Retension at 2000?

csmall · 03-09-2008, 03:30 PM

Hi guys, I'd like to know what you think about re-tensioning the cam belt at 2000 miles. Seems like this is common knowledge.... but when I got mine done (about 1500 miles ago) my mechanic (a Porsche mechanic) said this would be unnecassary. So I got a second opinion from another Porsche mechanic and he tells me the same thing. Is this only necassary on the earlier models w/out the spring tensioner? Has anybody here ever lost the cam belt because they did not re-tension?

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Mine got soo loose that it was rubbing against the cover. Sounded like the water pump was goin bad. But i also question the work of the shop that the p/o had used. So i would say that it is a must.

csmall · 03-09-2008, 03:42 PM

The second mechanic I asked about this said that if the belt was loose I would hear it rubbing against the cover.... was this a very noticible sound in your case... I mean could you hear it when driving and is that how you came to suspect that it was loose? Probably a good idea to be a little paranoid about this issue.....

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Oh ya. I got in it one day started it and at idle it was a tick tick tick noise. Sounded like the water pump was goin bad. So loaded it up on a trailed and hauled it to Bob Dumont's in OKC. fully expecting an 800$ bill but they called later and said that the belt was just real real loose. Charged me 80 bucks and kicked it out the door. I was real happy.

hpservertech · 03-09-2008, 04:08 PM

Yes the rule of thumb is to have it retensioned between 1500-2000 miles after being replaced. It's better to be safe then sorry & have to have head work & bent valves.

Dark Skies · 03-09-2008, 06:17 PM

Whenever I get new belts - either at the Porsche dealership or the ex-Porsche mechanics staffed privateers outfit down the road from me - they always leave a Porsche warning card on the steering wheel to have the belts retensioned after 4500 miles.

Tidybuoy · 03-09-2008, 08:31 PM

When I had my belts done (including waterpump and front engine seals), the price included a rentensioning. The mechanic told me to bring the car back beteeen 1500 & 2000 miles and they retensioned at no charge. New belts are super tight and will stretch a bit after installing.

Vern

Razorback1980 · Razorback1980's Garage

I always retension at 1500 to 2000. You don't want that belt slipping or grinding the teeth off. Major engine damage occurs when that happens. Please don't ask how I know that. As for the auto tensioner. It does absolutely nothing to keep the belt tensioned after installation. After the belt is installed and the tensioner bolts are tightened, it is locked in place and I don't think it retensions on it's own, only holds the tension set earlier which will be off at 2000 miles.

speedracing944 · speedracing944's Garage

Retension your belts. Like Razor said the auto tensioner is locked down and does not adjust itself as the belts stretch. There is also the balance shaft belt which will need attention.

Sometimes all you have to do is check the tension and you may find it will be OK and you won't have to touch. Other times the belt may be so slack it doesn't even read on the P9201. I have had it happen both ways. The only way to make sure is to check it.

I think what allot of mechanics do is to tighten the heck out of the belts initially (way above spec) and send you on your way. I have done retensions on cars with their belts at 6.0 on the P9201 after the belts were installed by a shop.

Retension.

Speedy

nynor · 03-10-2008, 08:55 AM

i had a porsche 'mechanic' tell me the same thing. then the noise started. then i opened up the belt cover and found that the belts had been slapping so badly that they were destroyed and almost to the point of self-destruction.

you don't HAVE to retension the belts. it WILL be expensive if you don't.

mistertate · mistertate's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedracing944

I think what allot of mechanics do is to tighten the heck out of the belts initially (way above spec) and send you on your way. I have done retensions on cars with their belts at 6.0 on the P9201 after the belts were installed by a shop.

Speedy

This is what has always scared me about not using the P-tool and getting a proper re-tension. Say you start out to high you're putting a lot more tensile force on that belt than it was designed for, especially when everything expands. If you've ever seen the inside of the belt it's just kevlar cables. It seems like this overtensioning is a big potential for failure.

nynor · 03-10-2008, 01:01 PM

overtensioning is certainly hard on bearings, bushings, and seals, raising the risk of premature failure, and causing undue strain upon the studs and bolts that hold the rollers in position.

Eldorado · 03-10-2008, 06:57 PM

it costs next to nothing to retension (in some cases - nothing...) why not do it to save the $1000+ repair bill in the event that your two porsche mechanics are wrong?

I've never seen a certified career mechanic *not* err on the side of caution when dealing with such a cheap, but expensive it something goes wrong, job..

hpservertech · 03-10-2008, 07:01 PM

My shop just tells me to bring it back between 1500-2000 miles for the retension. If I dont he calls me asking when I'm going to bring it in. And he doesn't charge me....he builds it into the price of doing the belt job in the begining.