Nicole

Timing Belt Tensioner 944.105.172.03 is currently unavailable from Porsche.

My friends have a 968 Cab that has been sitting at the dealer for a month, because the dealer tech says this part must be replaced.

The reason they took the car in was a coolant leak and a noise from the front of the engine (I did not have a chance to see or hear the car).

What do you guys do these days when new tensioners aren't available? Is there anybody who rebuilds the old ones?

Thanks!

tempest411

You might try calling DC Auto, or some other used parts places. If not, it may be time to get creative. These tensioners aren't very complicated. A good machine shop should be able to correct what ever is wrong with the one you have.

Zirconocene

I had to refresh my memory about it; the 968 uses a hydraulic tensioner that is unlike anything that came before it on 944s. Now that said, what about using a tensioner from an S2? I think the basic architecture of the engines is the same but I don't know enough of the important details to opine on whether the mounting holes are available on the 968 motor. The upside is that there are S2 tensioners readily available, even if they're somewhat pricey.

Any chance you can get PorKen to whip something up for you?

Cheers

Nicole

Oh - I did not realize this is specific to the 968. That may explain why Porsche is in no rush to bring it back.

wildcat077

Try reaching out to Karl Poeltl at Racers Edge ... he and his bunch of SP3 misfits probably have a good stash of spare parts as they
all race 968's
One of them might have what you need , surely between the three of them they've blown up a few engines and have leftover parts.

Cheers
Phil

Jfrahm

I've cleaned and reused them without ill effects on many cars including the 968. You just have to recompress them slowly and avoid pushing crud past the seal..

Nicole

Unfortunately, I have never seen this part of the 968. The car isn't mine, and it is at a Porsche dealer 45 minutes away. All I know is that the tech insists it needs to be replaced, and we have trouble finding one.

Is this tensioner built like the 928 tensioner, with bi-metal plates in an oil filled cylinder? Are the seals available somewhere (Porsche doesn't offer them)

V2Rocket

it is a hydraulic tensioner with a spring and oil pressure inside. they are not rebuildable as stock.
they dont really seem to go bad all that often but they are hard to find.

i was going to use this setup on a converted 944 engine and spent a lot of time looking for alternative tensioners; i recall some Audi and Toyota units looked like they might be adaptable with some fab parts.

WolfeMacleod

I was told today that the .03 part has been superceded to an 04 part, after calling the dealership after seeing a post on FB about them being re-introduced. Apparently they're in testing phase now.

Add that part number to the PN/s I entered weekly for two years into the Classic Parts Feedback form, along with the early dash.... and there are now early dashed again.

V2Rocket

you know there's a part number in the PET for a complete "body-in-white"?


get to entering it...

(incredible persistence on all these items on your part - we all owe you a great deal of gratitude)

WolfeMacleod

I have

Here's a short list of stuff I enter regularly. Other things I enter less often are complete engines, short engines, wiring harnesses, carpets, dashes, and door cards in other color combinations, rear 1/4 window interior liners, A-pillar trim, seat padding and covers, and basically anything I come across on dealer's "interacttive" part diagrams.

96851292901 968 hatch glass

94455591700BQP 968 door card left -
94455591800BQP - Right

94455208525APN Dashboard Airbag

92861322002 Airbag impact sensor

94410517203 Tensioner for toothed belt

95163106000 Additional brake light 1 COUPE
95163126100 Housing 1
96563128100 Gasket 1
99963103090 Bulb 7
95163112100 Lamp insert

95163123500 Wiring harness
for cars without
Rear fog light

94464195902 instrument Printed circuit board

94462401101 Sunroof Electric motor

94455206301B10 cassette box Classic grey

94462830500 944 wiper end cap


477971281 924 Fan Resistor
321820015B 924 fresh air Blower
94457214500 924 Blower Cover

94461200184 Wiring harness 88 A/C
Engine compartment

94461200422 Wiring harness 924S 88
Rear end

47785705905T 924 cassette box Black
477857187 924 Loudspeaker grille
944555063032FR hatch carpet Light grey

477867011NRD4 door panel Black/Light grey
477867012NRD4 door panel Black/Light grey

477867034A2FR door pocket 924

94455970500 Door drip-edge molding /l

477853383A Wheel cover/mud flap /L
477853384A Mud flap /R

477827557 Spoiler trim Left
477827558 Spoiler trim Right
477827555 Rear spoiler center

477807155A bumper rubber
477807343 bumper end cap RIGHT
477807344 Bumper end cap LEFT

94452205300 Rear seat hinge trim
94452205400 Rear seat hinge trim

Headlight Harness - Porsche (944-612-035-00)
Cylinder Head - Porsche (944-104-033-08

477201021F 924 Fuel Tank

jsheiry

I have a used tensioner if you still need or a complete setup for someone who wants to convert to a hydraulic setup.

KevinGross

Porsche usually can give you a date by which they expect to have a part back in stock, if they indeed plan to make it available. Exception is that if the part has been kicked to the Classic program, there's no commitment to ever making it. For regular parts, they have been pretty good over the past couple of years at sticking to the dates.

A good, used part from a reputable dismantler might get your friend back on the road sooner, with minimal risk.