Question re tensioner noise
 

So , my new old 911 started to clack , a bit sooner than I had anticipated, though the upgrade was on the cards this year. Given the words of doom expressed in numerous threads I have been loathe to drive her ; she is booked for the upgrade on the 16th.

Now , I am presuming the noise is the tensioner , either way it's getting upgraded plus valve adjust and other stuff.

First time it happened I was ~ 4mins into a drive. Second time it just happened after I revved it up at home (typical situation - engine cold, showing a mate how she sounds...). Third time it started at the bottom of the 1 mile long hill I live on top of. Each time , the noise stopped after a while.

So I presume the sticky cold oil / lack of oil causes the chain to hang on the sprocket like a dirty bike chain?

My new mechanic reckons it would be safe to drive to his garage ~ 10 miles away. Says he's never seen one jump the sprocket, as long as it's warmed up. Obviously others have had the valve=piston issue. Others have said it's OK to drive a few thou' after the noise is first heard.

My inclination is to flat bed it down to the garage. It's already had a bottom end rebuild...

Oh and here's the noise FWIW internet docs YouTube - 911sc_noise.divx

In between times , everything is smooth & quiet.

Not getting to drive this car is killing me! Weather is perfect here!

I guess the answer to part of my question is answered in this contemporary thread! http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/524143-tensioner-failure.html

I would be worried about driving it. If it runs with no noise, maybe I would try, but still, its a gamble because if a chain goes flying, its going to be alot more than a tow. The chain can come off, depending on why it makes noise, or the chain can have so much slop, your cam timing is way off

Well I found this vid which sums up about 200 pages of text here!

YouTube - Porsche 911 chain tensioner story

also this YouTube - Porsche 911 964 Timing Chain Tensioner

Pictures worth a thousand words

I would definitely not drive the car as it is because of damage that might happen if the tensioner fails completely. Why don't you investigate the issue yourself? Chain tensioners are not too difficult to get to.

- Andrew