Boot struts.

[dj.brian]

Looking at buying another 944.[]
I have been told the boot struts are shot.[]

How much can I get another set for, and is it an easy-ish fix?
I am no mechanic or DIY-er!!!!

Also the sunroof does not open, the person selling thinks it might be the "little white cogs being stripped"!.
Meens nothing to me, easy fix, or expensive and hard?

First job is taking it to the Porsche place in Sidcup to get all the belts done as they are offering half price labour at the momment. Just wondered if the above jobs I could do myself or not!

Thanks.

 

[robwright]

The boot struts should be a doddle to replace. You can get them from porscheshop or frazerpart no prob.

If the sunroof is the plastic gears these are not too difficult to replace. They are about £4 each available from the above. You have to partially remove the head lining to get at the lift gearboxes but not too difficult.

If you are not a competent mechanic I would definitely get somebody to do the belts for you. Again kits are available to do this and it may be worth shopping around for labour. It may even be cheaper than Porsches' half price offer. Especially as they may be unwilling to use parts not supplied by them and these could cost a lot more than sourcing them elsewhere. You may also consider doing the belt rollers & tensioners and water pump. Again kits are available. A good mechanic will tell you their condition once the belts have been removed. Hope this helps mate.

 

[Alpine]

I'm no DIY'er either but I did my own (front) struts and they were pretty easy. I left my sunroof cogs to the experts ......

 

[dj.brian]

Yep, helps a lot thanks.

I will not be doing the belts, NO WAY!!!!!!!.

Boot struts is something I might give a go. Sunroof I think I will have a look at first, if it looks to difficult, I might just give it to the garage for a quote.

Just wanted some idea of cost before I collect the car, now I know its not too bad, I can buy it without the worry of expensive repairs I knew would need doing.

Anyone know a decent mechanic in the Croydon, South London area that know there way around a 944? (just in case!).

 

[robwright]

The sunroof cogs really aren't that difficult. All you need is one Phillips screwdriver. It becomes a little more difficult when it isn't the cogs. The most difficult part is setting up the height of the lift mechanism after you have replaced the cogs and that is by no means difficult.

In any case just about all you need to know can be found at www.clarks-garage.com It's all there and in acrobat printable version should you require. Even the belt replacement. Any reputable mechanic (doesn't even have to be a Porsche specialist) should be able to easily follow the workshop repair procedures.

 

[zcacogp]

Wot Rob said.

Sunroof cogs are not hard. One screwdriver, and about an hour lying on your back with the rear seat folded down (easiest way to do it) and you'll be sorted. One tip would be to slacken off the sunroof clutch all the way before changing the cogs; they strip because the clutch grips a bit too hard, so if you replace them without slackening off the clutch you immediately ruin the new cogs .... ask me how I know ... []


Oli.

 

[dj.brian]

Brill, thanks.
Think I might give it a go then!!!![8|]

 

[robwright]

The clutch should be factory set and should only be at the wrong (or too much) torque if it has been messed with. Although there is every possibility of this. Again there is a guide to setting the clutch in clark's and in the workshop manuals. Oh BTW all the manuals are available from Rick's site. www.cannell.co.uk

 

[pauljmcnulty]

The offer at RAS (I assume that's the Porsche indie in Sidcup you mean) is pretty tempting if you're down that way. Adam is a great guy, very enthusuastic and a Turbo owner. Although we can forgive him that, can't we Oli? [][]

Boot struts are easy, just make sure you get them the right way round as there is an electrical connection on one. I've done the sunroof cogs myself, and I'm pretty much a novice as everyone knows. It is fiddly, and I had to get the three microswitches set by my specialist anyway so I'd probably say it was a job for the "moderately competant" DIY-er rather than the "banana-fingered idiot" that I am.

Either way, the two jobs won't be more than a couple of hours labour and that's not a deal-breaker on a 944. Belts will be the bigger bill, factor in that you could need a water pump and oil seals, and probably rollers, but remember that these are not changed every belt service so I'm being pessimistic here.

Good luck!

 

[dj.brian]

Boot struts is a job I will deff give a go now.
Sunroof, as I said before, I will have a look at first. I am the more of a "banana-fingered idiot"!!!!!.

Yes, the Porsche place I was talking about is the one in Sidcup, I only live about 20 minutes away, have allready got a quote from them to do the belts. Labour charge looks ok, the parts a a little more than elsewhere, but I might ask them to match the other prices....you never know!

Thanks for all the advise, I am now looking forward to collecting the car, as soon as the weather picks up a little!.

 

[zcacogp]

Rob,

The sunroof clutch may be factory set, but it goes out of adjustment pretty easily. After 20+ years, it could be set at anything, and wrong setting (going out of setting) is a common cause for failure of the gears (which are a sacrificial part anyway).

I think the clutch setting is heat-related, as the parts expand and contract slightly. Last time mine stripped gears was on the hottest day of the year, about 18 months ago, and it had worked perfectly previously. Also, when I tried to use the sunroof on mine the other day (around -4deg C), the clutch slipped immediately and wouldn't open the roof at all, without a helping hand from inside pushing it up. (No, it wasn't iced up - it opened smoothly.) I guess such are the effects of temperature and thermal expansion, and hence I keep my clutch set so that it is just about gripping but nothing more at the best of times.

RAS have a half-price offer on at the mo? Interesting ... I am needing to get my belts done in the next six months or so ... how much did they quote you dj.brian? I'm fairly happy about having a turbo owner playing with my car Paul - a bit of jealousy on their behalf won't do any harm, will it? []


Oli.

 

[dj.brian]

RAS are offering half price labour charges to PCGB members only until end of january. Brought the hour labour charge down to £32.50!. Worth my membership fee for this year!!!![]

Think they said to do all belts and waterpump was about 5 hours labour! Think that is about right. Plus obviously all the parts.

 

[zcacogp]

Hmmm. 4 yrs/40k miles is the recommended belt interval - non?

Mine was last done in September 2006, around 35,000 miles ago.

Hmmmm. Discount 'till the end of January you say?

Thanks.


Oli.

 

[dj.brian]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

Hmmm. 4 yrs/40k miles is the recommended belt interval - non?

Mine was last done in September 2006, around 35,000 miles ago.

Hmmmm. Discount 'till the end of January you say?

Thanks.


Oli.

Yep, that is why I am getting them done, last done over 5 years ago I beleive!
Yep again, discount till end of Jan!. (beleive on proof of membership of PCGB required!).

As I said before, worth my membership fee for this year.[]