Belt tension warning (*sigh*)
05-11-2015, 04:21 PM
#16
Rennlist Member
Good info, Dr. Bob...I was wondering how course that adjustment was.
Fred, when you say you accepted the warning and the light went out, you mean the big red "!", right? Did the "belt tension" indicator disappear also? I've only seen the indicator when my warning circuit was disconnected, so I don't know if a transient condition will allow the indicator to go out on it's own or not. It's a good question, since I haven't seen that scenario myself.
Fred, when you say you accepted the warning and the light went out, you mean the big red "!", right? Did the "belt tension" indicator disappear also? I've only seen the indicator when my warning circuit was disconnected, so I don't know if a transient condition will allow the indicator to go out on it's own or not. It's a good question, since I haven't seen that scenario myself.
Yes- I got the big red light a couple of times. As I remember I flicked the stalk and it disappeared never to repeat. I presume this type of event goes into a log in memory somewhere. My thinking was that if an alarm condition truly existed the graphic would not cancel or it would repeat immediately.
All things being equal if the belt is well adjusted one should not see alarms unless something has gone drastically wrong thus I suspect I had false alarms but one cannot really afford to make assumptions with an interference engine.
It would be interesting if our friends more in the know on this subject can offer some insights- my presumption about what happens may be correct but I do not know that.
Rgds
Fred
05-11-2015, 06:04 PM
#17
Rennlist Member
Recently purchased another 86.5, PO said the belt and all had been done, had the car tech inspected for a DE, brake fluid and battery hold down were only issues to address.
However with the car running OK w/ PKS300 chips and all and no Belt warning Light w/ more than a few WOT shifts
I wasn't doing the DE unless I looked at the belt and rechecked the stock tensioner and belt tension.
Here's what I found:
Belt tension around mid window w/ Kempf tool, so OK
Cam Timing way off (only checked 1-4), see next
Belt is not tracking correctly, it's at the gears edge, and is grinding itself into failure, fibers all over the place,so no DE for this one this time.
I could have easily fixed the Cam Timing, but the tracking will require the entire Belt job to be redone, may even need a new WP. So I buttoned it up and it's parked awaiting parts (I had already ordered the Audi unit).
I'm thinking the person who did the T-belt job, overtightened the Belt or the Stock Tensioner is not de-tensioning when hot as designed, this bent the Shoulder Bolt, now tension is in a happy place but the tracking is not (could also be a WP failure in the making).
So much for the warning light if this system is not assembled, set and maintained correctly bad things happen and eventually you will get a light "!" eek!!!
Do Not depend on the Warning Light, you all need to LOOK at the belt and how its tracking as well as it's proper tension.
The Audi Tensioner makes this a much simpler system to install and maintain.
Just my 928 cents
DaveK
However with the car running OK w/ PKS300 chips and all and no Belt warning Light w/ more than a few WOT shifts
I wasn't doing the DE unless I looked at the belt and rechecked the stock tensioner and belt tension.Here's what I found:
Belt tension around mid window w/ Kempf tool, so OK
Cam Timing way off (only checked 1-4), see next
Belt is not tracking correctly, it's at the gears edge, and is grinding itself into failure, fibers all over the place,so no DE for this one this time.
I could have easily fixed the Cam Timing, but the tracking will require the entire Belt job to be redone, may even need a new WP. So I buttoned it up and it's parked awaiting parts (I had already ordered the Audi unit).
I'm thinking the person who did the T-belt job, overtightened the Belt or the Stock Tensioner is not de-tensioning when hot as designed, this bent the Shoulder Bolt, now tension is in a happy place but the tracking is not (could also be a WP failure in the making).
So much for the warning light if this system is not assembled, set and maintained correctly bad things happen and eventually you will get a light "!" eek!!!
Do Not depend on the Warning Light, you all need to LOOK at the belt and how its tracking as well as it's proper tension.
The Audi Tensioner makes this a much simpler system to install and maintain.
Just my 928 cents
DaveK