Distributor ventilation

[964RS_DAB]

Someone recently advised me that all 964s should have a distributor ventilation fitted - apparently this is a retro-fit item which prevents the distributor belts from perishing which would ultimately result in serious engine damage. For whatever reason my 964rs does not have this kit fitted. This may be because it has not been to an OPC since the mid 90s, however it has been serviced annually by aknowledged 964rs specialists, I would have thought that they would have fitted the kit if it is deemed essential....

Views?

Thanks
David

 

[Hacki]

Have it done. Highly recommended.

Should be a recall normally or at least done by regular service.

Serious engine damage possible due to the destroyed belt of one distributor. Then the permanent spark will weld a nice hole in the cylinder/cylinder head. Sounds like broken exhaust (a bit), but is much more expensive.

Rgds

Hacki

 

[Hacki]

Addition:

Think about replacing the distributor. (Not too expensive)

Maybe the belts are pretty worn out after all the years without ventilation.

At least worth a question at your specialist.

 

[Tony]

True, would have expected it to have been fitted or at least brought to your attention. If it's been serviced by a specialist they should have seen it - but this was raised a long time ago and maybe nobody thought to check.

To quote from one of the 'Tech Tips' in the book:
. Porsche were aware of this problem and fitted a breather pipe to later distributors and some earlier cars were modified to receive this pipe. This helped but did not cure the problem completely, the final solution was a combination of better breathing and a revised rubber belt The real solution unfortunately is to replace both distributors with later units and Porsche (Germany) recommend that this is done after 60,000 km or 4 years which ever comes first. Most of the German RS's now have this mod and the German dealers have updated these cars for a modest cost of 500 - 600 DM which is £160-200 in real money, I have heard of some dealers passing on warranty refunds to the customers and not charging a bean for very low mileage RS's You will need to check if your car already has this modification and has the later distributor fitted, the new generation of twin-distributors have a " Z " printed on the right side of the lower part made of metal body of the distributor. I believe that Porsche GB offer an exchange package for around £300 and know that some companies fit new belts and breather kits to existing distributors.
Best get it done asap.

 

[ChrisW]

Mine had breathers but I still had the belt fail.

Ninemeister fitted a pair of exchange Bosch distributors.

It was Mike Wild at a Donington track day who alerted me to the probable problem, --- I had got used to it. The car was transformed by the repair, running cooler and smoother, and + around 40 bhp.

But serious damage can be caused ... so it needs sorting !

 

[rs phil]

have original invoice for mine being changed by dealer some years ago,i think 50 km on engine when done

also has Z on right hand side at the base...is this better distributor than the first one?

 

[65 mat]

1st thing I did after purchasing my RS was to change the distributors. I originally suggested having them modified however my workshop told me about the ''uprated'' ones. Get them done!
Can't remember the exact cost but £250+vat sounds familiar.

 

[h_____]

Mine are vented but not checked for upgrade. Will add to the list. [8|]

 

[964RS_DAB]

Thanks for your feedback gents - it's much appreciated.

The car is booked in at an OPC in a few weeks time for the steering column UJ safety recall work - I'll get them to add this to the job list.

One final question - do I need a ventilation kit in addition to the upgraded distributors?

Cheers
David

 

[Elliot Davies]

see here............

http://www.porsche964.co.uk/technical/distr_vent_kit.htm

 

[ChrisW]

My replacement distributor pair still have the ventillation kit installed.

 

[h_____]

Reviving this thread .....

Been and looked at my dizzys cant see a Z marking on the case. But am I looking in the right place?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42228584@N04/3892633910/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42228584@N04/3891856699/in/photostream/
Can anyone advise?

 

[rs phil]

think they are the original ones,the Z is to the right of the part no on mine,on its own

 

[RSGulp]

Mine is the same as yours Hugh. Vent kit installed but no Z marking.

 

[h_____]

Thanks, OK, so these need replacing then - great. []

 

[964RS_DAB]

OPC quoted me ~£700 +VAT for the pair []

 

[RSGulp]

ORIGINAL: h_____

Thanks, OK, so these need replacing then - great. []

You already have the vent kit installed. Surely it's just a case of checking the belt or replacing the belt when the car is next in the workshop as a precaution.

...Unless someone can show that there's a distinct difference in design between the pre-Z and Z-marked distributors apart from the vent kit being pre-fitted on the Z-marked one?

 

[carreraboy]

Hugh GT ONE did the vent two years ago ....


ALSO Should still be able to get it done free with an OPC ...

 

[964RS_DAB]

Des

how do you get them FOC? - as mentioned in my earlier post, my local OPC (Solihull) wanted £700+, let me know where I'm going wrong!

cheers
David

 

[carreraboy]

East London OPC would still honour the Factory Recall going back 3 years ago ... this was an official factory recall ... did not know there was a stop date, since when did it become non-dangerous?