Newbie timing belt help please
 

So my mom gave me her '85 928S auto. After driving it for awhile the belt tension light would come on occasionally. So it went to the shop. Well $700 later the belt tension light now comes on every time I drive it. The mechanic says not to worry that the tension is correct and to just bring it back in 5000 miles for a check up. Should I be concerned? Can I tweek the tensioner myself by adjusting the bolt ? or am I risking valve damage?

Where are you located? We need to find you another mechanic....fast.

Im in Greensboro NC. My son and I went to SITM this year and met some great folks. Thats how I even know where my belt tension bolt is!

Yep I'll bet it won't make it 5,000 miles, but it could cost you $5,000 if you keep driving it :(
Did he put that statement in writing ?

Like Bill said: "We need to find you another mechanic....fast.".

so should I risk tweeking the tension myself?

no


just find another mechanic,

Did you spend the 700usd on replacement belt + refurb of tensioner?

If not, replace it or even better, get a porkensioner upgrade as well

I would identify your problem before I do much of anything. Better safe than sorry.

Can anybody suggest a mechanic in my area? He refurbished the tensioner but didn't replace the belt. Oh yeah it was also 4 qt low on oil when I go it back!

Welcome!!!!!

You guys, you and your son, had the AWESOME red 85 at SITM.

Hang tight, there are a lot of 928 guys around RTP. Somebody local should see this and give some advice.

I'm about 3 hours north of you. If absolutely needed I'll drive down there and straighten it out. But best to hook-up with your local guys. Best not to drive it. Should not give a light, even though the belt is new. Likely it will require just some better tensioning, based on the history of the car, but don't risk it. Really, don't risk it.

I've been driving it like this for months. Now you guys have got me worried!

You should be worried on this. No 928 mechanic would wait til 5000 miles for a check/retension. No 928 mechanic would allow the car to leave with light on. If he broke the light actuation wire he would fix it first.
Makes us all worry about belt alignment and other things that can wear inside and cause fast binding / failure.
Kind of looks like a 16mm movie camara wind job inside there.

My guess is you drive conservatively. That might be the only thing saving you. My own have triggered the warning light because I tensioned them a little too loosely. The light triggered on heavy acceleration, which really puts flutter and stress on the belt.

I don't like the fact that the light is coming on all the time.

Send a PM message to the guy posting this morning named coldbeer. He knows the people in RTP and maybe GSO and can maybe make some connections for you?

The light comes on usually within a couple of minutes of driving. On the rare occasion it will take awhile before the light comes on but it is always on. I didn't think I drove that conservatively ;) so Im guessing its a problem in the light actuation wiring .....

Maybe. But there is a 2 minute or so delay built-in to the system to account for the cool engine. Works this way if the wiring is disconnected. Or, if its properly connected and the belt is loose.

If it sometimes comes on later, that indicates the wiring is good and the belt tension is loose. Or, the tensioner wasn't reassembled correctly.

Do you have another car to drive?

That baby slips a cog and you've got a great parts car.

Thanks for the all the good advice so for. I will try to contact coldbeer. yeah I've got a POS Saturn that I can drive when I have to. Like I said now I am worried. Once had a timing belt break on a honda civic bent all the valves and killed the car.

What did they change for $700?