Service Help

[Guest]

Cheer xenon - don't worry it wasn't caned more like a sunday stroll... but so far its going ok, no doubt the MOT will drag up a dearth of problems..

 

[Fen]

I'm not sure I'd even run it until the belts are done personally.

 

[Guest]

hi fen
is it really that bad not changing the belt kit if I don't know when they were last done ?? ur scaring me now ...


pjb

( any signs to look out for ? )

thanks

 

[xenon]

take the timing-belt cover off and inspect the belts at the very least, to make sure they're not cracked or obviously deformed. Just picked mine back up from PCT in Coventry where it went to have the belts retensioned, and they reckon one of the rollers had been incorrectly fitted..[:-]

 

[Fen]

ORIGINAL: pjb



hi fen
is it really that bad not changing the belt kit if I don't know when they were last done ?? ur scaring me now ...


pjb

( any signs to look out for ? )

thanks

I'm trying to scare you.

They have a life of 4 years or 48,000 miles tops - most of us will shorten than to 36,000 miles or 36 months (and note that's whichever comes first, not second). If they fail you have a big bill to replace valves and guides etc. on top of the costs of replacing the belts. They DO fail; they are basically glorified rubber bands and they wear, they degrade through aging, they degrade through repeated flexing and tension changes as they rotate. They also degrade if an oil seal allows oil onto them.

If you don't know when they were last done you're gambling. There are no half-measures though - the belt will work absolutely fine on borrowed time until suddenly it breaks and you WILL have a big bill at that point.

 

[sawood12]

ORIGINAL: xenon

take the timing-belt cover off and inspect the belts at the very least, to make sure they're not cracked or obviously deformed. Just picked mine back up from PCT in Coventry where it went to have the belts retensioned, and they reckon one of the rollers had been incorrectly fitted..[:-]

Even an inspection is no indication of a potential failure. The strength of the belt is in the chord core of the belt and not the rubber so crazing of the rubber is not necessarily indicative of a weakened belt. The rubber is only there to enable the belt to be driven around the pulleys.
.

 

[xenon]

True, but in my non-Porsche experience, belt failure is commonly due to stripped teeth rather than an actual snap. Crazed or cracked rubber would worry me too.

 

[Fred Hindle]

I would avoid driving it altogether. Things tend to be under greatest load when firing up so just starting it may be enough to break a belt. Think of it as an incentive to get the belts done as soon as they arrive.
Hope you don't have to remove the fuel tank, the gearbox has to be dropped.
Good luck with belts and MOT.
Cheers,

 

[Guest]

quick update.. if your interested that is !

Cam / Balance belts now changed..

Petrol Tank repaired, took the strap off and found only a small hole, cleaned and repaired with metalflex.. good as new. replaces back brake pipes..

Sorting lights out tonight.. booked in for MOT next week.. fingers crossed

 

[Fen]

I bet you feel a weight off your mind with the belts done?

Fingers crossed for the MoT.