correct tools and facilities.

Failure of the belt is not necessarily catastrophic since the effects are likely to depend on the point at which the secondary distributor comes to rest. If it stops adjacent to a plug node then that plug will fire EVERY time the coil fires and is likely to burn a hole in the piston associated with that plug. If not adjacent to a plug node then you will only suffer a somehwat less than perfect burn - and slightly reduced power. Trouble is - you never know, so best avoided.

Regards

Dave

 

[polar964]

Thanks Folks for the advice.... I only need telling once.
Dave, unfortunately I have only owned the car a short time and although it came with full main dealer service history and a comprehensive file of bills etc i have no way of knowing why either. When I contacted Stratstone for additional information regarding the car i was told this information stays with the previous owner, infact they were very unhelpful.
Obviously better late than never and seeing that it is difficult to inspect, is there a chance it is on its last legs!! the belt that is?
Thanks for your advice
Paul

 

[burrow01]

Hi,

If this was the subject of a recall (not sure?) an OPC should be able to advise whether the work has been done

Pete

 

[Hacki]

My advice is to have a reconditioned distributor fitted. It wasn´t that expensive here in Germany and way cheaper than a hole in the engine. If it has been run all the time without vent kit it could really be on its last legs.

Rgds

Hacki

P.S.: ...and of course the vent kit... to make sure...

 

[polar964]

Thanks for the advice guys. The strange thing is prior to purchasing the car i had it inspected by a 'highly respected independant specialist' who recommended certain things be done. A 24k service was carried out by them for one as well as a few other minor items one of which was to inspect the condition of the distributor caps and rotors and depending upon their condition replace them which they did. Wouldn't you have thought they would have said or at least pointed out to fit a vent kit!

 

[Steve Brookes]

ORIGINAL: polar964

Thanks for the advice guys. The strange thing is prior to purchasing the car i had it inspected by a 'highly respected independant specialist' who recommended certain things be done. A 24k service was carried out by them for one as well as a few other minor items one of which was to inspect the condition of the distributor caps and rotors and depending upon their condition replace them which they did. Wouldn't you have thought they would have said or at least pointed out to fit a vent kit!

I agree it is a bit of a shocker. I'd like to see a pic of your engine bay as I've not seen one without the kit fitted.

 

[polar964]

Steve, as requested here is a pic. Not sure why you ask to see the engine bay! However seeing that you are interested here it is. The kit arrived in the post today and by the time you read this it will be fitted. Hope you like the picture.
Paul

 

[Steve Brookes]

Thanks Paul, it was just to satisfy my curiosity. I'm now jealous of how clean your engine bay is[:-]. To return the favour here's a photo of mine with the vent kit fitted. Sorry it is very poor quality and was taken just before I bought the car - it's a lot cleaner now!

 

[polar964]

Thanks Steve, no need to be jealous, you own a 964! and a Boxster for your daily drive hey ........ a bit of a clean is no sweat. What suprised me really, from my point of view and from the service record and file of bills it was obviously the car that had been looked after. So you would have thought such an important item like the vent kit would have been fitted. Until i had joined the forum and spoken to various people it was not something i was aware of. The alternator cooling fan is so clean because i replaced the alternator recently, so took the oppotunity to give the fan a proper clean a refurb' the aluminium housing the alternator sits in.
Here are a couple of pics .... oops apparenlty you can only upload one pic per message!
Paul

 

[polar964]

Steve, and here's the fan ...