Vibration and crunchy gears. . . .

[swb landy]

Hi, as you all no i,m new to the 944 world, and i have just bought lacedr,s 944 lux.
I love the car, and i,m going to do a bit of tinkering over the next few months.
There seams to be a kind of vibration when driving, nothing scary but its getting on my t*ts abit, engine mounts. . . .?. if so , where and how much for replacements. . . .
No 2, the gear lever is a bit sloppy, yea i no , there is a mod, a link would be real helpfull at the min, BUT, the gearbox seems verry notchy, you can feel the gears meshing together when you change. . . . could this be down to the linkeage being worn, sort of not pushing the where they should be or something more sinister. . . . . . . as usuall your help would be really appreciated. . . .
cheers,
Dave

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Engine mounts are straightforward, suppliers are in the faqs. Vibration when idling though, not moving?

Vibration when driving, if not the obvious wheel balance, coupled with notchy gear change, and I'd be thinking the rubber cushion in the clutch breaking up as first place to look. Is there any record of it being changed?

Might be miles off, I'm not at all technically-minded!

 

[swb landy]

Well checking the ad for the car, dave listed it had been done, but there is no record of it in the service history. . . . . . . .

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

Engine mounts are straightforward, suppliers are in the faqs. Vibration when idling though, not moving?

Vibration when driving, if not the obvious wheel balance, coupled with notchy gear change, and I'd be thinking the rubber cushion in the clutch breaking up as first place to look. Is there any record of it being changed?

Might be miles off, I'm not at all technically-minded!

 

[lacedr]

The clutch was done last year sept/oct by pie performance  01473 827927
I had not checked the linkage so not sure. The car likes to be warmed up before hammering, was not aware of any issues when warm but I do know the gearbox oil is due a change. Vibration although unless it has changed was very slight which could be down to balancing. I have not che ked the engine mounts.
Hope this is of use
Dave

 

[eddieedmo]

Where is the vibration coming from ? if at rear could be g/box mount or d/shaft wear , sorry can't help with g/box selection issues.
May be worth paying to get car up in the air so a full assessment can be done by a specialist.

Nick

 

[pauljmcnulty]

The clutch was done last year

Great to know, as that eliminates the potential expensive fix!

Wasn't aware it was your car, Dave, otherwise I did remember it'd had a clutch.

 

[swb landy]

Wasnt doubting you Dave, the problem seems like worn syncromesh, i no second gear always takes a hammering ( it does on all performance cars ) but the problem has been there all the time,in 2nd, 3rd and 4th, warm or cold, i never thought it was the clutch, it feels like you can feel the teeth on the gear,s comming together, more of a syncro problem than anything i think. The vibration isnt lots, but it was a long drive home and you notice more things when stuck at 70 (ish) on the motorway. I had it up on the ramp tonight and found a touch of play in the n/s drive shaft, could be worth stripping and greasing them both, but i,m gonna do the belts and water pump first, got a shock with the pump price tho. . . . £165 + vat. . . ouch !

ORIGINAL: lacedr

The clutch was done last year sept/oct by pie performance  01473 827927
I had not checked the linkage so not sure. The car likes to be warmed up before hammering, was not aware of any issues when warm but I do know the gearbox oil is due a change. Vibration although unless it has changed was very slight which could be down to balancing. I have not che ked the engine mounts.
Hope this is of use
Dave

 

[swb landy]

I can feel the vibration through the seat so its comming from the rear of the car, interesting thought on the gearbox mount, another thing to check. . . .

ORIGINAL: eddieedmo

Where is the vibration coming from ? if at rear could be g/box mount or d/shaft wear , sorry can't help with g/box selection issues.
May be worth paying to get car up in the air so a full assessment can be done by a specialist.

Nick

 

[robdimond]

got a shock with the pump price tho. . . . £165 + vat. . . ouch !

That's cheap for a 944 water pump!

Worth replacing the front oil seals and the rollers while you're in there...

 

[swb landy]

Bugger !.
i ca get the whole belt kit for about £145, never thought about the oil seals. . . . . . more bugger ! How often does the water pump need changing. . .

ORIGINAL: robdimond

got a shock with the pump price tho. . . . £165 + vat. . . ouch !

That's cheap for a 944 water pump!

Worth replacing the front oil seals and the rollers while you're in there...

 

[pauljmcnulty]

How often does the water pump need changing. . .

Every second belt change, in theory, but obviously that's subject to taking a view on the condition. My indie left it the first change, despite it being original and 120K miles, but the next time insisted it had too much play. I'd guess that, with c. 5000 miles per year, it'll be more like four belt changes before it's changed again.

That's a VERY good price, though. There are some less than good copies out there, so I'd go for one of the recommended suppliers as there's so much labour involved in changing it if there is a problem.

 

[colin944]

Sounds to me like the gearbox mount has gone. Look under the back of the car and check that the gear box is hanging on its mount. The torque tube and gear box will drop and sit on the torsion bar tube and the alloy brace that sits between the torsion tube and the floor.If the gear box mount has gone you will get a lot of vibration and a very notchy gear change.

 

[swb landy]

Well i work in a garage, and we are verry friendly with a man who works at euro car parts, if we are ordering stuff for our own cars he really looks after us, looks like i,m gonna have to change the lot as i dont no when the pump was last changed, unless there, isnt any free play at all. . . .

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

How often does the water pump need changing. . .

Every second belt change, in theory, but obviously that's subject to taking a view on the condition. My indie left it the first change, despite it being original and 120K miles, but the next time insisted it had too much play. I'd guess that, with c. 5000 miles per year, it'll be more like four belt changes before it's changed again.

That's a VERY good price, though. There are some less than good copies out there, so I'd go for one of the recommended suppliers as there's so much labour involved in changing it if there is a problem.

 

[swb landy]

Thanx for that colin, is the mount a dealer part or does anyone else make them,
Dave

ORIGINAL: colin944

Sounds to me like the gearbox mount has gone. Look under the back of the car and check that the gear box is hanging on its mount. The torque tube and gear box will drop and sit on the torsion bar tube and the alloy brace that sits between the torsion tube and the floor.If the gear box mount has gone you will get a lot of vibration and a very notchy gear change.

 

[944 man]

Dealer only for series two. As a temp fix you can weld it up and see if that mends the problem. Itll cause harsheness and resonance though. Americans seem to have perfected potting theirs with a rubber-like sealer to good effect. Most of the firmness of solid but little of the associated NVH.

A solid aluminium replacement is available too if you look about, for about £30-ish.

 

[swb landy]

Thanx for the advise 944 man,. . . . . . SIGH. . . and it continues. . . .

ORIGINAL: 944 man

Dealer only for series two. As a temp fix you can weld it up and see if that mends the problem. Itll cause harsheness and resonance though. Americans seem to have perfected potting theirs with a rubber-like sealer to good effect. Most of the firmness of solid but little of the associated NVH.

A solid aluminium replacement is available too if you look about, for about £30-ish.

 

[944 man]

You can weld it up for nowt, if its failed.

 

[swb landy]

Yep, got to be worth a go, i,m also thinking ,if its ducked, i could fill it with Tiger Seal, it was mentioned that the americans seem good at filling it with some sort of goo, well why cant i have a go, i shall check this out asap. . . . .
Dave