944 Timing Belts

Maintenance Intervals

Timing belts have long been the source of many heated discussions and much heartache for 944 owners. Every new or potential 944 owner should read Jim Pasha’s article, 944 Timing Belts and Water Pumps in the August 1994 issue of Excellence Magazine. Due to the history of changes in the factory recommendations for timing belt replacement, you’ll find a number of different recommendations being given. The recommendations below are based on the most recent factory recommendations with some additional guidance based on personal experience.

944

Mileage	Maintenance
2000	Inspect and retension timing and balance shaft belts.
15000*	Inspect and retension timing and balance shaft belts.
30000	Inspect and retension timing and balance shaft belts
45000	Replace timing and balance shaft belts. Inspect rollers and replace if necessary.

* For vehicles which see limited service, I recommend inspecting the belts after two years if 15000 miles has not been reached and annually thereafter.

968

Mileage	Maintenance
15000	Inspect timing and balance shaft belts.
30000*	Inspect timing and balance shaft belts.
45000	Inspect timing and balance shaft belts
60000	Replace timing and balance shaft belts. Inspect rollers and replace if necessary.

* For vehicles which see limited service, I recommend inspecting the belts after two years if 15000 miles has not been reached and annually thereafter.

Timing and Balance Shaft Belt Replacement

• Jack stands
  
• Floor Jack
  
• Metric Socket set
  
• Metric Wrench set
  
• Porsche Timing Belt Tension tool (P9201)
  
• Flywheel Lock (P9206)
  
• Balance Shaft Pin Spanner (P9200) or equivalent (if removing the balance shaft sprockets)
  
• Gear puller (if removing the crankshaft gear
  

Parts

For highlighted items choose one of the parts based on specific model.

Based on my own experience of a tensioner stud failure and reports of similar occurrences from other owners, I recommend replacing the cam belt tensioner mounting stud at each timing belt replacement. This only applies to pre-87 model year cars which are not equipped with spring tensioners.

Replace at Each Timing Belt Change
Description	Part Number	Quantity	Application
Camshaft Belt	944 105 157 04	1	1983-88 924S, 944, 944T
Camshaft Belt	944 105 323 02	1	1987-88 944S
Balance Shaft Belt	944 102 219 02	1	All 1983-88
Tensioner Stud	944 102 216 01	1	All 1983-1986
Inspect and Replace based on Condition
Description	Part Number	Quantity	Application
Cam Belt Tensioner Roller (Eccentric)	944 105 027 04	1	All 1983-1986 944, 944T Footnote 1 (924S)
Cam Belt Tensioner Roller	944 105 631 04	1	1987-88 944, 944T Footnote 2 (924S)
Cam Belt Tensioner Roller	944 105 631 10	1	1987-88 944S
Balance Belt Tensioner Roller	944 102 025 07	1	All 1983-88
Cam Belt Roller (32.0 mm)	944 105 273 02	1	Old Style Water Pumps without belt guards: 944 106 021 13 951 106 021 01 Footnote 1 (924S)
Cam Belt Roller (46.2 mm)	944 105 241 03	1	New Style Water Pump with Belt Guard: 951 106 021 10 Footnote 2 (924S)
Balance Belt Roller	944 102 277 06	1	All 1983-1988
Balance Belt Gear Woodruff Key	N 012 708 2	2	All 1983-88
Crankshaft Woodruff Key	?	1	All 1983-88

1 - Also fits 1987 MY 924S up to engine #43 H 01919 (MT) & #43 H 60384 (AT)

2 - Also fits 1987 MY 924S from engine #43 H 01920 (MT) & #43 H 60385 (AT)

1. Disconnect the battery negative lead.
2. Position the number 1 piston to TDC.
   NOTE

   On cars with manual steering, it is not necessary to remove the crankshaft bolt to remove the timing belt. Therefore, it is not required to remove the starter and install the flywheel lock. On all cars, the crankshaft bolt must be removed if the water pump, balance shaft oil seals, or crankshaft oil seal are being replaced.

3. Disconnect the battery positive lead, remove the starter, and install the flywheel lock.
4. Remove the alternator and power steering pump belts.
5. On Turbo models, remove the turbocharger outlet line to the intercooler (Large diameter aluminum tube to which the air filter assembly is clamped).
6. Remove the air cleaner housing and air flow sensor assembly as a unit.
7. Remove the front engine cover to access the timing and balance shaft belts (The cover is two pieces and is attached by 10mm head bolts).
8. If equiped with power steering or if water pump, crankshaft oil seal, or balance shaft oil seals are being replaced, remove the crankshaft bolt using a 24mm or 15/16" deep socket. Remove the power steering pulley. Remove the four bolts that attach the alternator/AC pulley to the balance belt gear on the crankshaft.
9. Loosen the balance shaft belt tensioner sprocket lock nut, then turn the tensioner nut counterclockwise to release the tension on the balance shaft belt.
10. Loosen the idler roller lock nut, then rotate the idler to provide clearance for removal of the balance shaft belt.
11. Remove the balance shaft belt and mark the direction of rotation on the belt if it is to be reused.
12. If the balance shaft belt idler and balance shaft tensioning roller are to be inspected or need to be removed for other maintenance (i.e. water pump or oil seals), remove the locknuts and slide the rollers off the shafts.
13. If the balance shaft sprockets need to be removed (i.e. water pump or oil seals), the sprockets will have to be locked in place to allow the retaining nuts to be loosened. Use the Balance Shaft Pin Spanner to hold the sprocket while loosening the retaining nut. You can also use two large punches and a set of locking pliers to hold the sprocket, but this is very awkward.
14. After the retaining bolts have been removed, slide the balance shaft sprockets straight off the shaft. You may need to slide a small pry bar behind the sprocket to get it started.
15. Remove the distributor cap and the aluminum cover behind the distributor cap. This will reveal the main camshaft sprocket.
16. If the timing belt is to be reused, mark the belt for direction of rotation before removing it.
17. On cars not equipped with spring tensioners (pre-'87), perform the following:
    1. Loosen the camshaft tensioning roller lock nut and turn the camshaft tensioning roller nut beneath it in the clockwise direction to release the tension on the timing belt.
    2. Remove the timing belt, being careful not to twist the belt if it is to be reused. It may be necessary to remove the balance belt gear on the crankshaft to allow removal of the timing belt.
    3. If the camshaft tensioning roller is to be inspected or removed for other maintenance (i.e. water pump or oil seals), remove the lock nut and slide the camshaft tensioning roller off the shaft.
18. On cars equipped with spring tensioners (87 Model Onward), perform the following:
    1. The front plate of the spring tensioner resembles a triangle. Loosen, but do not remove, the locknut and bolt on the side of the triangle near the tensioning spring.
    2. Remove the tension on the belt by pushing down on the tensioner lever arm. This can also be done using the factory balance shaft spanner if you have one. With the spring still compressed, tighten the locking bolt and nut. This will allow you to install the new belt without having to fight the spring tensioner.
    3. Remove the timing belt, being careful not to twist the belt if it is to be reused.
    4. If water pump or oil seal maintenance is being performed, the spring tensioner must be removed. Remove the entire spring tensioner assembly as a unit. The three bolts on the face plate of the spring tensioner are not used to remove the unit. There are three bolts (which are very difficult to see) at the back of the tensioner near the block which must be removed to get the assembly out.
19. If the camshaft belt idler is to be inspected or removed for other maintenance (i.e. water pump or oil seals), remove the retaining bolt and the camshaft belt idler.
20. If the crankshaft gear needs to be removed (i.e. water pump or oil seals), a gear puller is the easiest method. However, if a gear puller is not available, you can slide a pry bar behind the gear to get it started. If you use a pry bar, apply pressure gently so that you do not damage the rear timing belt cover (it’s made of plastic).
21. The back timing cover can now be removed by removing the 10mm bolts holding it in place. The back timing cover must be removed when replacing the water pump, front crankshaft oil seal, and the balance shaft oil seals.