[TheMirror]

Cheers gang -



A mechanic told me over the phone that any wear on variocam pads and subsequent chain stretching would be detected by hooking up the diagnostic computer and reading any fault codes. He said that the cam timing going out of sync even a tiny bit would be noticed by the cam position sensors and would tip off a fault code.



Is this true?



Also, he told me that variocam inspection is hugely involved, as the cam cover is also the cam cradle. That doesn't sound right to me, isn't the cam cover just simply removed by unscrewing the hex bolts and simply lifting it off?



-Mirror

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[Anchorman]

Don't know anything about the fault codes, but the inspection is as you describe - and there's a detailed procedure in the DIY section of this site.

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[TheMirror]

[quote name='Anchorman' date='Mar 24 2006, 05:48 PM']Don't know anything about the fault codes, but the inspection is as you describe - and there's a detailed procedure in the DIY section of this site.

[right][post="17976"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



Indeed, I just looked that over. Its just remove the solenoid wire, take out the sparkplug wires, get the fuel lines out of the way, unscrew the cover screws and pull it off. Hmmm......

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[flash]

that will give you access to see the top pad - the bottom one is a lot tougher - they should wear pretty evenly though

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[Greimann]

No way will worn pads or stretched chain throw a code. The sensor is on the same sprocket as the drive gear - it is connected to the timing belt, not the chain.



The valve cover is NOT the cam cradle. It is just a cover.



Find a new mechanic.

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[rustech]

Second Dave, find a new mechanic. There is no sensor on the intake cam. The tension between the cams is maintained regardless of minor stretch. It's the stretching from the first tooth on a sprocket, to the last, that causes misalignment and wear.

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[ds968]

[quote name='Greimann' date='Mar 24 2006, 07:38 PM']The valve cover is NOT the cam cradle. 

[right][post="17993"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



The cam's in the cradle and the silver spoon...



sorry <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />





had my variocam inspected about 15k mi ago and everythging looked perfect.. but the car has 85k mi now, and I hear sometime b/w 90k mi to no later than 110K mi is the prescribed vario service, so given the very good condition mine was in not too long ago is there any point to doing this early ( 90k mi) and changing the pads, chain, etc even if they still look great...or at 100k mi should be ok ?

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[968gene]

Dan the funny man...

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[Mike-dk]

[quote name='ds968' date='Mar 25 2006, 06:00 PM']The cam's in the cradle and the silver spoon... 



sorry <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

had my variocam inspected about 15k mi ago and everythging looked perfect.. but the car has 85k mi now, and I hear sometime b/w 90k mi to no later than 110K mi is the prescribed vario service, so given the very good condition mine was in not too long ago is there any point to doing this early ( 90k mi) and changing the pads, chain, etc even if they still look great...or at 100k mi should be ok ?

[right][post="18017"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]





I have my cover off at the moment in order to do the inspection. The car has 158.000 km (100K mi) on the meter the chain is completely tight and the guides are fine with no chips or wear marks. But... since they are now 13 years old they are very hard and most likely quite brittle so I will have them replaced before long. I will keep the chain since there is a 944/968 specialist here i Sweden who has constructed a tool making it possible to change the bottom guide without removing the cams and chain.



Mike

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[S_Cal968]

a 944/968 specialist here i Sweden who has constructed a tool making it possible to change the bottom guide without removing the cams and chain.

Hmmm, I'd bet there's a few folks that would like to rent that tool... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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