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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 85
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Whew Just In Time...
S and S2 owners - please take note!
Most of us are aware of the time bomb on the front of our engines - the timing belt. S and S2 drivers mostly are aware of a second one lurking under the cam cover - the chain tensioner. My S2 has 90K on it and I've been thinking I need to pop the cover and check the second one but I was putting it off for a more "convenient" time. The general discussions have been around 90-100K for replacement to be safe. Saturday w/ rain pouring down outside (no yard work - yea. Webed feet - boo - 13" this week!) I went to the garage and dug into the little task. Takes about 15 minutes including disconnecting the fuel lines. And there it was - but wait. The leading edge of the plastic pad was gone! It had broken off and was laying in the bottom of the head. The rest was still in place but slightly out of line and hanging by a thread. I easily removed it w/ just finger pressure. Really dodged a bullet. It's a really dumb design but not the first time P has screwed up on cam chain tensioners. On 911s they are a major pain to check/change but there is no such excuse on these cars. Anyway, I can't preach it often enough now - IF YOU HAVE AN S OR S2, KNOW THE CONDITION OF YOUR CHAIN TENSIONER PAD! With the age of these cars, the plastic is brittle and the 90-100K rule no longer applies. And it is a really really easy job to do!
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Carroll '89 S2 |
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05-17-2004, 06:36 AM
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Mein Gott!
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Yeah, I'm due to adress mine real soon. Did you inspect the bottom pad as well? Those cam cover bolts are a piece of work to get loose......did you have any difficulty there?
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Johnny 1987 944S 1984 944 (R.I.P.) 1972 Triumph TR6 - 100% trouble free between breakdowns 2003 BMW 325xi |
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05-17-2004, 09:33 AM
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Yes, I did. It showed minimal wear. I just replaced the top pad. I haven't seen a bottom pad replacement anywhere. Have you? The tensioner itself is very simple - no internal seals. Just a stout spring and a ball check valve. I've read where the J tube can crack/leak but mine was fine.
The cam cover bolts were a little scarry cause they seemed so tight. Then I realized that it was the rubber seals holding the shafts really tight. They all came right out though I did remove the fuel lines for that one on the top. You could probably get around them without removal but I was using a 3/8" drive w/ hex head socket and it just wouldn't fit.
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Carroll '89 S2 |
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05-17-2004, 10:25 AM
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The LIGHT! The LIGHT! I've SEEN THE LIGHT!
Good show Carroll! As to the bottom small plastic pad; it's not that critical. It's there just to catch the chain bounce. If you have an old one to look at you will see little if any marks from the chain. Also it's small enough to pass through the chain path without much of a mechanical impact.
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Hugh - So Cal 83 944 Driver Person NOT a 'real' Porsche -- Its Better!!!! When was the last time you changed your timing and balance belts and/or cam chain and tensioner? New Users please add your car's year and model to your signature line! Never break more than you fix! |
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05-17-2004, 10:50 AM
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Hugh, it almost looks like it could do w/o the bottom pad completely since that is the driven (stress) side but I'm not voluntering to try it.
 There was virtually no wear pattern on it at all.The plastic in the new pad looks and feels different than the original - may be just age/heat/etc. but the new one feels more like a Nylon66 or related product while the old one is more like an ABS/Butyl/Styrene derivative (much harder but more brittle to begin with). Think I'll check it's wear out after a few thousnad miles just to see how it's doing.
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Carroll '89 S2 |
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05-17-2004, 11:37 AM
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After market pad from Rennbay?
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Hugh - So Cal 83 944 Driver Person NOT a 'real' Porsche -- Its Better!!!! When was the last time you changed your timing and balance belts and/or cam chain and tensioner? New Users please add your car's year and model to your signature line! Never break more than you fix! |
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05-17-2004, 11:42 AM
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Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 85
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Zims...
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Carroll '89 S2 |
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05-17-2004, 11:52 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Orange County, CA
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There's a P/N on the OEM pad...it's a 928 #. Anyone know what the dealer charges for a new pad?
Also noticed my pads are orange in color...photos of new units are white. Which were yours?
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Sean '88 Porsche 944 '95 Volvo 940T Seal Beach, CA, USA |
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05-17-2004, 02:08 PM
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The original was red-orange. The new one was white and I don't think it had a part number. These heads or ones very similar were used on the 928 S4 so I guess the 928# comes from that.
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Carroll '89 S2 |
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05-18-2004, 05:18 AM
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They start out white but change color due to oil and heat. My car has a new upper pad and I have a spare.
I plan on changing the upper pad every 25K miles and the tensioner every 50K miles. I know that this interval is short but it's cheap insurance to me.
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Pete 1989 944S2-Dove Blue Metallic 1985.5 944-Alpine White--sold My P-car Online Profile |
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05-18-2004, 06:11 AM
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Location: Indy In.
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We all need to make sure all owners know of this service on all the 944/968 series...
If you chat with a owner at a gas station or at the store, whatever...Just ask them when they last changed their T-belt ect.... I have come across maybe 50% of owners on these older cars that aren't aware that they are playing with fire... I have heard some say...Oh it runs fine, no problems, but they need to know if could be if its not changed when it should be!
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89 Porsche 944 Owner: AutoFreeFinders.com Online Auto Mall |
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05-18-2004, 07:24 AM
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Ooooo! Don't tell them about the pad and T belts! Where would we get cheap parts cars or fixer uppers from!
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Hugh - So Cal 83 944 Driver Person NOT a 'real' Porsche -- Its Better!!!! When was the last time you changed your timing and balance belts and/or cam chain and tensioner? New Users please add your car's year and model to your signature line! Never break more than you fix! |
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05-18-2004, 08:58 AM
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1983 Porsche 944 2.5 liter
1985.5 Porsche 944NA 2.5L 
