Notices
928 Forum 1978-1995
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: 928 Specialists

Dreadful T-DAY is here...Did I get lucky?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-06-2004, 12:12 AM
  #1  
Warren928
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
Warren928's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: IL
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Unhappy Dreadful T-DAY is here...Did I get lucky?

Well its been a year and a half since I had my T-belt tightened. I had been getting the warning light back then. It has 45k on the belt and 5 years of usage.

Last night I took the car out for a power run and during the speed run it felt like I lost half of the engines power. The T-belt light did come on during the run and had been coming on before, but only under hard acceleration. I pulled the car into the garage and let it cool. When I started it I could hear a light "tat-tat-tat" coming from the front of the passenger side of the engine. It idled okay but I shut it off after 30 seconds in fear of a t-belt catastrophe.

Whats your impression of what happened? I also could smell the slight hint of hot or burning rubber.
Old 05-06-2004, 12:17 AM
  #2  
Jim_H
Banned
 
Jim_H's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: The Great Northwest
Posts: 12,264
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

If you start your car again without changing your t belt you will prove beyond a shadow of doubt you are crazy. At this point you may be the luckiest guy this side of Tom M.
Old 05-06-2004, 12:30 AM
  #3  
Jim_H
Banned
 
Jim_H's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: The Great Northwest
Posts: 12,264
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Is it possible to "slip a tooth" with our belts?
Old 05-06-2004, 12:34 AM
  #4  
Warren928
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
Warren928's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: IL
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Im not planning on starting it at this point. Are there one site or many that address all the issues of replacement on my 86 32 valve?
I need to find out how I can tell if a any parts need to be refurbished or replaced.
Secondly, who makes the best quality T-Belt? I had heard that the Conti belt doesnt stretch as much, is that true or is there something better out there?
Old 05-06-2004, 12:37 AM
  #5  
Warren928
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
Warren928's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: IL
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I have heard of some fellow shark owners who had stripped out teeth, I guess thats the most common way to a set of bent valves.

How loose does the T-belt have to become to start stripping out teeth and altering the cam timing? Many 928 owners say to stop driving immediately when the warning light comes on.
Old 05-06-2004, 01:46 AM
  #6  
ErnestSw
Rennlist Member
 
ErnestSw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Warren Warren Warren Warren (shakes head)
You may have just won the 928 equivalent of a Darwin award.
Old 05-06-2004, 08:47 AM
  #7  
Garth S
Rennlist Member
 
Garth S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,210
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 13 Posts
Default

Tsk tsk tsk, well, well, well Warrreeeennnn! How could you freakin' well break THE #1 commandment of 928 ownership & respect???
'nuf said! I really hope you got away with it, and will escape a much wiser man having spent only ~$400 on a timing belt/waterpump kit of parts.
Questions:
a) do you do your own work?
b) did the temp gauge or hi temp alarm come in with the TB tension alarm?
c) was there any coolant loss?
Before going any further, push (not start) the car into a 'work' position. Drain enough coolant to remove the top hoses, strip the ignition caps and two cam covers. Set the front on jack stands, drop the belly pan, and with a 27mm socket - turn the engine CLOCKWISE (facing the eng) to get the pointer on TDC. The eng should turn with reasonable effort - do not force.
At TDC, the cam wheel notches will/should be on their marks! If not, you need one more full rotation, as #1 cyl was on the exhaust stroke.
If the marks line up, you may be excused to do two back flips, and kiss your own butt while in mid air, and land singing Yankee Doodle!!!
If they do not, we'll be hearing from you - singing another tune.
BTW, as you do this, mostly from underneath, please examine every mm of the belt, and note if the back side is 'scuffed up' as well as tooth condition.
Good Luck!
Old 05-06-2004, 10:21 AM
  #8  
AO
Supercharged
Rennlist Member
 
AO's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Back in Michigan - Full time!
Posts: 18,925
Likes: 0
Received 60 Likes on 34 Posts
Default

Warren,

Tell us, was it too much weed, or not enough? C'mon man, you should know well enough by now that whent he T-belt light comes on, you friggen STOP the car right where it is. That is unless you have unlimited wealth. Good luck... I'm afraid you'll need it.

"Duuuude! My dad has this awesome toolkit..."
Old 05-06-2004, 12:26 PM
  #9  
Warren928
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
Warren928's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: IL
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

No, the temp guage or hi temp alarm did not come on. Oil pressure seemed normal. There was plenty of good clean oil in the engine when it happened.

Either I am extremely lucky for having this problem and that my shark runs but with a slight noise, enough to get me to do the T-Belt IMMEDIATELY or I might be paying the piper if this kind of situation results in valve work.

Will my shark still run even if something is seriously wrong with the valves?
I bought the Kempf tensioner tool. I will do my own work on it. Has anyone smoothed out their sharp gear teeth on their cam gears with a buffing wheel, sander or file?
I feel much better now that I have been roasted for doing the unforgivable to my 928. Please forgive me for not thinking clearly...But remember, I had to be impulsive enough to buy a 928 in the first place, which makes me somewhat irrational to begin with!

Old 05-06-2004, 12:41 PM
  #10  
Warren928
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
Warren928's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: IL
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Could someone please direct me to the web sites about:

1)Changing the T-Belt
2)Rebuilding the tensioner
3)Inspecting all related parts for excessive wear.
4)Checking oil pump operation

If you have any interesting links or photos, please post them. It would be much appreciated, I just want to do the job right the first time. This car had a new long block engine installed from orlando porsche in 99'. Who would bet that they kept the old timing belt , water pump and oil pump?
Old 05-06-2004, 01:13 PM
  #11  
SharkSkin
Rennlist Member
 
SharkSkin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Boulder Creek, CA
Posts: 12,620
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

Warren, put down the abrasive tools and step away from the car! If you can't get your cam gears to look perfect with Simple Green and a toothbrush, replace them! There is no viable alternative AFAIK. And yes, the car can run with bent valves.
Old 05-06-2004, 01:15 PM
  #12  
GRGGOODSPEED
Banned
 
GRGGOODSPEED's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Waterford, Ct
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

http://members.rennlist.com/pirtle/keepers.html
Old 05-06-2004, 01:16 PM
  #13  
AO
Supercharged
Rennlist Member
 
AO's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Back in Michigan - Full time!
Posts: 18,925
Likes: 0
Received 60 Likes on 34 Posts
Default

Warren:

Try this.

Timing Belt proceedure
Old 05-06-2004, 01:16 PM
  #14  
AO
Supercharged
Rennlist Member
 
AO's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Back in Michigan - Full time!
Posts: 18,925
Likes: 0
Received 60 Likes on 34 Posts
Default

Greg just beat me
Old 05-06-2004, 01:41 PM
  #15  
Warren928
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
Warren928's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: IL
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I just downloaded Pirtle's help website for timing belts. That site is a lifesaver, hats off to Mr. Pirtle!!

I'm not out of the woods yet. Can I take the front end of the engine off to inspect the belt without the crankshaft locking tool? Then at least I will know where I stand.

How many teeth can the T-belt jump or slip before it causes interference in the engine?


Quick Reply: Dreadful T-DAY is here...Did I get lucky?



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 04:40 PM.