L_perm

If I pick up the 928 on Sunday for a 700+ mile trip back home, how critical is it that I have the recently-installed timing belt re-tensioned before I do the trip. Mileage since the timing belt, tensioner, bushings and roller boot were all replaced is between 500 and 1,000.

Should I make an appointment with a dealership down in FL--picking up in Naples Sunday afternoon? Any advice?

Thanks,
Louis

James Bailey

It should be fine however I would suggest you drive it very easy and cruise it home with no quick hard acceleration runs at all......goal is to make it home with a running car Then get it all checked out and adjusted which you can do yourself with a Kempf tool and some time...

dr bob

Louis--

I drove mine home from Denver to Los Angeles with a brand new belt. Followed the recommended 1500-mile retension guidance. Took it to the local dealer here in Pasadena, who coincidentally had originally sold the car. They did the tension check OK, but chose to do other stuff not authorized. Then hosed the (black...) car off for me to try to try and hide all the dirty fingerprints and such they had added. We had a discussion, and agreed that they weren't capable of doing work on these cars any more.

Lesson leearned was that it's a crapshoot finding a dealer that's actually capable of doing much work on these cars correctly. And that was 17 years ago, in a fairly mainstream market here in Los Angeles.

Recommendation: Drive the car home and spend no time worrying about the belt tension. When you get to 1000-1500, check the tension yourself if you can, or run a flag up here for help, and learn from some of your local Charlotte owners how to check and adjust it yourself. Usually for the cost of pizza and suds, you can entice a local to visit you and do the work on your cold car. Takes an hour or so, including instruction periods.

You can buy a "Kempf" tool from 928 International for actually testing the belt tension, and other forum sponsors here like 928srus and 928 Specialists (near you in NC) may also carry it. You'll need to pull the front belly pan/tray, and you'll need a 27mm socket to rotate the engine. The rest of the disassembly needed takes 10mm socket and screwdrivers to remove the right (passenger) side distributor cap, rotor, and timing belt cover. Actual adjustment is done with a stubby 17mm box wrench or two.

L_perm

Thanks for the advice guys. I wasn't planning to run it hard on the way home anyway. I need to get to know the car first, and I'm pretty tame anyway. I noticed that some belt instructions recommend up to 2,000 miles, so your advice is (pleasantly) what I was expecting/hoping for. I'm sure I can find either: someone to come by and help, or a good shop for 928s around here. I like the idea of having someone help the first time--make a friend, learn some things, drink some beer...

I assume this can be done with the front on jack stands or race ramps? As much as I'd like a lift in my garage, I don't think it's happening anytime soon.

mdkelly1

Jim B.'s and Dr. Bob's advice is exactly right.

You should be fine driving the car home and getting to know it better during the trip. It's one of the best experiences a 928 owner can have after purchasing his or her first 928. These cars are made for the highway and it will put a smile on your face every mile you drive it during that first trip.

If the maintenance is up-to-date and the car is in good shape, then the open road awaits and the fun (of 928 ownership) begins. No need to worry too much (although we all do that on the first trip), just settle in behind the wheel and let the car do the rest.

You'll be observing all kinds of things in the car while driving, but try to resist the temptation of pushing various buttons or turning switches to see what they do (other than those which you actually need to drive properly). It's a natural thing to want to do, but it's better to leave most of those things alone until you get home. You never know what you might wake up on a 928

And, try not push the odometer reset button while you are driving down the highway as I did on my first trip home 16 years ago, or you might be replacing the odometer gear sooner than necessary.

Enjoy the trip! Most of us never forget it.

dr bob

Front on stands or short ramps will do fine. High enough to get underneath to get the front tray off, low enough that you can reach into the engine bay comfortably.

Enjoy the ride!


---

I pulled into a parking lot about an hour into the ride, and spent a bit of time reviewing the owner.s manual to figure out how the cruise control works, among other things. The manuals are on google docs IIRC (someone will post a link I'm sure), and will help with some of the less obvious buttons and functions.

G8RB8

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's quickly letting off that causes the slack to pile up and let the belt slip. Nurse it along and watch the lights.