Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Was just wondering what your thoughts are on changing the plastic cam chain tensioners? Got my cam cover off at lunch and mine definitely need doing (they look lighter in the pics but are very dark brown under normal light):







My options are:

1. Change just the top tensioner (£8.71 from OPC)
2. Change the top and bottom tensioners ($150 imported from the US)
3. Change the entire unit (cheapest I have found online is £270, but haven't had a quote from OPC yet)

Would probably be safest going for option 3, but the price of that part seems insane for what it is and it seems to be the plastics that cause the problem. But figuring once you get to £100 + shipping for two pieces of plastic, an extra £150 or so doesn't seem so bad on top. Plus if it went and I had to pay for an engine rebuild I would be totally gutted. Also not sure whether anyone knows where you I can get the bottom plastic pads from besides the US?

Aiming to get all the belts and cam chain changed next summer, since according to the service the belts were changed in December 2010. Changing the chain is probably outside my skill level at the moment so will leave this to someone with more experience or a specialist.

Just wondering whether any other S2 owners have changed this part, what they opted for and how they have got on since?

Cheers,

Dave.

If you go to Barry Harts Hartech site he shows how to check the chain on there. Personally I'd change the lot if there is no record of it having been done & if you're over say 90-100K miles. I think the pads are the same top & bottom. Worth a word with someone like Promax they'll give you what you need & at decent prices.

Like Jim says speak to Andy at Promax, I think you will get top and bottom pads for £50 or so. Cant see any point in changing the whole lot.

Rich

I agree
If you intend keeping the car it would be worth getting a new Cam chain fitted. Its a bit like a bike if you change the Chain regularly then the sprockets last much longer.
Hartech advised if the cam chain is changed every 30k or so then the camshafts sprockets should last 150k+ (Well worth the extra few quid IMHO -had mine done on my S2 CAB at 32k then sold it so somebody else got the benefit!)
Clive

and chain obviously but not the hydraulic tensioner.

Thanks for all the advice. I have decided to replace both plastics for the time being, top and bottom, since they look like they are in pretty urgent need of attention. I will then get the chain replaced and all the other belts changed together after the winter, that way I will at least have some peace of mind that all the 'dangerous' parts have been replaced and I am good to go for another 3 years or so without having to worry too much that my engine is going to eat itself. Will also change the j-tube while I have the cover off as well.

I have emailed Promax today, so I should hopefully hear back from them soon with prices for parts. I will then get all the bits ordered and (hopefully) get my car put back together so that I can start driving it again!

Hope you all have a good weekend,

Dave.

Is it possible to change the bottom pad without removing the chain? I didnt think so but may be wrong.

Rich

Apparently so. You compress the tensioner and insert an allen key into the back which keeps it compressed, then unbolt the tensioner and remove it from between the chain. Doesn't take the chain out of sync either which is handy and helps simplify the process.