Highway T

I chickened out and ordered the chain tensioner with my PCA coupon. A have a mech who will fit it but I need to decide whether to change the chain as well at greatly elevated cost. I intend to keep the car for a few years but I hear a 911 calling in the distance.

The car is at 47K miles and the belts (balance and cam) were changed at the end 2000 at 37K miles. From the price on the receipt it looks like non Porsche belts were used so I am considering changing those as well.

What do you think? <img border="0" alt="[icon107]" title="" src="graemlins/icon107.gif" />

While I am here my wipers do not park. Do you think motor, relay or switch? Where is the relay on an 'S' anyway, the slot in the fusebox is empty?

Cheers,

Chris <img border="0" alt="[byebye]" title="" src="graemlins/wave.gif" />

Tom R.

at 47k you dont need a chain in my opinion. i would wait till 100k for the chain. you are early on the tensioner too, probably need only the pad, but the coupon is a nice incentive.

ahofam123

How much were the belts? I paid $20 for the timing belt and $50 for the balance shaft belt and they seem to be good. It could still be a good idea to change them though since the rubber can deteriorate in three years.

joseph mitro

i tend to agree with tom. just had my head rebuilt and the chain and tensioner are both brand new. of course, the engine had 119k miles. i don't think you would have enough wear on the camshaft sprocket teeth or the chain to warrant a new chain at 47k.

bader$

The service manual says only to replace the chain if the valves get bent. It is alot of work to change, and in my opinion not necessary.

AndyK

Chain, shmane...you have an S with ONLY 47k on it?? Wow!

Definately don't change the chain. It's metal, and sitting for 10 years wont put any wear on it, unlike seals or rubber gaskets, IMHO.

As a side note, I also ordered a tensioner last night...the dealer said there was only ONE left in the country! I wonder if you got it before me!?

Jeff928S4

I agree - I don't think the chain needs to be replaced unless there is a timing belt/tensioner failure (I know first hand). The chain should last the life of the car, as long as there are no failures.

As for there being no tensioners in the US, why not try Whaletail in Ontario <a href="http://home.golden.net/~waletail/" target="_blank">http://home.golden.net/~waletail/</a> or Blazak
<a href="http://www.geocities.com/blaszak_precision/" target="_blank">www.geocities.com/blaszak_precision/</a>

They should have them there and at Canadian prices!!

944S Boyeee

Robert D

Haha. With the chain, the manual should be edited to read "only replace chain if valves are bent OR chain wore into the metal of the tensioner"...which I suspect is the cause of my cam-gear catastrophe.

Highway T

Cheers guys. Sorry for the delay in replying but I have to do this at home. The company is funny about having to work when at work. <img border="0" alt="[nono]" title="" src="graemlins/nono.gif" />

The chain came up because I read that Dec '99 article in 911 and Porsche world. Based on your inputs I will now pass on it and spend the money elsewhere. It's 5.25 hours for the chain versus 1.5hrs for the tensioner so quite a saving.

You could be right about there being no tensioners stateside. I ordered it from Sunset and it is on back order from Germany.

I will change the belts. The cam belt cost $36.70 and the balance belt $42 in 2000. The proper Porsche belts now run for $62.71 and $153.65 respectively. My mech has had bad experiences with non-Porsche belts so I will go for the real deal.

I plan to pass on the water pump because of the low mileage and there is no leaking. What do you think about the rollers and seals?

I have been cautious with the car up till now, but plan to treat it in the proper manner after the belts are settled in. <img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

Chris

sharky47

I am changing my chain, but my cams are already removed as is the head because of a T-belt failure. The original chain looks fine, but there are few opportunities to have engine this much disassembled. The chain cost me $12.00 from Vertex, so might as well.

AndyK

Chris-
Looks like I beat you to the last tensioner! Sorry!

Clint

Highway,
I just changed my tensioner on my 88, 944S 2 months ago. Had it done at Weissach. They are a porsche specialty tuner in Vancouver BC. They had the part in stock! Paid $520 for the part, but that is Canadian funds. 2 hrs labor to install