Hi all, new owner

[Bonzo]

Hi everyone, just bought my first Porsche, a 1987 944S. I'm David, live in Maidstone, Kent.

I bought it as a project car but tends to get used everyday now!! []

It's a fair motor but has cosmetic 'issues' and apart from servicing and maintenance, has had no major repairs in it's 22 years!! I paid well under £1000 so expect problems!
It runs and drives pretty perfectly, all things considered.

Will get pics up tomorrow, just saying HI!!!! []

 

[andy watson]

Hi David and welcome

Nice to see another 'S' owner on board.

Andy

 

[pal944]

Hi David welcome you live not far from me i live near Paddock Wood, I have a S2!!! might see you around. Paul

 

[Bonzo]

Thanks guys, I like the 'S' too Andy, bit different to the norm although I appreciate it has some disadvantages!

Paul I work in Tonbridge so often over your way! Look out for a Nautic Blue 'E' plate going really slowly to save petrol! (sometimes..)

[]

 

[pal944]

David i work in Tonbridge too my is velvet red H plate

 

[cococola]

Hi David welcome to the wonderfull world of Porsche.Look forward to seeing the pics[]

 

[MRGT]

Ohhhh another S owner, now we can swap stories about the rarity of S specific parts []

Just kidding.

 

[Bonzo]

Cheers for the warm welcome everyone []

So far....
* Fitted new front pads/ cleaned calipers/ changed brake fluid.
* Stripped out THREE non-working alarm/ immobilisers! Quite a job...
* Dropped out starter, cleaned all connections and mounting point on bellhousing (turns over much faster now).
* Removed all easily-accesible dash parts and cleaned everything, re-fitted and lubricated various switches. Changed various bulbs, fixed glovebox illumination/ cig lighter connection.
* Took out instrument cluster, replaced the 3 original illumination bulbs with 3x new 5w items- quite bright now )
* Polished all gauge connections, voltmeter now agrees with my multi-meter.
* Removed centre console and stereo- cleaned and hoovered 22 years of debris! Refitted stereo with a power supply to the aerial... can now pick up radio stations!
* Found £6 between drivers' seat and centre tunnel (my favourite job so far)
* Removed both front door cards, unblocked all drain holes in doors, cleaned doors internally to stop further blockages.
* Repaired central locking loom, passenger door now locks (yippeee)
* Cleared sunroof drain tubes/ fuel filler drain tube/ de-leafed front scuttle and cleared drain gaps.
* Unblocked drain vents in sills (quite hard to find...)

Jobs to do....
* Re-seal rear clusters.
* Paint here and there... (sounds easy if you say it quickly)
* Finally sort leak in drivers' rear footwell.
* Iron out cold-running lumpiness
* Strip down rear brakes/ recondition handbrake mech/ fit new rear pads/ service rear calipers.
* Find more money underneath seats.
* Replace rusty-looking fuel lines.
........and too many other really important things to list!!!

 

[Andy H]

Welcome David,
An impressive list do far, makes me feel quite lazy as for me its usually (I'll do that tomorrow / later ) just now, lethargy and "normal" Scottish weather syndrome has a lot to answer for here.
I really must get started on all these small jobs.like yourself
Where did you get the brighter bulbs for the dash , mine are terrible!, did you change any in the switches ?

Good luck

Andy

 

[Bonzo]

Hi Andy, you're right about the weather.. finding the enthusiasm at this time of year is so difficult. Must be even wetter/ colder in your part of the country!

I replaced the old 2w bulbs with normal 5w (sidelight) bulbs. The 5w ones are available everywhere, couldn't find the original 2w ones anywhere.
The display is bright now, you can see everything and the needles even cast shadows!!!!!!!!

I was slightly concerned about the extra wattage of the 5w bulbs but so far have had no problems at all. They don't get any hotter as far as I can tell, are cheap and easy to get.

Replaced all the other bulbs with the normal capless items, available in Halfords etc. Apart from the clock bulb, which has a funny-shaped holder, OPC only I think!

 

[Diver944]

Well done David and welcome to the forum and 944 ownership.

It's always great to hear of a new owner who is fired up with enthusiasm to tackle all those minor niggles makes the rest of us feel very lazy [&o]

I also would recommend keeping a close eye on those bulbs. The main problem with dash illumination is the refelector prisms have lost their reflective coating. Higher wattage bulbs will increase the light but there have been people who have melted their instrument pod via this method, so be please keep an eye out.

 

[wolfie308]

As Paul said, take care with 5W - they're definitely not recommended.....

http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/elect-08.htm

I'm a bit confused though, as my handbook states them to be 1.2W [&:]

 

[TheFiend]

I have had mine 3 weeks and the list of things needed sorted is small compared to your list..

So far on mine have only had to
replace rear wiper motor,
replace armrest/cassette storage bin.
replace nearside electric window switch trim
repair hazard switch mounting.....
fitted Alpine CD player and JBL 6x4 in doors. Need to make spacer ring to fit grill back on

Not done yet : -offside window switch sticking occassionally... might replace but not urgent.
Install amplifier and small subwoofer.

I am loving my 944.....

 

[georgethackray]

Welcome to the Forum David.

You've made me feel quite lazy having read the list of things you've done. It reminds me I should be doing stuff on my car instead of reading this forum!

 

[Bonzo]

Thanks guys!

Hmmm, I'm gonna have to be carefull with these 5w bulbs!! Would be a shame if I have to pull them... they work so well!!!! For the time being, I think I will dim the illumination down a bit, just to be on the safe side..

Been a bit lazy today but still managed to get out there and centre the steering rack, remove and re-fit steering wheel to agree with the centering, then have the tracking set with the wheel in the straight-ahead position.

The tyre-guys compained a bit because the tracking was now soooo far out with the straight wheel.. but they eventually got on with it and now it drives in a straight line. More importantly, there's now even thread showing on each side of the trackrods.

I weld/ restore classic cars for a living so working on the 944 on my day's off is a bit of a busman's holiday!!

 

[Bonzo]

Evening everyone. Had a day off today so did some more tinkering.

I removed the rear clusters and re-did the sealing. Not sure if there's supposed to be a gasket/rubber but mine was just sealed with black goo.
Anyway, I scraped it all off and applied some new stuff, I used Dum Dum as it stays flexible and lasts well.

They are watertight now but the rubber hatch pin seal isn't- even though the rubber looks fine. Must buy some new ones to see if they're better []

Then I washed it and took a pic on my phone!

I also re-fitted the sunroof inner seal with dum dum. I found water was going past the seal, underneath it and dripping into the car.. very strange. It's dry after the wash so hopefully it's ok now.

 

[ashley]

ORIGINAL: Bonzo

Refitted stereo with a power supply to the aerial... can now pick up radio stations!
*

Thats on my to do list, radio reception is pathetic, any idea what colour wire I'm looking for, I pulled out the headunit and its a jungle back there

 

[Bonzo]

I think it's pink/ white!!! It's easy to spot because it's actually part of the aerial wire itself. Mine had a small white connecter on the end.

 

[ashley]

Thanks thats my job for the weekend sorted