poor-sh-nut

I have narrowed my search for whining down to the Balance Shaft circuit. I removed the balance belt and my whine went away completely. I ran the car and while it was running increased and decreased the tension on the belt. When tensioned correctly it whines like crazy. I can decrease the tension to a point where there is no whine but the belt is so loose it almost flops. Even though the balance sprockets, tensioner gear and roller seem fine I wonder if one of them is bad. I ruled out the smooth roller by removing it and then doing the increase/decrease tension. It still whined. I'm thinking it might be the tensioner.Have any more ideas? The belt looks to be in good condition.

Chads996

search is your friend.

C.

V2Rocket

the balance belt isnt supposed to be taut like the ac belt, just tight enough. trick to do it is tension it to the point where you can grab the belt at its longest section with thumb and forefinger and twist it 180* and tension a smidge past that.

Calmchaos

Yup, that's how I do it. For the timing belt 90° of twist and for the balance belt 180°.

poor-sh-nut

I have tried the 180 degree tensioning method. Still got whine. I have read all the previous threads on belt whine also. My previous 944 had very little or no whine. Has anyone ever changed out the tensioner roller and found this solved their problem?

harrisonrick

Its likely the tensioner roller on its way out.

jerseymike68

I have the same magnaflow too and love it, you can usually get a used one on ebay or cragislist. I wanted a valid warranty so I got it here. Magnaflow 15907. Also some of the forum sponsors usually have a sale going on. Either way its a great exhaust system, sounds great, and very easy to install.

pnbell

I just had both my Balance and Timing Belt replaced along with all the pulleys.... I had whine before, and was hoping it would be gone after this "Surgery".... Not at all. Actually it is way louder now, and embarrassingly annoying!!!!

I would like to loosen it so it flops around and i don't sound like i have a busted car at stop lights...

Anyone find a solution, or is loosening this belt up a solution?

Poor-sh-nut: What did you do? :Pretend you have a supercharger?: :P

944Ross

A good cross check on the BB tension is, with one finger, not much force, properly adjusted, you can just make it touch the water pump pulley (near the center hub). Not very scientific, admittedly.

pnbell, whoever did your belt did it wrong, from the "sound" of it

mojobromley

Make sure the balance belt idler is not touching the upper or lower belt. Caused my "Whine".

mojobromley

Sorry reread and see you removed said pulley.

garyabc

p-nut,

Did my belts a few weeks ago. This was my first time so I'm no expert, but I had exactly the same experience that you are having. After much discussion with others, I went back in and ran it with he cover off as you did. Adjusted it to both extreems, from supercharger whine to flopping and banging against the housing. Here's a few things that may or may not help you:

-The tensioner will tighten the balance belt in either of 2 directions. Rotate the tensioner clockwise moving the the roller towards the passenger side. This is how the P workshop manual specifies. When the tensioner is rotated CWW toward the drivers side of the car to tighten, there is more belt wrap on the lower balance shaft sprocket and the belt is forced to make a tighter turn. This routing seems to cause much more whine.

-The .5mm clearance on the idler roller needs to be gaped from the highest point on a rib on the belt.

-It's surprisingly a VERY small adjustment between loud whine and normal (sounds like a Porsche whine). I couldn't measure any tension difference with the Kricket, or feel any difference by twisting.

-After 300 or 400 miles it's much quieter.

Mine's a Gates belt. Expect to re-tension in 2 or 3 more weeks.

HTH,
Gary

xsboost90

needs a new roller- btw its prob. your cheater super charger hidden in there somewhere.

stahwille

Proper belt tensions are performed with proper tools and experience. The idea being the belt whine should always be louder than the driver , or passenger for that matter. No kidding , the tension deflection tool sells new for over $500.00 . And its only as good as the person using the tool. So ther it is . some things just whine . Even when all is well........ Good luck Stahwille.

pnbell

Ok well, as much as i did like pretending to have a supercharger... I got under the car and loosened up the balance belt a little bit this morning... Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner!!!

The whine is now barely noticable, and the belt is still pretty tight. no flopping or anything

I figure i will be in there often enough -checking for leaky seals and what not- and i can check for too much slack as the miles go by...