Michael Cain

Hello My name is Mike, I am 31 years old and own a blue 1991 Porsche 944 S2 Convertible.

At the weekend I drove my S2 from London 200 miles north to my parents farm in the midlands. The car seamed ok on the way back, no loss of power, I know that because I touched 145 Mph a few times on the M1, the car goes like a train. When I started the car the next morning there was a really horrid rattling sound comming from the engine. So I took the cam cover off to have a look and I discovered that the piece of plastic covering the top of the camshaft tenshioner was in pieces and that 5 teeth were missing from both camshafts, the timming chain had not broke and is still in one piece.

After speaking to P&H Sports cars down the road and who maintain and repair 944's they told me that the chain must be replaced as a matter of course and that the camshafts and tensioner hust also be replaced.

This morning I phoned around and bought a new timming chain 13 pounds and 2 new camshafts at 311 pounds each including VAT and deliever from PorscheApart. (By the way Porsche sell the camshafts for 599 pounds each.)

Is there anyone out there who has information about how to change the timming chain and how to remove and install new camshafts for the Porsche 944 S2 model.

I understand that Haynes did not produce a manual for the S2.

I would be very greatful if anyone can help. I am going to be working on the car this weekend and with out an update haynes manual I think its going to be tricky.

Mike.

craig001

Mike,

You have to pull the cam tower cover and then while you are there you should probably just pull the heads and check the valves out. We run an interference design and bad things happen when that tensioner craps out. That's why it's better to replace the unit and not just the pad. There is another thread going on that subject. If someone has a scanner maybe they can scan in the pages. My scanner died. You could also search threads from a few weeks ago, as someone had the shop manuals set up for download. Good luck!

Doug944s2

Mike--
Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I hope none of your valves are bent.

I don't have an answer, only a suggestion: Post you question on the 924/944/951/968 board here, as it gets a lot more traffic.

Just curious...how many miles are on your car?

Good luck!

wjk_glynn

Hi Michael,

I’d hate to be the harbinger of doom but you maybe looking at some significant additional costs. First thank your luck stars the chain didn’t let go because you’d be kissing your valves good night. The thing that worries me is what happened to the broken teeth. They may have/will cause additional damage depending on where they ended up. You’ve got to resolve this before firing it up again.

Karl.

wjk_glynn

[quote]Originally posted by Doug944s2:
<strong>I don't have an answer, only a suggestion: Post you question on the 924/944/951/968 board here, as it gets a lot more traffic.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Good idea.

Karl.

Andy S2

Mike
I recommend you talk to either Barry or Grant at Hartech in Bolton, they know more about this 944 weakness than anybody. They put new cams in my S2 a couple of years back and it's run like a dream ever since.
I don't know what your background is, but I've heard that this is a tricky job requireing some specialist tools ( one to tension the cam belt and you'll need 2 DTI's to dial in the cams ) are you sure your up to it? If you get it wrong and bend some valves it will cost a fortune. Also check out Berlyn Services ( talk to Bert ) for parts , thet sell the tensioner pad and cam chain for about £20.
Check out the following web sites:-
<a href="http://www.hartech.u-net.com/" target="_blank">http://www.hartech.u-net.com/</a>

<a href="http://www.berlyn-services.co.uk/aboutus.htm" target="_blank">http://www.berlyn-services.co.uk/aboutus.htm</a>

Good Luck

Andy

If you need any more help , e-mail me direct at :-

andyp2001@blueyonder.co.uk.

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Michael Cain

All,

1. You do not need a special tensioning tool to change the timing belts on the porsche 944S and 944 S2.

see below...

"Timing Belt
It's important to have the belts replaced and tensioned regularly. If the timing belt fails, your valves will be bent and you're in for a very expensive repair. Tensioning the timing belt requires an expensive special Porsche tension gauge, some owners use the more traditional "by hand" method without any adverse affects but the general consensus is "better safe than sorry". 1987 and later 944's have a tensioning device built in that allows you to perform this operation without the special gauge. "

2. Karl - Thanks - I have posted my message on the other board. Also I have removed lots of the teeth from the

3. I am pretty sure I have not bent the valves as the engine was still running although there was a horrid rattling sound. I did have to put my foot to the floor and turn the engine over many many times before it fired up. I did check the distribitor cap and it was pretty much burnt out.

4. If the valves were bent would the engine still run?

5. Andy - thanks for your help I will give these guys I ring.

6. I would still really appreciate help on changing the timing chain on the S2. Does anyone have text on how to do this. I am scared ****less on setting it up wrong and screwing the valves and pistons. I do know that the procedure is different to that of a 2.5L 944.


7. Doug - My car has done 136,000 miles now and has a full service up to 114,000 miles. I missed the 125,000 mile service and I guess I am now paying the hardway. If anyone has got an S2 and has read these acticles and are missing the services then you do it at your own risk.

8. craig - I tracked down the thread on the work shop manuals but the link to the site has now been discontinued. SO I guess I am back to square one on the workshop manuals. If anyone is reading this and has copies of the workshop manuals can you send me the sections on changing the camshafts and timing chains.

Thanks

Michael

craig001

Mike

I pulled this link from a post down the list. It's the front page to the links: <a href="http://crazandy.mine.nu:8080/manuals/" target="_blank">Porsche 944 Manuals</a>. I did't try to download myself, but it may be worth a try.

Andy S2

Mike,
I have some information that may be of use to you, firstly did you ever see the article in "Porsche & 911 World" about changing the cams on their long term 944S2? This was writen in conjunction with Barry from Hartech and contains some useful info. Also I have copies of a few pages from the Autodata cam belt book. This is a book that most garages have and tells you how to tension the belt and also how to align all the pulleys. If you e-mail me direct with a fax number I'll fax the info to you.

Hope this is of some use

Andy

<img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />

Michael Cain

Andy,

Do you have the "Porsche & 911 World" articles - that sounds just what I need. The copies of a few pages from the Autodata cam belt book also sounds great.

Is it possible for you to photo copy this article and send it to my home address :-

Michael Cain
Lodge Farm
The Castleway
Willington
Derby
DE65 6BU

As I do not have a fax.

Thanks

Mike

Andy S2

Mike,
Check your e-mail , I've sent you loads of scanned pages from Porsche & 911 World and the pages from Autodata.
Let me know if you have any problems with getting them

Andy

<img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />