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 The 928 Timing Belt/Tensioner System   Back  Forward

 

THE 928 TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER SYSTEM

Wally Plumley — 928 Specialists

 

The toothed camshaft drive belt, more commonly referred to as the timing belt, and its tensioner, make up

one of the most critical of the 928’s subsystems. This toothed rubber and fabric belt is responsible for

driving the camshafts (two cams, operating sixteen valves, up through model year ("MY") 1984 for

US-spec cars and MY 1986 for Euro-spec cars; four cams, operating thirty-two valves, for US-spec cars

for MY 1985 and later and all 928s worldwide from MY 1987), the water pump and the oil pump, and is

one of the longest timing belts ever used on a production automobile.

 

While a timing belt failure is serious on any 928, it can be a disaster on a later model. At some point, the

928 engine changed from a "free-wheeling" to a "interference" or "valve-crash" design, but there is not

universal agreement on exactly when this change occurred. This means that on all except the earliest

two-valve cars, timing belt failure or slippage can cause the pistons to hit the valves, resulting in major

damage to the engine. A toothed belt tension warning system, which can give early warning of a belt

problem, was added in MY 1985.

 

The factory-recommended replacement interval for the timing belt is 60,000 miles, but more conservative

or pessimistic owners often observe shorter intervals, such as 40,000 miles. There is general agreement

that age should also be a factor, with replacement suggested at no more than every four years, no matter

how much or little you’ve driven in that time. If you don’t know when your belt was last replaced, you should

seriously consider replacing it, especially on a 32-valve engine. You should also occasionally pull off an air

tube and visually inspect the belt at idle (MY 1986 and up only).

 

Replacing the timing belt is within the capabilities of a competent "DIY" (do it yourself) owner, but access

to the shop manuals and some special tools are required. Typical shop cost for timing belt and water pump

replacement runs from $500 (all amounts in US dollars) to $1000, while the DIY cost should run from $250

to $300. This article merely gives some helpful information not found in the manuals, and does not by itself

furnish sufficient information to perform the replacement operation. We recommend that you do not try to

replace the timing belt without the manuals and special tool.

 

There are many things that you should check while you are in there ("WYAIT"). This is a good time to

inspect and, as needed, replace the accessory drive belts. On the four-cam engines, take a very careful

look at the distributor caps and rotors. Especially if you are paying a shop to replace the timing belt, give

very serious consideration to replacing the water pump at the same time. The extra labor charge should

be minor, since removing the belt fully exposes the water pump, while replacing the water pump alone

requires removal and reinstallation of the timing belt. The pump should be about $125 or so from an

independent vendor, although a shop will usually charge more. This small investment could help you

avoid a flatbed charge and an expensive repair bill later.

 

Check the crank pulley seal, the camshaft seals, and the oil pump seal for leakage. Thirty-two-valve

engines have cam sealing plugs (FIGURE 5) on the front ends of the second cams; these often leak,

and now is the best time to replace these. Similar sealing plugs are also on the rear ends of all cams,

and are often responsible for oil leaks down the back of the engine. The old-style O-ring seals are

discontinued. You can either try to find a suitable O-ring replacement, or replace the plugs and their

retainers with the new design. See shop manual page 15-120 for an illustration of the old style, and

15-128a for the new style.

Since you will be working around 12 volt dc connections and removing the alternator, it is a good idea to

disconnect the battery ground strap. Keep track of the timing cover bolts, as they are not all the same.

 

The tensioner (FIGURE 1) deserves special mention. This little device serves to tension the belt,

adjusting automatically for temperature, and hydraulically dampens belt vibrations and fluctuations.

 

On the 32-valve engines, it also triggers the belt tension warning light (FIGURE 2 AND FIGURE 12). The

tensioner should be rebuilt every time that you replace the timing belt. This is a simple, inexpensive job

that could pay big dividends. Pages 15-20 through 15-25 in the shop manual show this operation. One of

the tensioner bolts goes into the water jacket, and coolant will drain out when it is removed, so thread

locking compound is used on this bolt during reinstallation. Observe carefully and make notes or photos

as you disassemble the tensioner arm (FIGURE 2), especially the sequence of spring, switch piece

and bushings on the 32-valve unitsÑthis isn’t shown in the manual!

 

You will need an O-ring (32-valve only), a rubber boot, a boot clamp, and a gasket. 928 Specialists

 offers a rebuild kit for the tensioner that contains all needed parts. The rubber boot (FIGURE 3) is

one of the most critical parts. It gets brittle with age and heat, and if it cracks, the oil leaks out and the

dampening action is lost. On earlier cars, pour the housing almost full of 90-weight gear oil before installing

the boot. End nipper pliers (electrical cutters with the blades running across the end) work well to tighten

the boot clamp. Be careful to keep the gasket (FIGURE 4) from bending or slippingÑinstallation can be a

little tricky. Gluing the gasket to the tensioner housing helps.

After installation, a trigger-type oilcan and a piece of plastic hose helps greatly in refilling the tensioner with

90-weight gear oil, using the fill and bleed screws (FIGURE 1). Be patient and hold pressure on the oil until

the housing is full; the oil is thick and the housing passages are complex. Earlier cars have plugs rather

than fill/bleed fittings, but their less-complex passages are easier to fill. Note that all illustrations of the

tensioner in this article are of the later type.

 

The following procedure should be followed on any engine that has a 45-degree mark on the crank pulley,

and for certain on any 32-valve engine! After removing the top timing belt covers, but before removing the

crank pulley, turn the engine (ALWAYS in the normal clockwise direction!) until the top dead center mark

on the crank pulley is aligned with the pointer, and the notches on the back of the cam shaft wheels are

aligned with the dimples in the backing plates (FIGURE 5). Note that Figure 5 is at the 45-degree position,

not the top dead center position! Then turn the crank 1 7/8 turns, aligning the 45-degree mark with the

pointer (FIGURE 6). Carefully add a new 45 degree mark (FIGURE 5) to each of the camshaft pulleys, so

that you can install the belt with the engine in the 45 degree position later.

 

The first special tools needed are a 3/4" drive socket and pull handle, and the flywheel stop (p/n 9161 to

MY 1982, p/n 9161/1 for MY 1983 and up). The flywheel stop can be rented from some of the 928 vendors,

but it is such an inexpensive tool that you probably want to buy it. While you might get the crank pulley

bolt off without these tools, it is torqued to 218 lb-ft, and it will take considerably more torque to break

it loose. We have snapped 1/2" Craftsman pull handles, extensions, and adapters trying, but a 3/4"

drive socket and handle worked fine. The bolt is 27 mm, but a 1 1/6" socket also fits. No puller should be

needed to remove the pulleyÑjust pry gently and wriggle.

Follow the manual and remove the covers and the belt. Check for leaks, then clean the area. Remove,

rebuild, and reinstall the tensioner housing as detailed earlier.

Inspect all pulleys and sprockets for wear or damage. Check the bearings in the timing belt tensioner and

idler pulleys (FIGURE 2) very carefully. There should be no looseness, grittiness, or roughness. Check the

plastic bushings in the tensioner arm (FIGURE 2) very carefully, and replace them if there are any

signs of wear. Check the bolt for wear (FIGURE 2). Clean, lube, and prepare the tension arm assembly

for reinstallation.

 

With the marks that you added (FIGURE 5), you can install the new timing belt at the 45 degree position.

Since this is the only position that is certain to allow camshaft movement with no danger of valve

crashing, and since the cams want to move suddenly and unexpectedly (due to valve spring pressure),

this is the safest position at which to install the belt. Remember that all belt slack should be at the

tensioner. Stuff a rag under the crank pulley to hold the belt on the pulley and make installation much

less frustrating. Pull the belt tightly over the oil pump, then the driver’s side (for left-hand drive cars) cam

sprocket, and apply a spring clamp or clothespin to hold it in place.

 

Go around the water pump, and pull the belt tightly over the passenger’s side (for left-hand drive cars)

cam sprocket, applying another spring clamp to hold it in place. Check the cam timing marks. Reinstall the

tensioner arm and tensioner, and run the tensioner bolt up to snug the belt. Remove all rags and clamps,

remove the flywheel lock, and temporarily install the crank pulley. Turn the engine to top dead center and

check all timing marks. Remember that the cam timing marks are on the back side of the cam sprocketsÑ

these are the ones that you can see through the air tubes on the MY 1986 and up engines. Their positions

are indicated in the illustration, but you can’t see the marks from this angle (FIGURE 5). Turn the engine

two turns, and check all timing marks.

 

Calibrate the tension tester tool (p/n 9201) (FIGURE 7), using the calibration bar (FIGURE 7) that should

accompany a rental tool, or that you should have bought when you bought the tool. This will give you a

good feel for how the tool works (FIGURE 8). Check to be sure that the locking pin (FIGURE 9) smoothly

and easily enters its hole in the sliding gauge pin. The calibration value is 4, and is set by turning the

knurled calibration-adjusting wheel behind the dial (FIGURE 8).

First and most importantly you are reading the loose side of the belt. There are either sixteen or

thirty-two valves pressing on the camshaft lobes, with each applying a couple of hundred pounds of spring

pressure onto smooth, lubricated inclined planes. This pressure tries to make the cams rotate, which

will change the tension readings that you get. This means that the first requirement for getting repeatable

readings is to turn the engine in the direction of normal rotation (ALWAYS!!) until it is on top dead center,

firing position. That is, the marks on the crank damper and the cover should show top dead center, and

the marks on the backs (not the 45 degree marks that you added) of both the cam wheels should be

aligned with the dimples on the flanges. If you are even a little bit off, it will change the reading, due to the

valve spring pressures on the cams. You must not back the engine up, even a tiny bit to align the marks,

as this will seriously change the tension read!

 

If you get the engine position precisely right, you will discover that the teeth on the belt are then in the

same position each time. This allows the elimination of another variable, the distance of a belt tooth notch

from the cam pulley. There will be either one or two notches where you can place the tension gauge roller,

and one of them will better center the sliding gauge pin on the pump bracket (FIGURE 10). Be certain that

the end of the gauge never hits the lower belt cover, if it is installed.

Pull the locking pin, and gently turn the small knob in the center of the dial face counterclockwise so that

the max reading hand is atop the indicator hand. Put the tool in place, trying to hit the same tooth valley

with the round roller each time. As shown on page 15-18c in the manual and Figure 11 of this article,

you support the dial end of the gauge with your left thumb and index finger, pressing up only enough to

support the weight of the tool, and carefully keeping the tool’s flat paddles (sliding shoes) and roller

(FIGURE 8) parallel to the belt.

 

Press down on the sliding gauge pin (right) end (FIGURE 9) of the tool with your right index finger

(FIGURE 11), being careful to avoid tipping or twisting the tool, until the locking pin slips into its hole in the

sliding gauge pin. Do not press down further on the gauge after the locking pin slips into its hole! Read the

value on the dial. You can then turn the max reading hand counterclockwise with the central knob until it

touches the indicator hand, pull the locking pin, and carefully remove the tool so that you can more easily

read the max reading indicator, but the in-place reading seems more trustworthy. The 16-valve models

should be set to 4.5, while the 32-valve models should be set to 5.0 - 5.3.

Rotate the engine two turns (to run all valves through one full cycle), and repeat the measurement. You

should be able to get very repeatable readings, and even small adjustments to the tensioner bolt should

make a noticeable difference in the tension. Check all timing marks one more time.

 

Reassemble the engine. Check the electrical connections (FIGURE 12) on the 32-valve units, slightly

bending the connectors as necessary to ensure good contact. If these connections are loose, you will

get intermittent false belt tension warnings. Use the tensioning tool to set the tension on the toothed

alternator belt (MY 1982 and up) to 9.2 on a new belt or 8.4 to 9.2 on a used belt (which will be much tighter

than you would have thought).

 

The timing belt must be retensioned after it is broken in. The shop manual says to retension after 1000 km,

but a slip included with your belt will probably give a longer period, such as 2000 miles. Much less

disassembly is needed to check the tension, as only the top passenger side (for left-hand drive cars) cover

must be removed.

 

There is a lot of understandable concern over the durability and reliability of the 928 timing belt and

tensioner system. If the system is properly installed and maintained, it is a very reliable, durable system.

While random mechanical failures can and do occur on any complex, highly stressed system, knowing that

the timing belt and tensioner system is correctly installed and adjusted will make those high-RPM blasts a

lot more comfortable!

 

THE AUTHOR

Wally Plumley is a retired aerospace engineer, now working with David and Jeannie Roberts at 928

Specialists. He has been involved with sports and racing cars since 1960, building, crewing, or driving in

many of the racing organizations. In 1991, Wally set three world speed records Bonneville in a car of his

own design. His 1986 928S is his first German car, and he reports that it is very different from his British

cars. Wally especially enjoys exploring the more technical aspects of 928 maintenance.

THE 928 TIMING

BELT/TENSIONER SYSTEM

Wally Plumley

928 Specialists

 


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