[94'968]

i posted a little while ago about my car running rough. everyone said check the cam cover gasket ect. did that all looked good expect for the chain pads, which were about 3/4 inch by 1 inch. i knew this wasnt right. i had already planned to take it into my mechanic. well i go in this morning to talk with him and look at my car. well needless to say i put off changing those pads a little to long. both pads are completely gone, all the teeth on the exhaust cam are gone except a few. i have one bent exhaust valve. and the thing is the car was running great!!! i didnt hear any rattleing. then the car just didnt wanna start. SO IF YOU HAVE BEEN PUTTING OFF CHANGING YOUR VARIO CAM PARTS... DO IT!!! the pads are like $150, opposed to $2500 this is costing me. :/ so get it done!!!

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[PorscheDude]

Sorry to hear it! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Thats the worst that could have happened.



I have been in contact with a few people lately who have been looking for a 968, I always recommend that they have the cam cover removed to inspect the cams and pads.



It seems these cars are so rare, that if even if one takes it for a PPI, the mechanics are unfamiliar enough to miss or check things that are important and unique with this car.



Sorry for your misfortune, on the brighter side, at least you know it has been fixed. Check with Pete at RS Barn for cams.

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[Ryan]

Joel, how many miles on your car????

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[rxter]

Get the cam rollers guides and belts adjusted at 15K, then replace the rubber bits at intervals of 30K. So every 15K you should be doing something with those items. Replace every the pads at 75K?

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[ds968]

all the components looked out-of-the-box new ( well, except for the oil on them <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> ) when I checked them about 30k miles ago, whch was at only 65k miles on the odo. I know there is a possibility the lower pads which can't really be viewed well enough <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> wear faster than the top, but given the top were so perfect I figured the lower ones even with slightly more wear are just fine. I was planning to have them inspected again at around 120k miles and thinking in the 30k miles from the last check not much wear could/would take place, but now I may reconsider and just have this done sooner.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[xrad]

thanks for the warning, have to do mine...although the belt looks brand new...I do have a slight rattle when lightly revving around 2500rpm

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[rustech]

Dan, didn't you ever see the pictures of mine when I replaced them @ 95k. The top looked grooved and smooth, the bottom was very pitted. I would personally replace them before 100k.

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[midblu]

I had an inspection done on my pads at 103,000 and they looked perfect. At 115,000 when Eric (rustec) replaced my Hall Sensor (thank you again and again Eric) he pointed out the top pads which were noticably grooved. I got the new pads/chain done at 117,000 and the old pads were deeply grooved and pitted but not chipped or broken and all the teeth on the cams were thankfully in good shape...it was not a pretty site. It would behoove everyone to not wait too long to have them inspected but know that even after an inspection the old pads can deteriorate rapidly. It's best to change them out if they are original to the motor.



Ron

94 coupe/6 speed

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[jfrahm]

FWIW my PO had to put a rebuilt head on at 138k miles due to neglect of the variocam system (and cams, and who knows what else.) Nice of him, had he just done the ramps and chain I would not have all those new parts.



-Joel.

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[ds968]

'nuff said - getting the variocam inspected and indicated parts replaced. not waiting another 25k mi.

thanks ! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[94'968]

my car has 140000 miles <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> there was no indication that the pads were going out, not rattle or anything. but it happens and we learn from it! an expensive lesson though. my mechanics good friends with Pete form RS and im getting some REtoothed cams from him. i just cant wait to get my car back!!!!

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[ds968]

wondering if there might be a legal recourse against Porsche for damage caused by variocam failure due to worn pads, etc.. considering there is no inspection or maintenance schedule / service recommendations of any kind in the owners & service manual related to variocam components ?!

or, is it that once you're beyond the warranty peroid you're S.O.L., for basically anything and everything regardless of cause and regardless of any errors or ommissions Porsche may have made ?

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[midblu]

Dan- you bring up a good point.



10 years ago I was still having my car serviced at the dealership (they are no longer interested in anything to do with a 968). I had started to see threads on the 968.net site with concerns about the variocam and pads/chains and possible failures. Being the somewhat paranoid animal I am the next visit to the dealership I spoke with my mechanic who was considered the "expert" (he was in all honesty a very meticulous mechanic) on all things 968 and asked for an inspection. He tried to talk me out of it because it was not necessary. I went so far as to speak with other mechanics at other dealership and eventually went up the chain to Porsche NA (as well as PCNA "experts") and everyone was in absolute complete agreement.....the variocam system in the 968 was bulletproof and a "non-serviceable" item that would never be a source of failure for the engine! If I had only somehow gotten them to put that in writing! That is why you will not see any inspection/maintenance/service recommendations for the variocam unit....period.



The dealership did not have access to the pads or chain (they were not even listed through Porsche Parts so therefore supported the theory of the variocam unit not being serviceable) and if I wanted to press the point they would have been more than happy to relieve me of $4000 if I wanted to replace the entire variocam unit (labor included)!



Porsche built their reputation on superb mechanics/engineering. I find it incredibly difficult to believe that the company had no idea of the possibilty of failure of the variocam unit due to worn pads which would then result in complete engine failure. Proving that would be impossible (all you have to remember is 2 words..... pinion bearing!). A company as large and powerful as Porsche do not make mistakes (they are after all German).



Open advice to everyone on this board.....GET AN INSPECTION EVERY 20K AND CHANGE OUT THE PADS AND CHAIN EVERY 70-80K.



Ron

94 coupe/6 speed

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[xrad]

Does anyone know absolutely if the upper and lower chain tensioner pads are exactly the same?



What do you guys recommend for the best timing chain? (endless links like Iwis? or something heavy duty?)

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[midblu]

xrad- I have my old ones here on my desk and they look the same.

Actually on closer inspection they have the same part number-944.105.509.00.



Ron

94 coupe/6 speed

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[Big Dave]

[quote name='xrad' post='56570' date='Jul 22 2008, 12:08 AM']Does anyone know absolutely if the upper and lower chain tensioner pads are exactly the same?



What do you guys recommend for the best timing chain? (endless links like Iwis? or something heavy duty?)[/quote]



Yes they are the same part. Ive just replaced the chain + pads on my [UK Sport]..

Preventative maintenance. As my car has aprox 65K miles on....

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[Ryan]

I find it hard to believe that Porsche thought the pads would last forever. They went through the same problems starting with the 944S and S2. There was no maintenance listed for them as well, but there were many failures and with the old style tensioner. When the pads failed the chain would rip the tensioner out of the head at times as well as removing the cam teeth and bending valves.



The new design is stouter, but it still shares the same wear items (pads). Porsche did not learn from their past problems. Evolution not revolution. Ha! They have a history of letting things slide. Oh well, still a fine car if you know what to look for.

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[ds968]

ok, I'm not saying forget about preventive maintenance, but for those ( Joel, for example ) who already had this happen, why not file in Small Claims Court ( max. amount of claim varies depending on county, but most are at least $ 2.5k, to as high as $ 5k in some venues ..so adequate to cover the cost of engine repairs ) ? After all, what have you got to lose ?! It's about $ 50 to file a claim, Porsche must respond and send representation there to defend the claim. The conclusion would be not only interesting but valuable knowledge and maybe even set a precedent for Porsche to own up on these losses ( best case scenario ) Worst case scenario, we learn that car manufacturers are not responsible for anything beyond warranty provisions, except when negligent.

To me an investment of $ 50 and a day of your time would be well worth the chance ( regardless how small ) of recovering the $ 2,500 you spent ? <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/unsure.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Ryan]

Dan, who do you think they would serve with the papers? The dealer is the only local face of Porsche, but I doubt they are liable.

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[ds968]

[quote name='Ryan' post='56593' date='Jul 22 2008, 07:17 AM']Dan, who do you think they would serve with the papers? The dealer is the only local face of Porsche, but I doubt they are liable.[/quote]



I'm guessing Porsche North America Inc. would be the appropriate respondent.



I also do not think liability can be asessed on any given local dealer , but PNA ( HQs in Atlanta, GA ) has legal represenation in each state, as I'm sure they deal with multiple legal issues nation-wide, so that would be my thinking on this small claims court approach..



That being said, I can also envision their defense: " under normal / reasonably expected driving conditions and habits the pads and other variocam components do not need service and have a lifetime duration . Therefore the

premature deterioration is entirely attributable to the owner/drivers habits ; consistently sudden acceleration, redline driving, slamming gears, etc, etc.. "



But again, for $ 50.. why not make Porsche spend some money and know they're not entirely absolved of any responsibility, if for no other reason but to test if one of our members who has sufered a financial loss from this may have a chance, as negligible as that may be, to prevail ?

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