does timing belt need re-tension after 3K?
10-10-2002, 02:23 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
does timing belt need re-tension after 3K?
in about 600 miles it will be exactly 3000 miles since i got my new timing belt on. i am selling the car right now though, and i dont feel like paying 70/hr for 2 hours just so the belt can be retensioned and then sell the car.
so is it a must that it be re-tensioned? i am pretty sure it is, and should i just leave it alone and sell the car and tell the next owner i reccommend getting it re-tensioned VERY soon?
so is it a must that it be re-tensioned? i am pretty sure it is, and should i just leave it alone and sell the car and tell the next owner i reccommend getting it re-tensioned VERY soon?
10-10-2002, 02:39 PM
#2
Race Director
It needs to be retentioned somewhere between 1500 and 3000 miles. So, either:
1. Get it done!
2. If you don't do it, please, please: let the next owner know it needs to be done.
While the retention is not as critical as replacing the timing belt every 30k miles, it is still an important maintenance item to do.
Just my $0.42
-Zoltan.
1. Get it done!
2. If you don't do it, please, please: let the next owner know it needs to be done.
While the retention is not as critical as replacing the timing belt every 30k miles, it is still an important maintenance item to do.
Just my $0.42
-Zoltan.
10-10-2002, 02:41 PM
#3
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I understood that the retension needed to be done at 1500 miles. At any rate, if you don't do it, tell the new owner. Otherwise he'll be the next one posting about some lying POS PO that told him the belt was new only to have it fail a week later.
10-10-2002, 02:44 PM
#4
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[quote]Originally posted by Z-man:
<strong>While the retention is not as critical as replacing the timing belt every 30k miles, it is still an important maintenance item to do.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think it's CRITICAL to retension after 1500 miles...a good indication is how my balance belt became so loose after 2k miles that I had a serious vibration problem at 2400, 2600, and 3000 RPM that I swore was a fried torque tube bearing. Expansion of the engine when it gets hot is NO joke! I used Bill's belt gauge to measure tension this weekend [again, BIG thanks to him for putting up with my **** and allowing me to do belts at his place
] and when the motor was hot the tension showed over 5 for the timing belt and 4 for the balance belt. When the engine cooled the gauge read about 2.9 for the timing belt and 1.x for the balance belt...that sucker was loose! It must've skipped a tooth or something because the vibration that developed a week prior to retensioning was BAD.
<strong>While the retention is not as critical as replacing the timing belt every 30k miles, it is still an important maintenance item to do.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think it's CRITICAL to retension after 1500 miles...a good indication is how my balance belt became so loose after 2k miles that I had a serious vibration problem at 2400, 2600, and 3000 RPM that I swore was a fried torque tube bearing. Expansion of the engine when it gets hot is NO joke! I used Bill's belt gauge to measure tension this weekend [again, BIG thanks to him for putting up with my **** and allowing me to do belts at his place
] and when the motor was hot the tension showed over 5 for the timing belt and 4 for the balance belt. When the engine cooled the gauge read about 2.9 for the timing belt and 1.x for the balance belt...that sucker was loose! It must've skipped a tooth or something because the vibration that developed a week prior to retensioning was BAD.
10-10-2002, 03:18 PM
#5
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They charge you two hours to retension the timing belt? It takes half an hour, maybe.
I would get it done, a potential buyer is likely to drive the car hard, and it'd be a shame to toss the belt during a test drive. The belts get quite loose in the first few hundred miles and at high RPMs... could get ugly.
-Joel.
I would get it done, a potential buyer is likely to drive the car hard, and it'd be a shame to toss the belt during a test drive. The belts get quite loose in the first few hundred miles and at high RPMs... could get ugly.
-Joel.
10-10-2002, 03:39 PM
#6
Race Director
[quote]Originally posted by PorscheG96:
<strong>
I think it's CRITICAL to retension after 1500 miles...a good indication is how my balance belt became so loose after 2k miles that I had a serious vibration problem at 2400, 2600, and 3000 RPM that I swore was a fried torque tube bearing. Expansion of the engine when it gets hot is NO joke! I used Bill's belt gauge to measure tension this weekend [again, BIG thanks to him for putting up with my **** and allowing me to do belts at his place ] and when the motor was hot the tension showed over 5 for the timing belt and 4 for the balance belt. When the engine cooled the gauge read about 2.9 for the timing belt and 1.x for the balance belt...that sucker was loose! It must've skipped a tooth or something because the vibration that developed a week prior to retensioning was BAD.</strong><hr></blockquote>
But you didn't bend any valves! That's why I say belt replacement is imperative, but belt retentioning later than 1500 miles, while still can be potentially harmful, it will give indication that something's wrong before tearing into your engine.
That's what I meant.
-Z.
<strong>
I think it's CRITICAL to retension after 1500 miles...a good indication is how my balance belt became so loose after 2k miles that I had a serious vibration problem at 2400, 2600, and 3000 RPM that I swore was a fried torque tube bearing. Expansion of the engine when it gets hot is NO joke! I used Bill's belt gauge to measure tension this weekend [again, BIG thanks to him for putting up with my **** and allowing me to do belts at his place
] and when the motor was hot the tension showed over 5 for the timing belt and 4 for the balance belt. When the engine cooled the gauge read about 2.9 for the timing belt and 1.x for the balance belt...that sucker was loose! It must've skipped a tooth or something because the vibration that developed a week prior to retensioning was BAD.</strong><hr></blockquote>But you didn't bend any valves! That's why I say belt replacement is imperative, but belt retentioning later than 1500 miles, while still can be potentially harmful, it will give indication that something's wrong before tearing into your engine.
That's what I meant.
-Z.
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10-10-2002, 08:38 PM
#8
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I have an '87 951 and need to retension my belt.
I wouldn't mind paying to get this done, but I understand the engine needs to be cold, and I'm an hour's drive from my mechanic.... With the auto-tensioning feature on the 87+ models, I'm thinking a 15-minute procedure will end up being a two-day event.
So... I've looked in my Haynes manual, the factory manuals, and searched the archives. I found one DIY description that I think I understand, but I can't visualize what I'd be getting into once I start unbolting things. Anybody have a good procedure documented with ANY photos? I'd love to do this myself but this is one area I know I don't want to mess up.
THanks in advance.
Ron
I wouldn't mind paying to get this done, but I understand the engine needs to be cold, and I'm an hour's drive from my mechanic.... With the auto-tensioning feature on the 87+ models, I'm thinking a 15-minute procedure will end up being a two-day event.
So... I've looked in my Haynes manual, the factory manuals, and searched the archives. I found one DIY description that I think I understand, but I can't visualize what I'd be getting into once I start unbolting things. Anybody have a good procedure documented with ANY photos? I'd love to do this myself but this is one area I know I don't want to mess up.
THanks in advance.
Ron
10-10-2002, 11:34 PM
#9
Done With Sidepatch
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Two hours...I think not...Shops may charge that but I did the same thing in less than an hour...Of course I rebuilt my own engine ( and no I am not a Porsche trained tech and it was the first engine I have ever tackled)...PS: it was great fun 
I'm starting to think the name "Porsche" on an automobile is a licence to steal...
You have got to learn how to do this stuff yourself...It is not that tough...You need the tools though and after you have them you can replace the timing / balance shaft belts in a few hours...
Really!!!! you have rennlist which is the best resource you can have...
I'm starting to think the name "Porsche" on an automobile is a licence to steal...
You have got to learn how to do this stuff yourself...It is not that tough...You need the tools though and after you have them you can replace the timing / balance shaft belts in a few hours...
Really!!!! you have rennlist which is the best resource you can have...
10-11-2002, 01:15 AM
#10
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[quote]Originally posted by RS 2.7:
<strong>does timing belt need re-tension after 3K?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually, they need to be retentioned before 2,000 miles. There was at least one list member who had a timing belt failure between 2,000 and 3,000 miles. Ideally you have it retensioned at 1,500 miles.
<strong>does timing belt need re-tension after 3K?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually, they need to be retentioned before 2,000 miles. There was at least one list member who had a timing belt failure between 2,000 and 3,000 miles. Ideally you have it retensioned at 1,500 miles.
10-11-2002, 01:34 AM
#11
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Thread Starter
hmmm...looks like i will go ahead and re-tension, even though i would like to use that $140 towards my next miata or mr-2. i guess that is just bad timing for me (no pun intended)
10-11-2002, 01:44 AM
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Funny, everyone's Swearing up and down that the belts need to be retensioned... the 951 I just bought had the belts changed 6k before and had never been retensioned (the guy didn't lie about anything else, and why lie about Not doing something?) - durring the PPI, at my request, they checked the belts and said everything was spot on.
6k from new, never retensioned, and at the proper tension? You make the call (I'm to much of a noobie to do it myself).
6k from new, never retensioned, and at the proper tension? You make the call (I'm to much of a noobie to do it myself).
oh woops i dont change my own oil, so sue me!
10-11-2002, 01:53 AM
#14
Racer
Thread Starter
now you guys are making me lean towards not getting it re-tensioned. i guess i could try and not put 500 more miles on the car, which would make it exactly 3000 since i got the new belts put on, and then i could tell the new owner that i "recommend" getting them re-tensioned, and whether or not they do it is their problem.