K-Roll's 944 Lyfe: Everything seems to be going to hell now ;_;

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390) 01/09/2015 at 13:05 • Filed to: 944 lyfe, K-Roll

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Yeah, things are not going well right now for me and my car.

A while ago, I posted this video of the multiple sounds coming from my car at cold start; there was squealing, tapping, and a loping sound all at once. Now that I've gone to a 944-specific forum for advice, I can now say with certainty that I'm rightfully terrified of what I've got the chance of, and may eventually face in the coming months.

The tapping sound is actually one of two belts, the timing or balance shaft belt, being rather worryingly loose at cold start and hitting my timing belt cover, under which both reside. If it's the timing belt making the noise and it goes, I'll have bent valves and lots of money put into head work, money that I haven't got right now.

If it's the balance shaft belt and it goes, it'll take the timing belt with it and the aforementioned nightmare will happen.

So I have to quickly figure out and learn how to change those belts and rollers come March with my only guide being the internet and my own hands; frankly I'd rather not trust the internet even if the sources for doing the work are the most reliable. I'd much rather prefer having someone with the experience right next to me to help me out when I need it.

The second issue is that loping sound, which may be...........rod knock. I'll have to drain the oil and see if there are any metal shavings within the oil. If it's not that and a milkshake like substance, then I've got failed oil cooler seals. This is all dependent on what my oil looks like.

Then, I've got the cam tower gasket leaking tiny amounts of oil. I knew this beforehand and it wasn't going to be a big deal before this, because it was the only real issue I had at the time before these other noises reared their ugly heads at me.

This, is most likely going to be hell, and one I have to tackle on my own; and knowing all the potential risks with this, I'm very afraid to do what needs to be done.

I really hope this isn't going to be as horrible as I'm thinking it'll be, suffice to say, I won't be sleeping so easily anymore for a while.

God help me, this is going to be a stressful spring. If there's any solace in all of this, at least I don't have to replace the water pump. But I have to get this done, if not for my on sanity, for my car, and the Kittens!!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 13:10

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I guess start with the one that's worst-result, yet easiest to diagnose - the potential rod knock. Of course, I had what sounded like rod knock once, and it ended up being my harmonic balancer working loose. HURR. If it is rod knock, though, might be time to go all Bill Mauldin cartoon on it...

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/09/2015 at 13:11

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Oh god no...

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 13:12

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Better to take it the field hospital, er, garage and perform a heart transplant?

and 100 more > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 13:18

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Hilarious edit!

Meatcoma > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 13:21

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a lot of people have said changing those belts isn't terribly hard and I thought about trying it once, but a mechanic told me he would do it for $500 so I let him. Money well spent to have a knowledgeable mechanic do something he's done many many times. That mechanic also owned 3 944s himself.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Meatcoma 01/09/2015 at 13:26

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Most mechanics seem to charge $2k for the belts and work though. I'm not in a position to do that.

Meatcoma > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 13:31

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At an import repair place? Or at a dealer/porsche specialized mechanic.

crowmolly > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 13:32

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http://944foot2thefloor.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-to…

DO IT UP, but take your time. Especially with gasketing since you don't want to go back in there.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Meatcoma 01/09/2015 at 13:33

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Porsche specialized mechanic. I don't know any import shops around here and I'm very unsure of trusting any non-Porsche specialized shops with my car, especially with what was happening with our 911 after taking it to a non-specialized shop.

Meatcoma > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 13:39

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I can understand that. The import shop I took mine to was only because the mechanic was dding a 944 and I seen 3 in the back to be worked on. Not to mention the fact he would go on and on about 944's and how reliable they were if taken care of.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Meatcoma 01/09/2015 at 13:44

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They are reliable when taken care of, and I need to take care of mine the best way I can, without nuking my bank account.

Meatcoma > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 13:45

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I hear ya. They get expensive quick. Good luck either way it goes.

KatzManDu > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 13:52

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There are step-by-step videos:

http://944foot2thefloor.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-to…

http://rennlist.com/forums/diy-sub…

If those yahoos can do it, so can you (always my theory)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 13:53

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Wow, that's a rip-off. Timing belts aren't that hard.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/09/2015 at 13:57

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It's because it's a Porsche.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 13:58

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So glad I have an AW11.

RallyWrench > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 14:01

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Before you delve into it too deeply, spray a bit of WD40 or similar on the accessory belts & see if that squeaking noise goes away. And that knocking doesn't sound rhythmic, rod knock is, and you would have heard it much more under the car. That sounds like something rubbing, maybe the exhaust, as it might if the engine mounts are flat. I've heard 944s do a lot of terrible things, but that doesn't sound as severe as you might think. When the timing or balance belts are loose, they tend to make more of a zzz-zzz-zzz-zzz-zzz noise as they saw at the plastic timing covers, and when too tight they make an easily identifiable howl. Many 944s make this howl because almost no one gets the tension right.

If you do the timing and balance shaft belts, which isn't a bad idea if you haven't, they're not as hard as everyone seems to think. There's a special tool for the balance belt tension, but you can also gauge it by hand. I'm sure you'll find accurate descriptions on the Pelican Parts tech forums. The balance shaft belts should be able to be turned through 90 degrees as I recall.

Of course, I might be wrong, this involving the vagaries of the interwebs, but carry out some basic checks first before throwing up your hands in despair. Good luck.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/09/2015 at 14:02

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I'm not really a fan of AW11 MR2s

A friend of mine has a W20, I much prefer those looks.

luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 14:09

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I can't believe no one has suggested that it's LS swap time. So I guess I will! IT'S LS SWAP TIME!!!

just kidding. Sounds like you are going to get very familiar with your engine. This stuff is doable. Just take your time and lots of pictures as you go.

uofime > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 15:04

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you're an engineer(ing student), you should be able to change a timing belt.

Dsscats > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 20:50

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1. Remove timing belt cover

2. See what happens

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Dsscats 01/09/2015 at 21:04

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That's all I can do for now honestly. Unfortunately it's a little more complicated than that.

I've gotta remove the air box and AFM to get a clear look at the cover.

Then when I remove that, I can see the condition of the belts but then it gets more complicated to actually get the belts. Also cant forget to set the engine to TDC!