midngn

I heard that the Timing Balance Shafts and timing belts plus the cam chain tensioners are real issues on the 87-88 944 S2. I was just wondering if these issues were taken car of on the 89-92 model, or somewhere in between? Anyone know?? Thanks.

ahofam123

All of the 944 series have timing belts as do many other cars. The problem is that the 944 has an interferance engine where valves are bent if a timing belt breaks. If you tension the belts and replace the belts at the specified intervals then you shouldn't have any kind of problems from the valve train. The s and the s2 also have a timing chain and a chain tensioner between the two cams that should be inspected and replaced if necessary.

944S2NUT

S2 were not in production till 89-91. The chain is ok unless it snapped the pads. Just replace the tensioner, they don't sell the pads separately anymore.

Bruce '89 s2

We all live in fear and dread - waiting for the big bang.
Service history - check it out - belts not done - do them - don't know - do them.
Recommended change seems to vary between 30 and 50k miles – perhaps someone will REALLY tie it down and give the true Porsche definition.

midngn

So it seems they didn't fix the problem. Sorry S2 Nut, I meant to say S years 87-88. Just seems that 30,000 miles is nothing for a timing belt, especially when you can get 100,000 mile plus on an MR2!! Guess it really is a serious issue to stay on top of it. Thanks, I thought I had read they did something to address the problem. It was this quote form the FAQ that mad me think the problems may have been addressed:
"The 944S had the series' first sixteen-valve engine, at the same 2.5 litre displacement as its forebears. Duel camshafts were connected by a chain that was kept taught by a somewhat problematic hydraulic tensioner. A larger camshaft timing belt also went through some "teething problems" early in the model's lifetime. "