Timing belt and water pump question

[Alexb944]

What all do I need to do a complete timing belt and pump replacement? I have already printed off directions from Clarks garage but I need to know exactly which rollers or tensioner I need as I am either ordering from paragon, pelican, or ******** whichever is cheapest/better warranty.. I know gates have good timing belts which are what I had in my Lexus, but idk about the rollers..
Please be nice, I am in a hurry too so short, straight to the point is appreciated.
Just picked the 944 up last night.. Waterpump started spewing this morning.

[dgcantrell]

What year model is it? Replacing all the rollers is not going to be cheap though. Gates is good on the belt. I used one last time on mine.

[v2rocket_aka944]

Sorry to our Pelican overlords, but the best price for 944 timing belt kit is on Zims or Paragon.

Gates or Continental are fine for belts. Most kits come with Conti belts.
Rollers are all INA no matter where you get them.

Zims is offering their excellent rebuilt waterpumps again for an unbeatable price, or you can get a new pump from them instead for a little more.

What year is your car? That will determine which kit to get.

[Alexb944]

sorry it is a 85.5 944

[dgcantrell]

Most online vendors mentioned here have complete kits that list all the part numbers for the rollers. You're looking at about $325-375 for the complete belt/roller kits and waterpump.

[Alexb944]

thats what i was expecting.. lol

[thomasryan]

Budget......Races, oil pump drive, water pump studs, a method or the flywheel lock, long bent needle nose pliers or the pin tool, a method or a thin 27mm wrench to adjust the belts, a small torque wrench for the water pump bolts/studs, torque wrench with a range suitable for the pulleys and crank bolt, triple square bit for the cam bolt....

There is one fastener on the rear of the lower balance shaft housing.

Since you are there, oil cooler housing gasket set and pressure valve alignment tool.

Watch Jürgens and Vans videos a few times. 924board dot org has a nice drawing on setting the balance belt teeth to get the notches aligned the first time.


I have a spare water pump gasket if you want to meet in Newport. (edit...if that is what is leaking)

[dgcantrell]

But if the rollers and tensioner rollers on the car are in good shape, you can forgo them for the time being. If any of them make any noises or have tight spots in them when you turn them by hand, you should be able to reuse them. I'd just start working toward replacing them on the next belt change.

If you decide to do the oil cooler seals, doing it with the waterpump out makes it a LOT easier to do. Get the steel alignment tool if you do. The plastic one SUCK as they are almost always under sized.

[Alexb944]

thomas thanks for the offer but ive already gotten one from a local euro shop, but if this one falls through i will be hitting you up, also ill probably go ahead and replace the belts, thermostat, and pump... what coolant should i use or go back with the genuine porsche cooland for like $30 a gallon?

[dgcantrell]

Almost all anti-freeze made in the past decade or so is designed for aluminum engines. No real need to pay $20 extra bucks a gallon for a pretty plastic jug. Be sure to use distilled water to mix and you should be fine. Hell, I've been running the Wal-Mart SuperTec yellow stuff in mine for 15 years now.

[thomasryan]

I have 5 cars that use blue coolant....usually pentosin NF in all of them but porsche, subaru or mercedes coolant will all be 30ish/gallon. Punch in your zip on advance auto and see if they will honor the $10.99 for 1.5 liters for NF....not G,SF or ++

Coolant/Antifreeze Technical Article by Pedro

[Alexb944]

any point in using redline water wetter and distilled water? it doesnt get too dang cold here in knoxville.... i miss seattle...

[dgcantrell]

Water wetter will help with cooling in the heat. Use distilled water to keep mineral deposits from forming in engine from dissimilar metals that make up the cooling system. The antifrieeze is totally up to you really. The only car that I have that I use the Audi G12+ (Ravenol from Blauparts) is the wife's A8 since that's what has always been in it.. It's damn near impossible to get it all flushed out so I didn't want to risk mixing it with anything else.

[thomasryan]

water pump seals like the lubrication additives in the coolant.

flushing every few years keeps the pH in check which is critical for the plastics such as the heater valve, air bleeds, drain plugs and radiator end caps.

a radiator can last ten years or twenty and they are not cheap))


if you get everything installed, i can help you set the belts.

[v2rocket_aka944]

To the op I strongly recommend replacing all the rollers while doing timing belts, this is not the place to be cheap or lazy.

I've done 30-40 944 timing belts and have never found a single roller in good enough shape to continue reusing after 30-45k miles. They are all noisy and loose by that age on the 944..

Originally Posted by dgcantrell

But if the rollers and tensioner rollers on the car are in good shape, you can forgo them for the time being. If any of them make any noises or have tight spots in them when you turn them by hand, you should be able to reuse them. I'd just start working toward replacing them on the next belt change.

If you decide to do the oil cooler seals, doing it with the waterpump out makes it a LOT easier to do. Get the steel alignment tool if you do. The plastic one SUCK as they are almost always under sized.

[Alexb944]

i was planning on replacing the rollers, when i replaced the belts. and Thomas i may have to get your help when doing this whole ordeal if your willing. Also from what i can tell this is the original radiator.