Help New owner!!

[Bluesman69]

Hi all partner of VERY new owner here of a "rescued" 1984 944.
Driving back home last night, filled up with petrol, negotiated 12miles country roads plus heavy traffic through local busy market town but then car died on her when back on open road.....
Symptoms, lack of power, pulled over engine stalled; then although she turned over wouldn't start again. Called out RAC (Grrrr!) but local mechanic saw us, stopped and then ascertained spark getting to coil, but nothing from dizzy cap. Opened up and evident that car hadn't run for some time and new rotor arm and dizzy cap needed.
However when RAC guy eventually turned up, he reckoned it was EMU/ECU giving problem......I'm not aware that such a thing was fitted to a 1984 car, but if it was where the hell do I find it and is it likely to be that? Are we talking about the "digital control unit" which according to Haynes "under the instrument panel, adjacent to left of steering column"??? I've noted them on eBay so is that best place to buy at resonable price?
I will as a matter of course, replace rotor arm, dizzy cap, ignition leads and clean all other connections up but any guidance much appreciated and will also get me out of doghouse as it was my suggestion we bought her another 944 (she had one years ago)!![]
Thanks, at least for reading this people

Paul

 

[Oct]

Hi Paul

It is worth grabbing the workshop manuals from http://www.cannell.co.uk/Manuals.htm

 

[blease]

DME relay till proven otherwise

 

[alwigley]

Agree on the dme relay - check the forum for guidance on how to bypass it in order to rule it out before you spend ££'s on bits. The proper workshop manuals have a whole section on troubleshooting the dme/fuel injection system, so best to start from there once you have given everything a general cleanup. Did the power fall off suddenly or slowly tail off - fractured HT lead could cause it to drop off suddenly/run like a dog. You may be able to find someone locally with a running vehicle and swap HT leads etc. over until you find the faulty bit ?

Have fun []

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Hi and welcome
I've an '83 car - they all have ECUs - various versions of the Bosch system.
DME (£20 ish) is favourite as the guys have said.
Where are you- I'm in Leicester.
If there is alocal owner, they probably have a spare!
My mobile no is below - give me a call if you want.
Persevere - they're so good I've now got 2!

 

[Bluesman69]

Thanks for all the advice so far....what a friendly bunch you are!
I've downloaded the manuals, great resource, so will wade my way through.....I think DME best place to start, especially if I can get for £20 ish (but where from? Does anybody have part number??)
I know dizzy cap and rotor arm looking knackered so will change anyway, plus new plugs will be good anyway.
As far as I can tell (Sue my partner was driving) she noticed a sudden reduction in power but still managed to pull off road before engine stalled and wouldn't start. RAC mechanic was adamant that it was ECU (which I presume he meant DME?)
Unfortunately we are down in Herefordshire, so don't know anybody around here with Porsche.

Thanks again for input!!
Cheers
Paul

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I think DME best place to start, especially if I can get for £20 ish (but where from? Does anybody have part number??)
I know dizzy cap and rotor arm looking knackered so will change anyway, plus new plugs will be good anyway.
As far as I can tell (Sue my partner was driving) she noticed a sudden reduction in power but still managed to pull off road before engine stalled and wouldn't start. RAC mechanic was adamant that it was ECU (which I presume he meant DME?)

DME relay is available from any specialist, see the list of suppliers in the faqs. Worth changing anyway, you know the other ignition components need changing as well. After that I'd look at the fuel pressure regulator as they are a regular weak point.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

FPRs tend not to go just like that - they die gradually! - or mine did any way.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

993 915 227 00 or 01 not sure of the difference and until I just checked thought there was just the one for all Porsches of the period (note the 993 part no)

Just checked a little further and think 01 is just an update.

 

[Bluesman69]

Ok...now getting totally confused!!
Part number quoted, 993 915 227 00, is that for a DME, or DEE (as per Haynes) or ECU?????
I knew I should have stuck to parts for my Jag S Type and various Marcos!!!
[]

 

[steeley]

DME relays. This is the shop I use, there are others.
http://tinyurl.com/3g79d7j
Worth changing, but I would follow the first mechanics diagnosis. Replace all the HT - a good move.

As it is a "rescued" 944 could be other issues lurking if it has sat around for a while.

Good luck!

 

[Bluesman69]

Agreed Steeley, but I guess first things first and basics tell me that there appears to be no "spark".
I'll probably replace fuel pump as well, or at least clean up contacts....
Plugs look new, perhaps a little more carbon than I would like but, as we said, first things first and a process of elimination.
When I've worked on previous cars I've restored, I've always found that if you follow step by step, in a logical way, you can usually find the cause. Likewise, if a car is left standing, a number of small problems tend to show themselves!
Thanks for all the advice

Paul[8D]

 

[Mike_Pollock]

DME relay controls fuel pump and is mounted passenger side footwell with the other relays, its the tallest one, the ECU is mounted in the drivers footwell.
ECUs seem pretty robust - most people carry a spare DME relay!

 

[jefft]

ORIGINAL: Bluesman69

Symptoms, lack of power, pulled over engine stalled; then although she turned over wouldn't start again.  Called out RAC (Grrrr!) but local mechanic saw us, stopped and then ascertained spark getting to coil, but nothing from dizzy cap. Opened up and evident that car hadn't run for some time and new rotor arm and dizzy cap needed.

Hi Paul,

If local mechanic has diagnosed no spark from dizzy, and cap and rotor arm look like they need replacing - it might be just that simple. [8|]
I would try that first and then see if it will start - if not plenty of advice on here to help you diagnose it step by step.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Ok...now getting totally confused!!
Part number quoted, 993 915 227 00, is that for a DME, or DEE (as per Haynes) or ECU?????
I knew I should have stuck to parts for my Jag S Type and various Marcos!!!

First, change the DME relay. Call any of the specialists in the FAQ to buy one.

Then, replace the parts you know are worn; dizzy cap, rotor arm, leads etc.

If this fails to solve the problem, we'll move on from there. Simple cars, easy to trace faults. []

 

[Bluesman69]

Hi Guys
Gotta tell you this!
had a few moments to myself later on this afternoon, so set about cleaning the obvious grotty connections on the ignition coil.
Replaced everything, then just for the sheer hell of it tried to fire her up!
She roared into life!!!
Nevertheless, I'm going to replace the DME and all H.T. bits and pieces so we don't get same thing happening again.
Great info though from all of you, greta support.
This is a very friendly Forum.
Thanks

paul

 

[Hairyarse]

Sounds like your 944 is on the road to recovery already [] you'll have to get some pics up of her for us to drool over[]

Good luck in getting it all sorted and running sweetly, will be worth the effort in return for the grin factor

Cheers
Andy