Joel928s4

Hello, I’ve started replacing the timing belt on my 1991 S4 and upon taking the covers off, saw that the rotors are off by like a tooth (please see pic.)

Seeing this reminded me that a friend of mine had taken his ’89 GT into the dealership for service a few years back and they said they had found one of his cams was off by two teeth and they corrected the issue (Stevenson Porsche in Denver.) I know it is difficult to see from the pic but does this look like my car has the same issue? I didn’t hear any strange noises or anything when the car was running.

I’m planning on using John Pirtle’s guide along with the WSM to line everything up as I put the new belt on but wanted to know if my left bank’s cams are off from my right bank? Also, if I should be concerned? Thanks for your time.

AO

Joel:
#1 - It's impossible to tell if it's off from that picture.
#2 - Should you be concerned? Yes.
#3 - Follow Pirtle's instructions, and if you are truely off a tooth, factor this in when you make your 45* marks so you can line up the belt and cams. If this doesn't make sense, it will when you get into it.
Hope this helps.

Joel928s4

Thanks Andrew, it just didn't seem like the kind of thing that should come up that often and after hearing about it on one car and thinking it may have happened on this car, it freaked me out a bit. Thanks again, I'll follow your advice and hopefully it will make sense when I get to that part. Guards red rules!! :-) Joel

Big Dave

Joel:

It's hard to tell, but from the arrows in your picture it seems like you're not checking the cam gear locations vs. the markings on the backs of the timing belt covers. Make sure the crank is at 0 degrees TDC (top dead center) and then check the cam gears vs the cover's markings. You may need to rotate the crank again since it turns 2x for every one rotation of the cam gears. Get a close-up picture of the tops of the cam gears where they line up (or don't line up) with the markings on the cover.

Here's the marking on the back of the cover I'm referring to...

cfc928gt

Joel, this is a good time to check the cam timing with PorKens cam timing tool. Send me a PM with your phone # and I'll try to find some time to bring it over and we can check your shark. It's best to check before you take the timing belt off...

Joel928s4

Thanks Dave, I will try to stay in the realm of science and not trust my eyes. I won't have the 27mm socket until this Friday so I'll follow the procedure you've described once I can rotate the engine. That makes a lot of sense to me. Thanks Dave!!
cfc928gt, your offer is too good to pass up. I'll be sending you a PM!! I am so happy to be back in the world of 928s!!! Thanks again guys!!!!! Joel

PorKen

I always use my (32V'r) for a sanity check when I put the belt back on, to verify that it's on the right tooth.

BTW: if you have the original PorKen tool (V1 32V'r), I have an alignment tool and a revised manual which no longer requires getting a baseline.

sharkmeister85

Ken,
Is this the $18 with case deal on your website? Are they ready to be shipped now?
Glenn

Earl Gillstrom

I have replaced a lot of timing belts and about 50% have the right cam 1 tooth out of time when I get them.
It is easy to do, if the belt is not kept tight between the cams during installation. Be sure to check several times after installation.

PorKen

Glenn,

Yes. The price includes US shipping. (I'm basically giving them away.) I have a stack of them.

Joel928s4

Wow, $18 is cheap insurance to be sure the cams are properly aligned!

sharkmeister85

Done!
Glenn

RyanPerrella

If i understand Ken correctly, the $18 is for an alignment tool to go with the original 32v tool.

So if you dont have the original tool, the part he is selling is worthless to you.

If you dont have the original, buy his new kit.

PorKen

Joel,

The $18 tool is only for aligning the tool (V1) which you use to align your cams.
...

Glenn,

Got it. You 'Blainers' crack me up.

Joel928s4

Whoops, short bus moment. Thanks PorKen!