[968CPT]

When should the timing belt be changed? Since it's tough to get to, what other maintenance should be done at the same time?

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[flash]

do a bit of searching here - you will find some VERY informative threads that recently popped up on this very subject

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[RPM]

But... the short answer is ~ every 45,000 miles and you definitely want to replace the water pump at the same time.

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[flash]

actually no, that is the OLD and now incorrect answer - that is why i directed him to find the thread with the new information - that is not often enough, and only half the answer - the thread tells you what can happen if you follow that interval

here is a link to the thread:
http://www.968forums.com/index.php?showtopic=7480

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[ds968]

What Bob pointed to on the belts.
The water pump tends to last a lot longer on these cars, I would not replace it with every belt change, but perhaps
every other one.. every 70k miles should be ok. "Should" and "will" are not synonimous mind you, it can fail a lot sooner, or it can easily last 100k miles, but don't chance the belts in either mileage or age factors.

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[Cloud9...68]

<!--quoteo(post=75172:date=Jul 8 2009, 04:23 PM:name=ds968)-->QUOTE (ds968 @ Jul 8 2009, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->The water pump tends to last a lot longer on these cars, I would not replace it with every belt change, but perhaps
every other one.. every 70k miles should be ok.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Agreed - from all indications, the water pumps seem to be pretty solid on these cars.

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[968CPT]

<!--quoteo(post=75172:date=Jul 8 2009, 02:23 PM:name=ds968)-->QUOTE (ds968 @ Jul 8 2009, 02:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->What Bob pointed to on the belts.
The water pump tends to last a lot longer on these cars, I would not replace it with every belt change, but perhaps
every other one.. every 70k miles should be ok. "Should" and "will" are not synonimous mind you, it can fail a lot sooner, or it can easily last 100k miles, but don't chance the belts in either mileage or age factors.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks to all for the feedback. Through this site, I connected with Will from Precision Motorsports in Califon and he reitereated that the water pump does not necessarily need replacement along with the timing belt.

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[danderson]

I am planning on changing my timing belt and realized quickly I probably do need a flywheel lock. I ordered a kit from Arnnworx and after having done so went back to look to see if there was a picture of the lock in use and it was then I saw the disclaimer that the lock sold by Arnnworx will not work on a 968 with the dual mass flywheel. In all of the reading I had done, I have heard about the differences between a Tiptronic and a 6 speed lock, but never that a lock would not work on my car. Can anyone illuminate this for me? Thank you very much.
Dwight Anderson
94 Coupe

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[ds968]

it's the same one used for the 928 flywheel locking, NOT the shorter 944 piece

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[Cloud9...68]

Yes, and unfortunately it's kind of a pricey item, a little north of $100, iirc. It's totally indespensible for the job, though. I've heard of people jamming a screwdriver into the flywheel teeth to keep the engine from turning when removing the front pulley, but just the thought of trying something like that makes my skin crawl. Invest in the lock, if you can't find a fellow 968 owner in your town willing to lend you his.

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[ds968]

even if there is a mechanic / shop nearby that works on Porsches they might lend you one ( never hurts to ask ) for a day or two , probably with just a security amount "hold " on your credit card until you return it to them

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[Johannvb]

<!--quoteo(post=75213:date=Jul 9 2009, 04:10 PM:name=968CPT)-->QUOTE (968CPT @ Jul 9 2009, 04:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Thanks to all for the feedback. Through this site, I connected with Will from Precision Motorsports in Califon and he reitereated that the water pump does not necessarily need replacement along with the timing belt.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I was told the same thing...and 1000km later I had a busted waterpump. I have now learned that this is due to the increased pressure on the waterpump pulley. A belt job costs a lot of money due to the amount of labour involved. I had to pay labour twice because a mechanic told me the waterpump was fine...don't make the same mistake, spend the extra money...it's cheaper in the long run.

Oh yes, my car only had 88 000km on the clock at the time, so it was the first scheduled belt change.

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[danderson]

In regard to timing belts, I have removed the timing cover and the cover down at the flywheel. I do not have a flywheel lock as of yet but I wanted to look around and understand everything. I decided to put the engine at TDC just to see where things would be. I was surprised to find no timing marks. I can do it without but I would prefer not to. Do our cars have the peep hole that 944's have according to Clark's Garage? Am I missing something on the crank pulley or the flywheel? I found a mark on the cam gear but that is not a good thing to go by if the cam is out(mine is not). How do all of you do it?
Thank you very much,
Dwight Anderson
94 Coupe

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[banditsc]

If the flywheel lock is the same as the 928 (which I hope so), I just bought one for my 928 for $62 from a 928 shop.

Just be glad your not changing the belt on a 928, which is what I am doing today, along with a intake refresh so the motor is pretty stripped down right now..

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[flash]

there are marks on the flywheel, as well as on the exhaust cam - you can see the flywheel marks through the hole at the top of the bell housing

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[jlm968]

I'd be willing to loan out my set of Arnworx tools in exchange for someone buying me a timing belt (Goodyear Gatorback) or an oil change (K&N filter, any decent synthetic 5W-30), or if anyone has a used good Hall sensor (connector's getting brittle on mine and the CEL is on intermittently). I threw away the tension cricket thingy, though, so you'd have to use your own judgment on the balance shaft belt, which isn't rocket science to do just by feel, as that belt is supposed to be eerily loose anyway.

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[Cloud9...68]

<!--quoteo(post=76046:date=Jul 24 2009, 10:25 AM:name=flash)-->QUOTE (flash @ Jul 24 2009, 10:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->there are marks on the flywheel - you can see the flywheel marks through the hole at the top of the bell housing<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes, rumor has it this is the case. Try as I might, I've never been able to see them on my car, though. Supposedly some cars have marks on the flywheel as well, which you can see once you get the starter off. Once again, no luck on my car. I just relied on the mark on the cam.

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[flash]

yeah- there are 3 marks - they are pretty easy to see if you manage to get your head over the engine and look straight down through the hole in the top of the bell housing

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[danderson]

I just ordered the Arnnworx tools yesterday and am thinking it may be possible to modify the lock to work on a 968. I think it is just too short. But I will see. My belts seem to be in fine shape. I cannot see any sign of fatigue at the bottoms of any of the teeth. They look brand new but they are 6 years old with 36,000 miles. The balance shaft belt has been adjusted periodically at Holberts and it is amazingly loose in my opinion. I was thinking that the balance shafts probably do not require too much force to turn especially compared to a cam so maybe the looseness is not a problem. I ran the engine without the top timing cover to watch the belts and at 3,000 rpm the balance belt was fluttering noticeably. By 4500 it had smoothed out and ran linear. I did not go higher. The engine seems to be turning so fast at 4,500 when I am standing right in front of it. Anyway, the belts seem fine but I will change them as soon as I can. Has anybody else observed their belts in action?
I will make an effort to find that hole in the top of the bell housing. I have not seen it. I saw the mark on the timing gear but I did not see to what it should correspond. So what am I missing this time?
Thank you again.
Dwight Anderson
94 Coupe

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[Scott Collins]

<!--quoteo(post=76080:date=Jul 24 2009, 07:30 PM:name=danderson)-->QUOTE (danderson @ Jul 24 2009, 07:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I just ordered the Arnnworx tools yesterday and am thinking it may be possible to modify the lock to work on a 968. I think it is just too short. But I will see. My belts seem to be in fine shape. I cannot see any sign of fatigue at the bottoms of any of the teeth. They look brand new but they are 6 years old with 36,000 miles.of it. Anyway, the belts seem fine but I will change them as soon as I can. Has anybody else observed their belts in action?
I will make an effort to find that hole in the top of the bell housing. I have not seen it. I saw the mark on the timing gear but I did not see to what it should correspond. So what am I missing this time?
Thank you again.
Dwight Anderson
94 Coupe<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Hey Dwight,

I hope these comments might help you.

944 flywheel lock will not work on the 968- different flywheel. I have had and used both, and the 968 lock is VERY different. I did not enjoy shelling out for it, but these is no substitute. For one thing, it's longer and is designed with a pin that locks in behind the flywheel when inserted to keep it stable. When you are timing these cars, do you really want to wonder if the screwdriver you jammed in there with chicken wire and bubble gum might have allowed a couple of teeth to slip? (A couple of teeth stands between you and a weeks vacation to Honolulu, including airfare.) Let me see if I can attach a photo.
   


As for the belts, I offer my strongest recommendation, intended to spare you all sorts of emotions that you might not even know it's possible to have, probably in this order, [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mellow.gif[/img], that you change both NOW. I hope that by the time you read this it's not already too late... It's not just miles, but also time (age) on those belts. I truly love my car, (insofar as one can love an inanimate object), but curse Porsche for this design... One might think it's just the timing belt we need to be concerned with, however, this kind of thinking is why we make emergency calls for flywheel locks, flatbeds, and calls to friends for rides. If the balance belt goes, it can get caught in the timing belt and take that out as well.

The view window that allows you to see the marks in the flywheel from above is located near the firewall at the end of the block. You basically have to lay on your stomach over a front fender, lightly, and get your eyes over it. Or I suppose you could use a mirror. (If I am wrong about this, someone else chime in and set me straight)

Now, if after all of this gloom and doom you still love the car, then you will be right at home in our 968Forums.

Best of luck!

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