944 Belt Whine

[jon0207]

I'm about to purchase a 944, have given a few a thorough going over now, and have come across a very nice example. The thing is that all the cars I've seen and driven seem to have quite a whine coming from (I think) the cam/balance belts that follows engine speed. It varies from car to car and from cold to warm, but the example I'd really quite like to purchase has this and I'm not really sure if I should be walking away.

It's had the belts changed 9k ago, and despite a full history doesn't have any sign of a re-tension following on from this.

Could anyone out there give a bit of guidance? It's a great car otherwise with all the classic problems done, and some people seem to say it's just a matter of the balance belt being over-tight – but with 9k of running like this, could I end up needing yet another belt change? Or have a disaster on my hands 10 miles down the road?

Many thanks in advance

Jonathan

[interloper]

Its probabaly the alternator belt that's whining, or possibly the bearing for the pully on the alternator itself. I would strongly recomend getting any potential purchase checked by an independent Porsche specialist.

[Brett928S2]

Hi

As an ex race mechanic....usually a belt whine...ANY belt whine (apart from a supercharger belt)...is the sign of an OVERTIGHTENED belt...which can damage bearings or break the belt and damage valves etc.......so yes make sure its checked by an expert...

Hope it helps

All the best Brett

[Nurburglover]

Mine has a distinctive noise but no belt whine. The diff whines a little. But you can only hear it with the windows up. You have to listen for it. It makes sence to fit new belts anyway then you know its been done. & properly.

[hab]

I find the belts whine when cold,but gradually(almost) disappear when the engine warms up.
Both of my 944's do it,the S2 less than the 8v.The belts were changed soon after I bought the cars,and they both did it before and after.Never had a problem with either.
Its a characteristic of the engine,not a mechanical problem imo.

Edited by hab on Sunday 18th February 18:28

[jon0207]

Cheers for the replies on this one – I've spoken to my local indie, Autostrasse, and it would seem that a certain amount of whine is kinda the norm. I'm considering whether to take one of their guys up to see the car @ 250 quid for the pleasure (which sounds pretty reasonable).

All the best

Jon

[gr4]

My old 968 had no whine at all when I bought it, and then very pronounced whine when belts were changed. It worried me at first, but I had it all checked and fitting/tension were all fine, tensioners were OK, and it was suggested that some aftermarket belts just run noisier than others. Didn't seen to affect anything other than sounding different.

[tr7v8]

New belts seem to whine & quieten down as they get older.
Even retensioning the belts doesn't cause the whine to return.

[johnmaddox]

Belt whine = too much tension imho. Get it checked by someone who knows 944's asap.

[paulio]

When the cam/balance belt gets checked, also inspect the rollers for excessive bearing whining. It is really common for them to go to, and while the cambelt (if it needs doing) is off, the rollers might aswell get done too. Also make sure (if it is a manual tensioner adjuster), that it is tensioned the right way, as it is common for people to turn it the wrong way when adjusting the tension.
Hope this helps