16V cam chain tensioner replacement costs
02-27-2003, 02:37 AM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
16V cam chain tensioner replacement costs
Heard loud noises from the valve cover area when I started the car this morning, so I topped up the oil, which was really low, but the noise was still there.
Took it to a shop and my (second after timing belts) worst fear was realized. The cam chain tensioner collapsed. Good thing the chain was still on, so nothing bent.
The only problem is that the shop charges $100/hr and they want 4 hrs for this. I don't want to risk the head by driving home or to another shop, so I agreed.
Just wondering how many hours labor u guys had to pay for this job? The description of the job online seemed to be quite straightforward, sounds like 4 hrs for a first timer.
I'd been putting off doing it myself, but after reading abt all those blown heads from this, I'm not complaining...
Took it to a shop and my (second after timing belts) worst fear was realized. The cam chain tensioner collapsed. Good thing the chain was still on, so nothing bent.
The only problem is that the shop charges $100/hr and they want 4 hrs for this. I don't want to risk the head by driving home or to another shop, so I agreed.
Just wondering how many hours labor u guys had to pay for this job? The description of the job online seemed to be quite straightforward, sounds like 4 hrs for a first timer.
I'd been putting off doing it myself, but after reading abt all those blown heads from this, I'm not complaining...
02-27-2003, 10:10 AM
#3
Nordschleife Master
What do you mean it collapsed? Did the spring break, or did the nylon disintegrate? Either way, the shop would have to spend some time trying to find the pieces, if that's possible.
Your low oil situation combined with an old tensioner sounds like you're getting off pretty easy. I'd just pay the four hours. Did they tell you how much a new tensioner would cost?
Your low oil situation combined with an old tensioner sounds like you're getting off pretty easy. I'd just pay the four hours. Did they tell you how much a new tensioner would cost?
02-27-2003, 11:45 AM
#4
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Seggy...
Let the shop do it this time. You can replace the tensioner on your own at its next change interval. It's only a 20-35 minute job.
I'd rather spend the extra now (certainly due to the cams coming out and being inspected, etc), get it put back together right, and have some sort of peace of mind. As I said, later when the tensioner only is schedule to be replaced, do it yourself.
Good Luck!!!
Jim944S <img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" />
Let the shop do it this time. You can replace the tensioner on your own at its next change interval. It's only a 20-35 minute job.
I'd rather spend the extra now (certainly due to the cams coming out and being inspected, etc), get it put back together right, and have some sort of peace of mind. As I said, later when the tensioner only is schedule to be replaced, do it yourself.
Good Luck!!!
Jim944S <img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" />
02-27-2003, 01:34 PM
#6
Advanced
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Florida
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jim where are you in Boca? I'm right off of Lyons Rd. I would love to see your car. Not many of them down here.. I could use some help with mine if you don't mind helping me out.
Evan
Evan
02-27-2003, 01:50 PM
#7
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
At my last <a href="http://www.weissach.net/WP0AB294XMN410197-History.html#Service_2002-07-01" target="_blank">major service</a>, I had the chain done and the pad (not the entire tensioner) replaced.
That took 5 hours of labor.
Karl.
That took 5 hours of labor.
Karl.
Trending Topics
02-28-2003, 12:46 AM
#8
Instructor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When I said 'collapsed' I was just using the term that the shop used. But I had assumed that the plastic piece broke off, and somehow the chain didn't catch on anything.
Well I went to visit the shop this morning, and saw that there was basically nothing of the top plastic ramp left, and the chain was just rubbing on the metal tensioner itself!
Then while the mech was unbolting the cams, I noticed 2 missing teeth on the exhaust cam and when the cams came out....many many missing teeth on both sprockets!
$!#%!$)%!*, but I immediately realized, not only was I incredibly lucky to hear the chain rubbing on the tensioner and actually drive it that way to the shop, but I also got away with driving around on cams that had lost half their sprocket teeth! Miracles!
So, anyway, now the bill has skyrocketed to $2146, but that will include all belts and rollers, lower balance shaft leak, and performance cam grind by Elgin (might as well, since the used cams they found had worn lobes).
That's half the price of the car, but I guess that's how much the car would've cost if all these had been done, and I am no longer entertaining the idea of doing all this myself.
Well I went to visit the shop this morning, and saw that there was basically nothing of the top plastic ramp left, and the chain was just rubbing on the metal tensioner itself!
Then while the mech was unbolting the cams, I noticed 2 missing teeth on the exhaust cam and when the cams came out....many many missing teeth on both sprockets!
$!#%!$)%!*, but I immediately realized, not only was I incredibly lucky to hear the chain rubbing on the tensioner and actually drive it that way to the shop, but I also got away with driving around on cams that had lost half their sprocket teeth! Miracles!
So, anyway, now the bill has skyrocketed to $2146, but that will include all belts and rollers, lower balance shaft leak, and performance cam grind by Elgin (might as well, since the used cams they found had worn lobes).
That's half the price of the car, but I guess that's how much the car would've cost if all these had been done, and I am no longer entertaining the idea of doing all this myself.
02-28-2003, 03:07 PM
#10
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Hey Evan...
I work at the library on Glades Rd. I think I left a leering "Whatta Great Car" comment on your cab a few months ago when you were at the Boca Ale House.
And "Hey" to you again, Seggy...
You're still doing O.K. Even with staying on top of maintenance and all you can still have problems... My vacation was a cost over-run recently when a bolt that had been heli-coiled into position during a rebuild done by the previous owner came out and fell into my belts!
OOPS!!! $800 to rent a truck to carry my car back from "Cold Iron" Kain-tuc-kee and $3200 to fix the engine! Runs Great now... Come to think of it, it "Ran Great" before it blew up as well!
Jim944S ("beats makin' car payments") <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
I work at the library on Glades Rd. I think I left a leering "Whatta Great Car" comment on your cab a few months ago when you were at the Boca Ale House.
And "Hey" to you again, Seggy...
You're still doing O.K. Even with staying on top of maintenance and all you can still have problems... My vacation was a cost over-run recently when a bolt that had been heli-coiled into position during a rebuild done by the previous owner came out and fell into my belts!
OOPS!!! $800 to rent a truck to carry my car back from "Cold Iron" Kain-tuc-kee and $3200 to fix the engine! Runs Great now... Come to think of it, it "Ran Great" before it blew up as well!
Jim944S ("beats makin' car payments") <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
02-28-2003, 06:32 PM
#11
Instructor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah I do realize how lucky I was. I don't know how the tensioner kept doing its job without the plastic ramp, and I don't know how the chain stayed on sprockets that had lost half their teeth.
And I'm beginning to really like the shop too. They are the first Porsche shop I've encountered with more 944s than 911s inside (maybe I haven't seen enough shops). Very friendly, and best of all I get to walk around under the car and ask questions while they work, no "Service Manager" to drive me out.
They even allowed me to shop around for cheaper parts even though they already received the parts they ordered for me. I was very surprised, but I need every $ that I can save right now <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />
And I'm beginning to really like the shop too. They are the first Porsche shop I've encountered with more 944s than 911s inside (maybe I haven't seen enough shops). Very friendly, and best of all I get to walk around under the car and ask questions while they work, no "Service Manager" to drive me out.
They even allowed me to shop around for cheaper parts even though they already received the parts they ordered for me. I was very surprised, but I need every $ that I can save right now <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />
02-28-2003, 08:46 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
Seggy,
I feel your pain here. Had the same issue happen with the pad failure on my '87 "S"...cracked my cylinder head, stripped teeth of cams, bent valves, you name it.
I decided to swap in a 968 engine as the costs were going to be close to $4k. I wish you luck.
However, I think this sort of thing should once and for all settle the discussion of whether or not us 16v owners should replace the whole tensioner or just the pad.
Replace the whole tensioner....it's cheap insurance.
Matt
I feel your pain here. Had the same issue happen with the pad failure on my '87 "S"...cracked my cylinder head, stripped teeth of cams, bent valves, you name it.
I decided to swap in a 968 engine as the costs were going to be close to $4k. I wish you luck.
However, I think this sort of thing should once and for all settle the discussion of whether or not us 16v owners should replace the whole tensioner or just the pad.
Replace the whole tensioner....it's cheap insurance.
Matt
02-28-2003, 08:49 PM
#13
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
During my last <a href="http://www.weissach.net/WP0AB294XMN410197-History.html#Service_2002-07-01" target="_blank">major service</a>, I replaced just the pad. Makes we seriously wonder if I made a false-economy...
Karl.
Karl.
02-28-2003, 08:57 PM
#14
Instructor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow Matt how much did you spend on the swap? Did you do it urself, or got a shop to do it?
My repair bill is not as high because miraculously nothing blew up, and I actually drove the car to the shop. *phew*
I was considering the $1k motor from the DeepICE S2, but then it'd be too hard to bring it over, and the repair costs might be even greater....
My repair bill is not as high because miraculously nothing blew up, and I actually drove the car to the shop. *phew*
I was considering the $1k motor from the DeepICE S2, but then it'd be too hard to bring it over, and the repair costs might be even greater....
02-28-2003, 09:01 PM
#15
Instructor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Karl, the tensioner looks like a DIY change, you might want to change it just coz it's easy (I've never done it myself, just looks easy). It's when you need to change the chain that things get very messy.
However from the tensioner that came out of my car, the metal part does look pretty durable. I guess you can take it out and play around with it? Check if there's play in the wrong directions, spring is healthy, and plastic ramp is secure?
Anyone has a more proven way of "testing" this item?
However from the tensioner that came out of my car, the metal part does look pretty durable. I guess you can take it out and play around with it? Check if there's play in the wrong directions, spring is healthy, and plastic ramp is secure?
Anyone has a more proven way of "testing" this item?