New 944 owner. A little help, if you please!?

arumdevil · Jun 6, 2007

Hi,

I bought a 944 turbo last week and there are a number of issues which need looking it. I wondered if anyone on here might be able to offer some insight into some of the below?

(car is a 1986 turbo in Crystal Green)

1. Smoke - there is quite a lot of smoke coming from the exhaust under hard acceleration, I'm told it's black. The oils does seem to be disappearing quite rapidly - needing a topup every couple of days or so.

2. Occasionally get flames out the back at readline.

3. Remote Central locking doesn't operate on the drivers door, though it did when I got the car last week. The car has a Clifford alarm system. Will I need to replace the mechanism on that door or might it be reparable?

I think there were some others too but they escape me at the moment.

Any advice on the above greatly appreciated,

Arum...

PS, will post pics as soon as I give it a clean! (very nice motors these old beasties!)

zcacogp · Jun 6, 2007

1. Can't help, but doesn't sound good.

2. Can't help, but sounds excellent.

3. Can't help, but it could be a wiring problem, or a door motor problem. Take the inner panel off and poke around a bit*. It'll soon make itself clear.

Oli.

* - Technical term meaning "Test the signal to the motor with an AVO meter, and make sure that the motor moves as it should. If necessary, feed it 12v across some of the terminals to make sure." Also drink beer. Preferably cold. It helps alot.

arumdevil · Jun 6, 2007

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

1. Can't help, but doesn't sound good.

indeed, no it doesn't

2. Can't help, but sounds excellent.

lol

3. Can't help, but it could be a wiring problem, or a door motor problem. Take the inner panel off and poke around a bit*. It'll soon make itself clear.

* - Technical term meaning "Test the signal to the motor with an AVO meter, and make sure that the motor moves as it should. If necessary, feed it 12v across some of the terminals to make sure." Also drink beer. Preferably cold. It helps alot.

Thanks for the tips, will have a poke around in the morning. I tried to get the panel off but couldn't got all the screws along the top off, and the one behind the handle, and the lock cap unscrewed, but I must have missed something as it still wouldn't come off.

sawood12 · Jun 6, 2007

ORIGINAL: arumdevil

Hi,

I bought a 944 turbo last week and there are a number of issues which need looking it. I wondered if anyone on here might be able to offer some insight into some of the below?

(car is a 1986 turbo in Crystal Green)

1. Smoke - there is quite a lot of smoke coming from the exhaust under hard acceleration, I'm told it's black. The oils does seem to be disappearing quite rapidly - needing a topup every couple of days or so.

2. Occasionally get flames out the back at readline.

3. Remote Central locking doesn't operate on the drivers door, though it did when I got the car last week. The car has a Clifford alarm system. Will I need to replace the mechanism on that door or might it be reparable?

I think there were some others too but they escape me at the moment.

Any advice on the above greatly appreciated,

Arum...

PS, will post pics as soon as I give it a clean! (very nice motors these old beasties!)

Welcome to the fantastic and ofte frustrating world of 944 and 944 turbo ownership!

1. Could be the oil seals in the turbo. These symptoms are typical of this. A good specialist should be able to help confirm this.
2. Flames out of the back is not necessarily a sign of something bad. Under hard accelaration followed by hard braking i.e. going from hard wide open throttle to closed throttle quickly can often result in alot of unburned fuel getting into the exhaust system which can then ignite from the heat in the exhaust. But worth getting it checked out at a specialist just in case.
3. Twitchy and intermittent central locking is not unheard of. My central locking can throw a wobbly occasionally when operated from the passenger door in the dashboard switch just in front of the gear lever but is perfectly fine and reliable when operated from the drivers door.

Make sure you are 100% about the replacement history of the timing belt. It should be replaced at 40k miles or 4yrs but if you want to be sure 35k miles and 3.5yrs. Don't risk it - there are plenty of threads on this forum documenting the disasterous results of a rubber band snapping.

arumdevil · Jun 6, 2007

on a positive note, I managed to get my pioneer stereo in with the iPod wired up, which is nice. Also there was a boost leak which, when I collected the car was taped up with electrical tape - burst right through. I have plugged the hole but have seen other engine bays and there seems to be nothing there, can anyone tell me what the bit indicated in the picture is (not my engine bay, pics to follow soon...) and what normally plugs it?

[edit: I have changed the picture to one of my engine bay:]

arumdevil · Jun 7, 2007

thanks scott, posted before I saw yours, will check out the belt change and change if needed... sounds sketchy!

My other car is a Saab 900 turbo, which is almost as old as the 944, so I am used to theses things, and I like to do what I can myself, which is why I asked on here for advice.

So thanks all so far, if anyone has any more, keep it coming.

here is a photo of the car from the previous owner until I can get some better ones done.

sawood12 · Jun 7, 2007

ORIGINAL: arumdevil

on a positive note, I managed to get my pioneer stereo in with the iPod wired up, which is nice. Also there was a boost leak which, when I collected the car was taped up with electrical tape - burst right through. I have plugged the hole but have seen other engine bays and there seems to be nothing there, can anyone tell me what the bit indicated in the picture is (not my engine bay, pics to follow soon...) and what normally plugs it?

Cue Mr John Simms......

sawood12 · Jun 7, 2007

Actually i've spotted something a bit strange from your photo. I'm pretty sure that your vacuum line from your recirc valve shouldn't connect directly to your fuel damper at the end of your fuel rail. I'm pretty sure it should connect via a T-junction that connects between the recirc valve, the fuel rail damper and a line that runs under the inlet manifold headers to another T-junction that connects to the manifold itself and yet another T junction that connects to the Fuel Pressure Regulator at the other end of the fuel rail and then over the other corner of the engine bay to the vapour purge system. Crickey, I hope you're following this!!!! I'll have to check on my car to confirm.

zcacogp · Jun 7, 2007

ORIGINAL: arumdevil
Thanks for the tips, will have a poke around in the morning. I tried to get the panel off but couldn't got all the screws along the top off, and the one behind the handle, and the lock cap unscrewed, but I must have missed something as it still wouldn't come off.

From memory (and beer-fuddled memory at that), there are screws around the edge, all covered in little itty-bitty plastic caps. Once those are off, you need to be a bit firm in pushing it up - the panel comes off upwards, and unhooks from along the bottom of the door, and along the top just underneath the window.

Be careful as the panels are a bit fragile, but a respectful tug will show you where it is still attached. It's not hard. Oh, and when it is free, don't take it away from the car too enthusiastically as there may yet be wires attached (speaker and window switches.)

The door motors are easily replaced, and look very like the cheapo £8 ones from Maplin. I assume they are not the cheapo £8 ones from Maplin tho', although can't think why I make that assumption ...

Excellent choice of car BTW. But then I would say that as this is an enthusiasts forum! Welcome, and all that (should have said it earlier.)

Oli.

zcacogp · Jun 7, 2007

ORIGINAL: arumdevil

A good-looking old girl. Fine choice!

On a different note, why are there so many 944's with NI numberplates around?

Oli.

sawood12 · Jun 7, 2007

This link has a vacuum line map included:-

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=183959&mpage=1&key=vacuum%2Clines&#184112

944Turbo · Jun 7, 2007

ORIGINAL: arumdevil

Hi,

I bought a 944 turbo last week and there are a number of issues which need looking it. I wondered if anyone on here might be able to offer some insight into some of the below?

(car is a 1986 turbo in Crystal Green)

1. Smoke - there is quite a lot of smoke coming from the exhaust under hard acceleration, I'm told it's black. The oils does seem to be disappearing quite rapidly - needing a topup every couple of days or so.

running rich, probably a boost leak, oil burns blue but too much fuel will wash it out of the bores. how many miles in a couple of days?

2. Occasionally get flames out the back at readline.
normal with a hot exhaust but will increase if you are running rich due to a boost leak

3. Remote Central locking doesn't operate on the drivers door, though it did when I got the car last week. The car has a Clifford alarm system. Will I need to replace the mechanism on that door or might it be reparable?

I think there were some others too but they escape me at the moment.

Any advice on the above greatly appreciated,

Arum...

PS, will post pics as soon as I give it a clean! (very nice motors these old beasties!)

The bit arrowed should have a screw in it with a seal, IIRC its for setting the idle speed once the idle stabaliser is bypassed. it will leak boost and make you run rich - black smoke.
Any leaks in the intake plumbing after the airflow meter (beside the air filter) will make the car run rich. the air flow meter measures the amount of incoming air from which the ecu decides how much fuel to inject - if some air escapes after it has been measured you will get too much fuel. Boost leaks will also lose you power so stop the sir escaping and you should go quicker. The dump valve is another common leak point as are all the small vacuum/boost lines.

Tony

George Elliott · Jun 7, 2007

Arum,
If that arrow is pointing at the cast upstand on the throttle body, it should have a brass screw in it.

Is your car standard?
What mods? miles? Engine repair History? Boost level? Year?

I would say your turbo is OK if the smoke is black, - Blue is Oil smoke in my experience.
The standard turbo unit is very strong, - assuming the most basic maintenance and care.
My car uses a litre of Oil every 1000miles.(Plus a few litres of Optimax[8|])
Get a Compression test done. You really need 125psi minimum to indicate any trace of pistons rings remain in there, some of the tech boys here will confirm this.
Flame on Over-run, perhaps an injector sticking open - intermittently? Or a Chip programming mod error?

Until you get these points and the belts Scott mentions sorted, - I would give the Red - Line a wide berth.

Have always admired Crystal Green, not many around.

George
944T

944Turbo · Jun 7, 2007

ORIGINAL: sawood12

Actually i've spotted something a bit strange from your photo. I'm pretty sure that your vacuum line from your recirc valve shouldn't connect directly to your fuel damper at the end of your fuel rail. I'm pretty sure it should connect via a T-junction that connects between the recirc valve, the fuel rail damper and a line that runs under the inlet manifold headers to another T-junction that connects to the manifold itself and yet another T junction that connects to the Fuel Pressure Regulator at the other end of the fuel rail and then over the other corner of the engine bay to the vapour purge system. Crickey, I hope you're following this!!!! I'll have to check on my car to confirm.

Its not his engine in the pic, but it is unusual the banjo bolt for the wastegate signal (via cycling valve in a standard car) is different as well,
Tony

Diver944 · Jun 7, 2007

ORIGINAL: arumdevil

Hi,

I bought a 944 turbo last week and there are a number of issues which need looking it. I wondered if anyone on here might be able to offer some insight into some of the below?

(car is a 1986 turbo in Crystal Green)

1. Smoke - there is quite a lot of smoke coming from the exhaust under hard acceleration, I'm told it's black. The oils does seem to be disappearing quite rapidly - needing a topup every couple of days or so.

2. Occasionally get flames out the back at readline.

3. Remote Central locking doesn't operate on the drivers door, though it did when I got the car last week. The car has a Clifford alarm system. Will I need to replace the mechanism on that door or might it be reparable?

I think there were some others too but they escape me at the moment.

Any advice on the above greatly appreciated,

Arum...

PS, will post pics as soon as I give it a clean! (very nice motors these old beasties!)

1. Black smoke is a sign you are running rich. Most modified Turbos exhibit this when 'pressing on' but it all depends just how rich you are. Incredibly rich will wash the oil from the bores of the cylinders. This could explain your oil useage, but older turbos often use a litre every 1000 to 1500 miles of road use

2. Flames are another sign of rich running, though cars without a cat or front pipe can do this when driven hard too

3. It is very common for the plastic bar between the door motor and the lock to snap. Easiest way to test is to listen for the click of the motor, if you can hear it and the door does not unlock then the bar has snapped. It has the part number printed on it, and it costs pennies. If you do a search on central locking you will find more details (I haven't got time just now - sorry [

])

4. That hole IS where the idle screw should go, again it costs pennies and it will be contributing to the rich running.

Nice looking and unusual colour Turbo btw [

]

arumdevil · Jun 7, 2007

thank you all so much for your suggestions and advice - so much more than I was expecting. Sounds like I need to get that brass screw replaced as what I have in there now is no doubt not ideal (though better than nothing!).

Scott, as I said the photo is not my engine bay, but thanks for the link as that diagram will no doubt prove useful.

Thanks again to everyone for your advice and kind comments about the car, and for making me feel welcome.

Cheers,

Arum

arumdevil · Jun 7, 2007

PLEASE NOTE I CHANGED THE PICURE OF THE ENGINE BAY, IT NOW SHOWS MY ENGINE!

the subject of the original question is shown by arrow 1. Arrow 2. shows what I believe to be a temp sensor, it is very loose and I suspect it is faulty as the turbo fan does not come on when the engine is switched off...

also, here is a full picture of my engine bay. More pics to follow of the rest of the car after a nice wash.

arumdevil · Jun 7, 2007

ORIGINAL: George Elliott
Is your car standard?
What mods? miles? Engine repair History? Boost level? Year?

Thanks George, hopefully good news for the turbo then.

"¢ Mods - none that I knew of, but see boost.
"¢ Miles - 166k belts changed at 140k but that was in 2002
"¢ Engine repair history - receipts for lots of work...[&:]
"¢ Boost Level - fitted a boost guage yesterday and took it up to Dartmoor with a mate. Got some guy in a Lotus (Elan I think) right up my a***. He was soon disappearing once I started 'checking the boost level' though [

] (Boosting to .9 - .95 bar in 2nd gear up, perhaps a tad lower in 2nd..)
"¢ Year -1986 as I said

RC18B 911 turbo · Jun 7, 2007

Welcome that is a very nice looking car you got there nice colour too

944Turbo · Jun 7, 2007

Cant see arrows, if it is running excessively rich I would also be suspicious of the wiring inside the red tape on the connector to the the air flow meter.
Is there just one screw misisng/broken on the airfilter box or has one at the rear gone too?
Tony