[Harvey]

I just purchased a new PORSCHE timing belt for my 968 (no. 944-105-323-02). The box says Porsche...and the Belt has the Porsche numbers on it..but it's actually made by DAYCO Isoran Made in Italy 119 RPP Plus 254 #SN 04286119. Obviously made for Porsche by another party. Cost was about $86 dollars. Yes...it's more money, but I wanted to get what's supposed to be the best...but I'm not sure it's all that much different than the cheaper belts available?



At first I was freaked out when I opened the box. The accompanying card explaining the T-belt tensioning check at 2,000-2,500 miles was stamped across in bold letters...NOT FOR 968. At first I thought the belt design might not be right for the 968, in spite of nos. being right so I called the dealer and was told that the belt is actually for the 968 but that the tensioning is not required of the belt since the auto tensioner of the 968 does this. Therefore, the NOT FOR 968 note really means, NO TENSIONING CHECK REQUIRED FOR 968 APPLICATIONS. At least I hope that's what it means. The belt lobe tips have a little groove across the face...a little different than belts I've seen for the 928.



Is the auto tensioner so good that you don't need to check belt tension? What about on initial belt install...do you just install it, pull the pin out of the tensioner and hope that the tension is OK? Sounds bit primitive/or advanced to me. I'll be checking with the 9201 tool anyway. 968 or 928 T-belts and blind faith are not a good mix.



Harvey

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[RoxyLaura]

Hi Harvey,



My 968 had just had TB + WP + various belts changed before I bought it.... recently I had the re-tensioning done and it's like a whole different car!!! Apparently, the TB was too tight and rubbing a bearing and the balance belt was waaaaay too loose - anyway, the car is a lot more responsive and zippy and so quiet you can hardly hear it!!!



Definitely do the re-tensioning!



Let us know how it goes!!



L!

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[flash]

ok - here's the deal:



porsche never made any of their own belts - they were always contracted out - the presumption that a belt is better than another because it was factory authorized as a vendor has no real merit - it may be true, but it has nothing to do with the fact that the factory authorized it - that would be purely coincidence - the tires that came on the explorer would be a good example of how wrong such an assumption can be



the belt now being shipped fits both the 944 and the 968 - there used to be seperate belts, but now it has been superceeded - the 944 needs timing belt retensioning - the 968 does not because it has a hydraulic tensioner - the 968 DOES need balance belt retensioning though, and at the specified mileage



hope that helps

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[mefforddk]

[quote name='flash' date='Apr 27 2005, 11:41 AM']ok - here's the deal:



porsche never made any of their own belts - they were always contracted out - the presumption that a belt is better than another because it was factory authorized as a vendor has no real merit - it may be true, but it has nothing to do with the fact that the factory authorized it - that would be purely coincidence - the tires that came on the explorer would be a good example of how wrong such an assumption can be



the belt now being shipped fits both the 944 and the 968 - there used to be seperate belts, but now it has been superceeded - the 944 needs timing belt retensioning - the 968 does not because it has a hydraulic tensioner - the 968 DOES need balance belt retensioning though, and at the specified mileage



hope that helps

[right][post="3828"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



And make sure that you re-tension the balance belt at the 2000 mile mark, unlike myself, who just had to replace that belt. In addition the belt on my car was for the 944, which is smaller in width.

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[flash]

yeah - there are still a lot of those belts flying around - that happened to me too - old stock - mechanic assumed they were the same - NOT

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[GREYGHOST]

[quote name='mefforddk' date='Apr 27 2005, 03:40 PM']And make sure that you re-tension the balance belt at the 2000 mile mark, unlike myself, who just had to replace that belt.  In addition the belt on my car was for the 944, which is smaller in width.

[right][post="3831"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]





Yeah, I had one of those on mine, done by a dealer just before I bought the car



had it strip all the teeth of one side, in a autox. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> . the car vibrated weird is all



I will say. Got the right one from my dealer I use and have not had a problem,



I have done the belts A couple of times know. have never re-tensioned the t-belt



done the balance belt a few times. I know this goes against tradition but I set the



balance belt with the car running. I found this works for me.





thanks Rob F

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[Harvey]

Rob,



You set the balance belt with the car running? 800rpm? Man...you must be fast with the tension gauge!



Harvey

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[Greimann]

[quote name='RCS968' date='Apr 27 2005, 05:34 PM']..... I know this goes against tradition but I set the



balance belt with the car running.  I found this works for me.

thanks Rob F

[right][post="3855"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



And that is what getting to know your vehicle is all about.



Anyone who has messed with the balance belt knows that it is very loose when tensioned properly. If a bit too tight, it whines like a turbine, but works well. If too loose, it will flap itself to death and skip a tooth, if not shred altoghether.



My guess is that Porsche is very specific about the tension because a production car has to be acceptable to the general motoring public as far as noise, but also be reliable. It also takes a $500 dollar tool to hit this small target. A home mechanic can get the belt tension very close by feel and ear, albeit, on the "tight" side, generating some cold belt whine. . After the belt gets warm, the noise goes away.

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[NeedPorscheSpeed]

[quote name='Greimann' date='Apr 27 2005, 09:53 PM']And that is what getting to know your vehicle is all about. 



Anyone who has messed with the balance belt knows that it is very loose when tensioned  properly. If a bit too tight, it whines like a turbine, but works well. If too loose, it will flap itself to death and skip a tooth, if not shred altoghether. 



My guess is that Porsche is very specific about the tension because a production car has to be acceptable to the general motoring public as far as noise, but also be reliable. It also takes a $500 dollar tool to hit this small target.  A home mechanic can get the belt tension very close by feel and ear, albeit, on the "tight" side, generating some cold belt whine. .  After the belt gets warm, the noise goes away.

[right][post="3865"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



Excellent post, Greimann! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[MikeNH]

[quote name='NeedPorscheSpeed' date='Apr 29 2005, 10:14 PM']Excellent post, Greimann!  <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

[right][post="3981"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



I'm still struggling with tensioning the belt with the car running ............



I've problably done 10 968s and a couple of 928s. Its not hard just takes time and you want to check things as you go back together with the car.



One mistake people make is to use a jack to compress the tensioner. Its not that hard to compress but its made to move SLOW SLOW. If you compress it hard and fast it can damage it.

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