924Board.org

87924s · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 10 Location: miamisburg,oh

just got my 87 924s running after it has been sitting for about 2 years. i was wondering if there is a easy way of inspecting the timing belt since i have know clue if and when the belt was changed last.

Benino · Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:38 pm Post subject:

I've never worked on the 2.5L but if the belt is accessible fold it over as much as you can and look for cracks on the inside of the belt (between the ridges). If the tensioner pulley pushes the belt inward that would be a good place to look for cracks on the inside of the belt. Having said that. . . I would absolutely replace the belt. I wouldn’t risk ruining the engine because I didn’t want to replace a belt. I know it's a lot of work but it's a lot better than having to rebuild or replace the head.
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1980 Porsche 924 N/A USA
1980 Porsche 924 turbo USA
1987 Porsche 944S USA

Keaton · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 261 Location: 85202

my friend has a 924s and had to rent a special tool to do his timing belt.

87924s · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 10 Location: miamisburg,oh

where would i rent the tool from? also i found a timing belt made by goodyear for $18. Would this be a reliable belt

Keaton · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 261 Location: 85202

checker auto, pet boys, napa....how i did the timingbelt on my jetta, i marked the belt and the gears with a marker and pulled the belt. then transfered the make to the new belt , put it on so the marks match up(use viese grips to hold the belt to the cam gear) then add tenshion. adjust the time. i dont know how different the 944 motor is going to be vs the 924 (you can do the 924 motot the same way as above)

Ozzie · Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 4:39 pm Post subject:

My belt tensioner was knackered so I replaced both at the same time.
The belt had no cracks but the teeth were just about worn off so it would not have been long and the belt would have been slipping.
It was not noticable with it fitted so for peace of mind replace it.
On my NA it would not have been a problem if the belt slipped.
On a 944 or 924 turbo you'd be doing a head overhaul with bent valves.
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Porsche 924 1984 (UK import) NA
Its AUTO and its BLACK
Montego Black on black/red
Engineer of Electro/Mechanical Systems Maintenance

timstar92404 · Joined: 22 Sep 2004 Posts: 2075 Location: richmond BC

what would be the point of inspecting the belt? I doubt your eyes can tell how much more the belt will last unless is in really bad condition, really old belts usually still look good.

look on ebay for the wrenches they aren't that expensive.
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78 924 sold.
85.5 944

gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

If you have owned the car for two years, and you haven't replaced the belts, and you don't know when the P.O. (previous owner) changed the belts, or even if he/she did, then the belts are long overdue for a change.

Rubber parts get old. They dry out, crack, lose strength with time, and the clock starts when the part leaves the machines at the factory. I would not trust my engine's health to a belt that I bought and installed, with knowing if it is any younger than the one that is coming off the car. Yeah, the belt off the shelf at your local rubber seller is going to have less miles on it, but can you tell how long it's been sitting on the shelf?

While a belt from a Porsche Dealer will cost more, at least you will know that it is fresh (see the shipping label on the package?), and you know that if it breaks (and does not show signs of being run too loose), that Porsche will pick up the cost of replacing the belt, and repairing your engine. To me that's worth the extra cost of the belt from an authorized Porsche Dealer. Just make sure that the Porsche Dealer bought the belt from PCNA (Porsche Cars North America), and not the local rubber wholesaler (Dealers are tempted to make extra money too, some charge you the Porsche Price for parts that they buy locally, and PCNA does not cover parts that do not come from PCNA warehouses).

The official belt tensioning tool is the Porsche P9201. It is only used on water-cooled Porsches, so you are not going to see one at the corner parts store, in in very many mechanics tool boxes. In fact, if you consider using a mechanic to do the belts for you, ask to see his P9201, and if he answer Huh?, or Naugh, I don't need/use any stinking tool to tension the belts... RUN AWAY.

The belts need to be inspect at the 1K mile mark after they are replaced, and every 10K miles after that until they are replaced. You should expect the cost of the 1K inspection and retentioning to be included in the cost of the belt replacment job, and the 10K inspections to cost $80-$100 each.

From this you can see that the $600-$700 cost of the P9201 and the other tools (flywheel lock, balance shaft wrenches, caliberation tool for P9201) needed to replace the belts will quickly be saved when you consider what you won't be paying.

Some companies make or sell a strain gauge type tool that sells for between $20 and $80 as an alternative to the P2901. Some people report that those tools work fine. Myself, I am going to stick with the P9201.

87924s · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 10 Location: miamisburg,oh

there is a place here in town called specialty motor werks. he specializes in foreign and german cars. he gave me a price of $500 plus tax to replace the timing belt, balance shaft belt, and the rollers. He didnt specify the tensioner, but would that be included with the rollers. Also does this sound like a good price? Thanks for all your help guys.

Chaos · Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 289 Location: Newark, DE, US

well, while i haven't priced timing belt changes for my 924, any time i've had timing belt replacement come up on other cars, i've found the best quotes to be around $300 (US). but again, that's for non-porsche, non-german cars, so... yeah. take that at face value. *shrug*

slightly off-topic:
you also may wanna see what shops your local PCA members recommend. I've recently been referred to a great shop near me that specializes in only old porsches by a PCA member, and it was barely a mile from my apartment. their labor is cheap, and they keep all the parts and tools in stock and on hand! i had no idea. i'm most likely going to join my local PCA pretty soon, merely for the networking benefits.

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'81 US 931 "Rochelle"

gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

Like I wrote before, you need to check to see if the guy is competent, before you even consider asking about the price. Are you buying a critical service to protect the engine of your car, or a price?

When you called the shop did you ask to see the P9201 belt tension gauge?

I bet the shop does not have one.

It's not what you pay, it's what you get.

And, any competent shop would have recommended changing the water pump and the front of engine oil seals, since they are also part of the complete job. I am not sure what you mean by the "tensioner". Do you mean the tensioning pulleys for the timing belt and the balance shaft belt? They should always be changed when you are talking about changing the rollers and pulleys. Do you mean the spring loaded pre-tensioner for the timing belt? Not all 87 924S came with the spring loaded pre-tensioner. The pre-tensioner is not normally replaced during belt changes, because because they don't wear, because they don;t really do much. The timing belt pre-tensioner is used to tension the timing belt, afterwhich it is locked down, and you check the belt tension. The pre-tensioner is not a dynamic, moving part that wears, because it is not in play, except when you loosen the locking bolts to allow it to tension the timing belt when the engine is not running.

Sounds strange doesn't it?

Sounds to me like you need to get out and find a competent shop.