Tremelune

How often do you guys have these things checked? I understand it's about every 40k miles, but I've heard numerous storeis about them going before this. The guy I bought it from said every 26k...It jumped a cog once and melted the cat...replaced it...I've already lost a GTI to a timing belt and I'm terrified it'll happen to my 944 (that'd total the car). There's nothing wrong with the engine, I just know that if I don't keep an eye on that chain it will break, it's just a matter of time.

And just in passing...how often do you guys change your oil? I used to do it every 2500mi, but I've gotten lazy and now it's drifted to 3500-5000.

Bob S. 1984 Silver

Probably just semantics, but the 944 has a timing belt, not a chain. The drill is usually every thirty thousand miles for belt replacement, utilizing a neat little "single purpose $500 Porsche tool P9201" for adjustment, and the belt should be (must(?) be retensioned after the first 1,500 miles. Most of us wish Porsche had designed the engine with a chain..less likely to toast the engine.

As for oil change intervals, I would put my 2 pfennigs worth in and say it all depends. What kind of driving do you do? Do you use synthetic oil? I am certain this question will be more debated in this thread than the timing belt.

Chime in, guys....

Bob S.

Thaddeus

The consensus I've been hearing is the timing belt should be replaced every 15,000 miles or 3 years and readjusted annually. That's more than the manual prescribes, but the consequences of losing that belt are horrific. I retensioned mine about a month before putting it in storage, and I intend to check it again before putting the car back in regular service for the season. I WISH THESE CARS HAD TIMING CHAINS!

cheers, enjoy the car

Thaddeus

Tremelune

Okay, and now the big fear...Assuming I don't want to buy the magic tool, how much does it cost to replace and/or inspect the belt? Like, not at a gas station, but not at a Porsche dealer?

Dano_944

[quote]Originally posted by Thaddeus:
<strong>The consensus I've been hearing is the timing belt should be replaced every 15,000 miles or 3 years and readjusted annually. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Thaddeus: Dude! Replace after 15K? Wow! Very Prudent!

Tremelune: I've done a couple of belt changes in the last couple of years. I track the car as well as long-distance cruise it at speed. The rap from the guys at the track, as well as the mechanics at the track and in the shops suggusted to me:

--Replace the belts at 30K if you track the car - replace the water pump every other belt change if you like to risk it; otherwise replace the water pump with the belts - catastrophic insurance! If you don't track the car, replace the belts at 45K..... and the water pump too.

--Adjust the new belts at 1000 miles and then every 15K thereafter. Additional hard driving (ie: big track runs on hot days, etc) may necessitate more frequent adjustments.

--Oil change every 3K to 3.5K depending on driving habits and oil type.

At 206K miles on the original motor, that's what I practice. There will be, of course, differences of opinion. One thing for sure, too often is better than too few!

Good Luck!

Operator

hey Tremelune you're in Greenwich? did you just get the 944? you just started posting here thast why I ask I'm from Stamford! Happy motoring <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />

Tabor

For replacement: A lot of people say 45,000 miles. Some people say 30,000 miles. Thaddeus is the only person I have seen say 15,000 miles though.

Very important, re-tension the belt after:

1,500 miles
16,500 miles
31,500 miles

Most people don't know this. I think this is where a lot of failures actually come from.

deni durrell

[quote] how much does it cost to replace and/or inspect the belt? Like, not at a gas station, but not at a Porsche dealer? <hr></blockquote>

This is something you will have to find out by asking your local mechanics. Most will give you a price that's similar but will be different in terms of hourly rates. They have a manual or something that tells them how many hours each job takes. Just remember to ask them to re-tension it after the inital 1500 miles.

Tremelune

Sounds good. Thanks, folks.

This car has been in the family for a few years...my father bought an '85 911 and the 944 has been losing attention ever since...I bought it from him, and I'm infusing it with TLC...

Thaddeus

Hey, maybe I'm thinking 928 when I say 15000/3. There's a lot of discussion on the topic over there, too... Of course, their belt is even longer than a 944's and the breakage is at least twice as nasty to fix... so they tend to do the belt twice as often or something..

But my car is as good as a stinkin' 928! Or better! Maybe I'll change mine at 7500 miles. Just for FUN.

Thaddeus <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />