[968rz]

[rant]

I must have done something to upset the good Doctor <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> . A few days after our fall tour I noticed a very slight engine vibration (was hoping it was just me and still may be), I was thinking maybe a jumped balance shaft belt or collapsed motor mount. I finally had some free time to investigate this and started with the mounts but didn't see any thing wrong there so kept looking; jacked the car up and (with head hung in disgust on all fours) I glanced under the car and saw something hanging off the belly pan, turned out to be part of a fan belt which got me to look at those; what I saw was my A/C sitting on an angel and the belt riding on the lip of the crank pulley (the belt had one whole rib cut clean off).

Off come the pans to find what looked like a mounting spacer lying on the center pan (what is this from <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/huh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> ) and the upper mount for the A/C missing the rear bolt as well as the front bolt broken off (front looks to have been like this for awhile). I drilled out the broken bolt and installed new ones (A/C back in shape, still need a new belt but it should be ok for testing)

Now where did this spacer come from? Look and look; AH <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/excl.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> ; the P/S pump is missing a bolt at the rear upper mount and this spacer fits right in the gaping hole (great, car is falling apart but this should be an easy fix <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> ) I find a bolt, put the spacer and bolt in now to loosen tensioner so I can re-adjust everything (bad idea <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/angry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> ). I go to loosen the tensioner bolts (not the lock nuts) and the thing snaps in half (the tensioner not the bolt). WTF did I do to piss the gods off?.

I made a slide adjuster out of flat stock as a temp till I can order the right part, got the all the belts adjusted and fired it up; still seems to have a very slight vibration so I pull the timing covers and both belts there are perfect (sigh).

Now I'm not sure; is it just me or is this vibration real (no other 968s here to compare it to). My next thought is the rubber dampener; I had this fail on my 924, what a PITA to replace. I'm almost afraid to start pulling the inspection plate off for fear of what might break next (or be missing).

[/rant]



PS.. after messing with the P/S adjuster is looks like there should be one long bolt through the upper pump mount rather than two short ones so that means another date with a drill and tap. ugh!

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[banditsc]

The power steering mount is two bolts, so don't worry about that.

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[flash]

unfortunately i see this happening more and more - the cause seems to be somebody making adjustments without first loosening the mounting bolts, or forgetting to tighten them back up again afterward



the way to check your motor mounts is to measure them - the minimum spec flange to flange is 63mm - new is 70 - when they get down near minimum they can vibrate



i'd get the accessories dialed in first though - they case vibrations with seemingly little wrong

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[968rz]

Thanks for the info guys, the vibration is very slight, could just be paranoia about losing the t-belt while running. I'll try to measure the mounts tonight, I really hope its that and not the dampener. Glad to hear the P/S IS two bolts, I would have to take apart the whole front of the engine to get a drill in there .

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[Anchorman]

This is incredibly familiar. My A/C compressor has lost bolts three times. The last time, I was on the track and lost power steering. When I pitted to check, I found the A/C belt lying on top of the engine, with a couple of ribs gone. The compressor was hanging from a hose, bolts were gone, the PS belt was off. In doing the repairs, I found the PS tensioner was shot and also rigged a temporary fix until I could get home and get a new tensioner. Now, checking the A/C mounting bolts has become part of the routine checklist.

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[Richard]

[quote name='Anchorman' post='42514' date='Oct 17 2007, 03:07 PM']This is incredibly familiar. My A/C compressor has lost bolts three times. The last time, I was on the track and lost power steering. When I pitted to check, I found the A/C belt lying on top of the engine, with a couple of ribs gone. The compressor was hanging from a hose, bolts were gone, the PS belt was off. In doing the repairs, I found the PS tensioner was shot and also rigged a temporary fix until I could get home and get a new tensioner. Now, checking the A/C mounting bolts has become part of the routine checklist.[/quote]



A similar thing happened to me recently after I had some A/C work completed. The tensioner arm was loose and the A/C belt came off followed by the tensioner arm breaking. A new belt, tensioner arm and bolt and all is good. I did follow Flash's advice about keeping the bolts loose until after I made the adjustments.



The first sign of the problem was a very squeaky belt just before the belt slipped off and the arm broke.



http://www.968forums.com/index.php?showtopic=4412&hl=

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[968rz]

Well I'm rather sure I found the reason for the vibration; Yesterday while standing up in a wedding, wife was driving the 968 and the alternator froze up(BUMMER!). I got lucky and it started turning again long enough to get it home at the end of the night(cool).

I think it's time to put the car up on stands for the winter and start pulling things off to clean and inspect. It has about 78k now so it's about time.

Whats your guys/gals take on a place to get the alt? (Automotion/Sunset/local rebuild...)

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[flash]

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopca...g_pg1.htm#item0

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