distributor belt replaced. Just in time?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
From: CA
distributor belt replaced. Just in time?
Been thinking about changing out the belt ever since I got the car (96 coupe with now 79k mi, driven only 2k mi in the last year). From everything I have read in buying and owning the car that if the belt breaks, bad things will happen. So this week, I finally took the car to a local shop to get the belt replaced. From the look of things, I think it was a good call.
The tech snapped the belt with his fingers when he fished it out from the belt housing. If the belt snapped that easily during replacement, I can only imagine how little it would have taken to snap it during normal operation.
I guess $18 in part cost and 2.5 hour labor charge is cheap insurance. Now I probably wouldn't need to think about this for another 13 years, or 80k miles.
The tech snapped the belt with his fingers when he fished it out from the belt housing. If the belt snapped that easily during replacement, I can only imagine how little it would have taken to snap it during normal operation.
I guess $18 in part cost and 2.5 hour labor charge is cheap insurance. Now I probably wouldn't need to think about this for another 13 years, or 80k miles.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: Long Island N.Y
Excellent call! Amazing you got that amount of mileage from yours. Are you sure it wasn't done before? In my case it was time that deteriorated the belt. My 964 only had 38,000 on her when the belt snapped when changing out caps/rotors. Funny thing the car started up normally but felt just a tad sluggish. Installed the vent kit at the time of new belt which I think all you 993 owners already have.
Dan
Dan
Last edited by pantera43; Jan 31, 2010 at 08:07 AM.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 51
From: PA
Wow, nice catch.
I know the 964s have had their issues with belts but I have not read about too many problems on the 993s. Since the age of these cars are now getting up there, I'm sure we'll start seeing more problems. I'm changing mine in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for the reminder!
I know the 964s have had their issues with belts but I have not read about too many problems on the 993s. Since the age of these cars are now getting up there, I'm sure we'll start seeing more problems. I'm changing mine in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for the reminder!
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,471
Likes: 209
From: Tacoma, WA
The job is a PITA. The dist gets fused in the case, & you might need to get a slide hammer to get it out. It's also not very easy to get the gear pin drilled out. It's more then a 2hr job, especially the first time.
My belt was changed @ 90kmi, & was in great shape, it looked to be in perfect shape. But at least now I know it was changed.
My belt was changed @ 90kmi, & was in great shape, it looked to be in perfect shape. But at least now I know it was changed.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,385
Likes: 1
From: Chicago
I had a local indy shop do mine. I didn't feel link trying to punch out the pin. Pulling the distributor is not fun either. You need to have some pretty good leverage to pull it. Make sure you find top dead center on both rotors.
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Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,817
Likes: 2
From: Alberta, Canada
I thought the belt was good for 90k or more? You can see some of the belt with the distributor still in the car and the rotors and covers off. I looked at mine a few months back and it looked great but I can't say if the PO had it changed it at the 60k service or not.
RL Technical Advisor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 11,870
Likes: 75
From: Portland Oregon
I do recommend new belts at 60K miles, based on what I've seen. All 993's had vent kits but the belts simply wear out and without a warning system, one is at risk if the lower rotor comes to rest pointing at a cylinder.
The other issue is that we are finding more bad bearings in these things as time goes by.
The other issue is that we are finding more bad bearings in these things as time goes by.
Addicted Specialist
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: So.CA
Wow, nice catch.
I know the 964s have had their issues with belts but I have not read about too many problems on the 993s. Since the age of these cars are now getting up there, I'm sure we'll start seeing more problems. I'm changing mine in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for the reminder!
I know the 964s have had their issues with belts but I have not read about too many problems on the 993s. Since the age of these cars are now getting up there, I'm sure we'll start seeing more problems. I'm changing mine in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for the reminder!
Edward
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,182
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver BC
I do recommend new belts at 60K miles, based on what I've seen. All 993's had vent kits but the belts simply wear out and without a warning system, one is at risk if the lower rotor comes to rest pointing at a cylinder.
The other issue is that we are finding more bad bearings in these things as time goes by.
The other issue is that we are finding more bad bearings in these things as time goes by.
will be replacing distributor belt and servicing other stuff in my other 993 in a month and it has 178k kilometers .