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Can anyone give me a ball park cost estimate for replacing a timing belt on a 92 tiptronic? Have been getting the run around from a few shops, several of which said they are not familiar with the car and wouldn't want to touch it. The mechanics that are familiar mentioned lack of access to parts. One shop mentioned that the timing belt tensioner is the rate limiting part that is hard to come by. It is part 94410517203, picture below.
Honestly, I am also having a hard time finding this part. Porsche dealer also told me they would have to do an extensive search for it. Anyway, this seems odd and am spending a good amount of time and energy, wanted to reach out to the community for some guidance. One final estimate I got was upwards of $4k which seemed sky-high, hoping others can offer some feedback.
Additionally, if anyone can recommend a trustworthy mechanic in Southern NJ, that would be very helpful, ideally around the Phila/Trenton area.
Thanks
For a mechanic in the Philly area, reach out to @Mrmerlin here on RL. He's primarily over on the 928 board but that guy knows a lot about these cars, not just the 928.
There was someone else asking about the tensioner in recent memory and I don't think that it was a good ending to the story. I think the recommendation was to move back to the S2 tensioner.
Can anyone give me a ball park cost estimate for replacing a timing belt on a 92 tiptronic? Have been getting the run around from a few shops, several of which said they are not familiar with the car and wouldn't want to touch it. The mechanics that are familiar mentioned lack of access to parts. One shop mentioned that the timing belt tensioner is the rate limiting part that is hard to come by. It is part 94410517203, picture below.
Honestly, I am also having a hard time finding this part. Porsche dealer also told me they would have to do an extensive search for it. Anyway, this seems odd and am spending a good amount of time and energy, wanted to reach out to the community for some guidance. One final estimate I got was upwards of $4k which seemed sky-high, hoping others can offer some feedback.
Additionally, if anyone can recommend a trustworthy mechanic in Southern NJ, that would be very helpful, ideally around the Phila/Trenton area.
Thanks
Find a shop that has a mechanic that knows transaxle P-cars. When I had a PPI done on my car, before I bought it, 2 Indy shops told me that their transaxle mechanic one died and the other retired several year previous.
First quest should be, "Are you familiar with transaxle P-cars". If their eyes glaze over; run as fast as you can....
Try reaching out to Pete formerly of RS Barn. He is in the Philly area and I think still wrenching on 968's even though RS Barn is shut down. PM me for his phone number or more easily sneak over to the 968 group on Facebook and send him a message and he is very quick to respond. It is accurate that the timing belt tensioner has become unavailable. These things do not necessarily need replaced and are designed to be re-used and re-tensioned per workshop manual slowly in a vise and re-insert pin. I think the majority of these things are still good and discarded in the trash can as part of an obsessive "while your in their" P-car compulsive condition. I can say this as Im firmly diagnosed with the condition but would feel fine about putting a used one back in if it seemed to compress as the work shop manual suggests. If it will cause you or your mechanic to not sleep well than you could also use the earlier spring tensioner version found on the 3.0L S2 motor.that is available. I have also heard 968 enthusiast Raj Datta on this forum and FaceBook has a few new ones that he may be willing to part with and as a bonus is in NJ and perhaps is close to you. Raj also may be able to point you to a shop he may recommend as a long time 968 enthusiast.
Can anyone give me a ball park cost estimate for replacing a timing belt on a 92 tiptronic? Have been getting the run around from a few shops, several of which said they are not familiar with the car and wouldn't want to touch it. The mechanics that are familiar mentioned lack of access to parts. One shop mentioned that the timing belt tensioner is the rate limiting part that is hard to come by. It is part 94410517203, picture below.
Honestly, I am also having a hard time finding this part. Porsche dealer also told me they would have to do an extensive search for it. Anyway, this seems odd and am spending a good amount of time and energy, wanted to reach out to the community for some guidance. One final estimate I got was upwards of $4k which seemed sky-high, hoping others can offer some feedback.
Additionally, if anyone can recommend a trustworthy mechanic in Southern NJ, that would be very helpful, ideally around the Phila/Trenton area.
Thanks
That is sky high. The place that’s doing mine is charging me $600 to install the parts I bought for ~200, including the Gates Racing Belt. (I’m only replacing one pulley as I just did the whole shebang 10,000 miles ago (but 6 years).
Iirc, the Conti kit with the belts and all the pulleys is $433 from Pelican, $188 from FCP. Rose Passion has tensioner for $299.
Most of the quotes I got before I settled on this place were $800-$1200 including the Conti kit. (I prefer the Gates belts, which is why I bought my own.)
Just a WAG: They probably don’t work on a lot of transaxle cars (any) and they were quoting the cost for a Boxster/Cayman which probably requires dropping the motor.
In the Seattle area, very few shops will work on the 968 timing belt. One quoted me $4K for timing belt and water pump, another estimated $3300 but based it on a recent 944 job. I'll know more in two weeks.
In the Seattle area, very few shops will work on the 968 timing belt. One quoted me $4K for timing belt and water pump, another estimated $3300 but based it on a recent 944 job. I'll know more in two weeks.
Depending on where you live Redmond European can do the job. In September 2020 they did the belts and rollers on my S2 (plus a lot more, ugh) with Porsche parts I supplied. Looking at the invoice I think the charge was a bit high at 8 hrs @ $150/hr since in the past they've also done the water pump for that labor. It's worth contacting them. Email Mike@redmondeuropean.com for info.
Thanks all for the input. Apparently this part is nearly impossible to get. Roger from 928RUS mentioned it hasn't been available for months to years. On Rose Passion, looks like someone grabbed the last one. When I tried to order, inventory was zero. Oh well, was worth a try. One Porsche dealer said it might take 2 years... which from the sound of this, is not a complete no. Anyway, sounds like the best way to go is to reuse the one I have or get an S2 part. But clearly the 4K price is out of control.
Interesting; they didn't even hit my radar. Nobody suggested them and they didn't show up on a search. Good to add them to the arsenal.
German Car Specialists (my historical go-to) won't even touch the job
Aker's Porsche was on long-term vacation
Squires estimated $4K
Gerber estimated about $3K
I've been using Redmond European (Monty is the owner) for about 20 years. The first time my belts and water pump needed changing back in 1998 I did that myself, but then my garage got filled up with remodeling stuff and 30 boxes of my kids vinyl and I haven't been able to do my own work, but that's going to change very soon as I don't really like paying multi-thousand dollar repair costs. The last time Redmond European did the water pump, belts, rollers, etc. it was 8 hrs labor. A 968 is not much different than an S2. IMO some shops may be padding the costs to try and make up for lost revenue from COVID-19 and people not driving their cars nearly as much.
The piston is driven by mechanical spring force. The hydraulic component is only for dampening. Even if it loses all of it's oil, it's no different than an S2 tensioner at that point. I re-used mine when I did the belts and it's been fine. I've never heard of one failing.
The piston is driven by mechanical spring force. The hydraulic component is only for dampening. Even if it loses all of it's oil, it's no different than an S2 tensioner at that point. I re-used mine when I did the belts and it's been fine. I've never heard of one failing.
Not sure that's correct. Doesn't the 968 tensioner dynamically adjust the tension continuously? The S2 tensioner has a spring, but it's only purpose is to put the correct tension in the belt when loosened, and then when tightened the spring has no effect.
Not sure that's correct. Doesn't the 968 tensioner dynamically adjust the tension continuously? The S2 tensioner has a spring, but it's only purpose is to put the correct tension in the belt when loosened, and then when tightened the spring has no effect.
You are correct. 968 is dynamic vs the locking of the S2. The main point is that if the 968 tensioner is still working (pushes in slowly with force), keep using it. If all the oil is gone (not likely), the dampening effect will be gone and it will be like an unlocked S2 tensioner, with presumably similar loading.
09-01-2021, 03:38 PM
Timing Belt
