James_944

Hi All

First post under this username. I have been on here for about 8-9 years off and on under different usernames.

Main reason for changing is I rarely use the site and keep forgetting my credentials etc...... reason for rare use is my car has been off the road more than on it. Now I have a Range Rover also I can at least justify the off road part.

I have owned an 86' 944 NA for the last 8-9 years, and I have to say it has been incredibly unreliable the entire time. I must have bought a pup and suffered since...

Anyway, I thought I would try to get it running today for the first time in 2 years and luckily my battery was not up to it. I topped up the oil to max and I managed to get it to turn over which was a relief, but it did not fire up.

At that point I thought I would clean it up as there is an oil stain under the throttle housing. Once I had taken the air intake system and MAF sensor off I noticed the balance shaft belt hanging out of the hole in the belt cover where the hose was. See Pic.

I checked the cam belt and that has not split, looks intact and taught as would be expected, some movement and flexibility, again as I would consider normal.

Can a 944 have the engine turned over (but not started) and the balance shaft belt split? Maybe it split before 2 years ago.......?

I hope it has not done major damage. Could anybody advise of the likely damage?

I need to get 2 new belts, and a set of seals for the cam housing/tower which is where another nasty oil leak resides.......

Hopefully if that is all that needs doing, then I am in business again.

Cheers and thanks in advance.
James

MAGK944

You were lucky it didn't start, likely that balance belt would have taken the cam belt with it if it fired up. Probably no major damage if the cam belt checks out but you need to do belts and check rollers and front seals. WP would be a good idea also if you don't know it's age.

It's very fortunate that the balance belt peeked out of that hole and told you it was broken

James_944

Hi, thanks for that, makes me feel better. The WP was replaced with the engine about 7 years ago with a secondhand engine (checked and supplied by a specialist in London), in that time it has covered about 3000 miles, so nothing I suspect for the lifespan of the pump.

I thought it was good it did not start. :-)

James_944

Well it has been about 12 months since my last post, in fact since I did anything on the car as I have been getting my Range Rover fixed up too.

The 944 looks like it needs more work on it, so I think maybe I am best starting a new thread and keeping the momentum going on that one.....

HICKS

Cool story.

mazdaverx7

Hope to see you making progress on your 944!!