944S - anybody got a rough handle on the cost of a belt change?

Another one of those distractions that came up locally - someone's selling a 944S, which at least in Europe means it's got the first iteration of the 16V engine.

Now I vaguely remember that they've got this odd system driving the second cam, and as a result timing (and balance shaft) belt changes are rather involved/expensive because you're supposed to also change the chain and tensioner driving the second cam.

Anybody got any idea what sort of money this job costs? It might be DIY-able but I would think it's outside my current skill- and toolset.

The owner seems to not have it changed (it's a low-mileage car) and if it is the original I wouldn't trust something as expensive as a Porsche engine to a 23 year old timing belt.

$300? I think that's around what it cost me when I did mine.

Head over to the Pelican parts forums and ask there, just don't let it jump or you've just built a very expesive paper weight.

If you don't do it yourself plan on between $500 and $1000 depending upon what the chosen shop labor rates are and if you plan on a water pump replacement too (recommended). I'd also do all the rollers and seals at the same time unless you know their history. It is cheap insurance when it's all apart. The shop doing the work also needs to know how to tension the belt correctly otherwise you get a whine and shorter belt life.

16v is going to be allot of jingle to have it done, water pump should be done at the same time, and they have gone WAY up in price over the past few years. I dont know squat about the 16v, but my guess is a full front end service will be in the $1400-$2300 range. another place to ask is rennlist, and check out clarks garage as well...

I just did the WP, thermostats, and belts on my 944T and did it for under 500 bucks. that included the set of Arnworx special tools.

See above, I've never changed a cambelt so maybe I should start with something cheaper.

IIRC the only Porsche place around here is the main dealer up in Reno so I'd be looking at main dealer prices.

well if you decide to do it you can borrow my set of special tools (if they are the same for the s). just pay shipping back and forth of course. There are a lot of how-to write ups on Pelican and rennlist, which is the only way I got through mine.

Dad and I did ours (timing + balance shaft belt) for the cost of the belts + $50 for a used clicky tension measure from a friend who had a SOHC 924S. For some reason the internet seems to think you need a $600 special tool to do it, but you don't really...

Once we were in there we discovered the balance shaft belt had broken years ago and somehow NOT taken the T-belt with it.

Everything was done in the driveway, it took maybe 4 or 6 hours total. It's not a bad job, no really terrible knuckle-mashy bits or anything.

Yebbut, you're talking about the single cam engine.

The 944S should have the twin cam that's got one cam driven by the belt and the other one by a short chain and thus is a little more complex . To put it mildly...

So long as the chain is in good condition no reason to change it. Pull the valve cover ("cam tower cover" in 944-speak IIRC) and inspect the tensioner and the pads that the chain rides on. If they look OK leave it alone until next timing belt at least. Rubber degrades but the chain will be just fine for probably at least 100k miles. If the chain or the sprocket teeth look worn then you have to replace them, which required pulling the cams, which gets much more involved.

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/924-931-944-951-968-forum/555651-who-has-replaced-their-timing-chain-and-tensioner-pads.html

http://boerger.golden-tech.com/images/cam_chain_tensioner_replacement.htm