timing belt on 924s

[usermjg]

Hi Guys

Just a quick question, if the timing belt goes while the engine is running on a 924S is it fatal, will the engine need a top end rebuild?

 

[pauljmcnulty]

ORIGINAL: usermjg

Hi Guys

Just a quick question, if the timing belt goes while the engine is running on a 924S is it fatal, will the engine need a top end rebuild?

Hi Mark,

Short answer is yes, as it's the same engine as the 944.

Is this question because it's happened? You might be lucky, but usually bent valves at least. Or, if you're hoping not to change the belt then it's not worth the risk. If it's a car you're looking to buy then get it checked out first.

 

[geoff Ives]

Paul is of couse correct but it can be far worse than that. The cylinders of a 944/924S are alluminium and if scored cannot be relined in the normal way. Not just a top end but another engine.
DON'T RISK IT.

 

[usermjg]

I gave my 924S to my father some years ago, and he has loved it but never used it as a day to day car, however his laguna had problems and so started to use it as his regular car until I got a phone call the other day. The car had to be towed home and I'm sure its the Timing belt

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Ouch! How old was the belt, out of interest?

As I said, he might well have got lucky. I've heard of nothing more needed than a few valves, although the cost of this, plus obviously the belts and probably the other bits like water pump, oil seals etc if it's not been done for years, will be hard to swallow as the cars are worth so little. Engines are pretty reasonable, as cars get broken so readily now, but with labour, ancillaries, other things like a new clutch whilst you're in there and vat, it's still a fair amount.

Once you know the extent of the damage, it's a case of weighing up the condition of the rest of the car. If it's in poor condition all round, needing other money spent on it, then posibly any money would be wasted. If, however, it's a very good example then I'd be wanting to keep it on the road as so few good ones are left.

 

[vitesse]

True & I have 2 of them.

 

[usermjg]

Its hard to weigh up the pros and cons at the mo, I still have sentimental attachment to it, and my father has looked after it the best he could but, and that's the big question "COST" vrs condition. I hate to scrap it but it would take quite a lot of time effort and money to get it back to good condition.

I might get it towed back home and work on her as a long term project.

Thanks for the feedback, very much appreciated

 

[924nutter]

Mark the thing to do is get the head off first and assess the damage. Speaking as one who has had the belt go on his 924t. Taking the head off the 944 engine is very straightforward. The inlet valve tends to do more damge than the exhaust valve because the exhaust valve runs at near red head so will be malleable but the inlet valve runs much cooler and can give the pistons a hefty whack. We can all conjecture. Get the head off. The unscrupulous git I bought my 928 from assured me the cam belt had been done but it failed not long after I bought it, and it had the 16 valve heads. In theory it should have wrecked the engine as I had 6200 on in second, giving a demo to a tw*t in a peugeot 206gti 6. as it hooked third the belt went. Trailered it to AFN as it was and they put a new belt on and did a compression test. No damage ran like clockwork.... Get the head off and have a look.

 

[Lizard]

Have been a couple of 944 lux lumps floating about for 150 quid, if you can get a good engine for that sort of sum, has to make the car worth saving then? Is a big shame to see decnet cars scrapped.

 

[usermjg]

Couldnt agree more, however I'm in a bit of a limbo at the mo, not sure what to do. Dont want to let it rot but carn't really afford to sort it at the mo either, I think its best left on my dads drive undtil i can sort it