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Why don't they like being stood up?

T

tref

PCGB Member
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Alternator woes meant I had to use the turbo the past couple of days (shame![:D]). It is run up once a week usually to keep it ticking over, but nevertheless, when I took it out it was coughing, running on three, backfiring for the first few miles. This wasn't just temperature related, but cleared after a few miles, after fifty miles it was running as sweet as ever it does. Now I know the solution - use it! - but I wonder what causes it? I am familiar with the "Condensation in the fuel tank" issues, and try to keep it full of fuel for that reason (I have never had "stale fuel problems" with a 944), in this case I wonder if the AFM is on its way and took a while for the track to "clean up" in use, but does any one have any other ideas?
 
Tref

funny you say that, I took mine out for the first time in a couple of weeks yesterday - it was hesitating like a good un under full boost for a while until warmed up - driven 60+ miles so far today and all good now.

Funny these old cars you know !
 
I have always said that pre Boxster/996 Porsche models are a bit like race horses, they need not only exercising on a regular basis, but also seem to appreciate having their legs seriously stretched once in a while.

I could understand if they were ok within 5 mins, as I would put that down to purging air from the fuel rail and lines, the plugs fouling and then cleaning, the pistons rings re-lubricating and moving freely, lifters filling ect... But they really do seem groggy for the first 20 miles or so after being laid up for more than a week or two.. They may seem to drive ok for that first 20 miles, but I can really feel them waking up.

Not what you want to hear from a Porsche specialist, but I do not have a full explanation for it... I even know the machine code in the DME inside and out, and there is no keep alive fuel or iginition trims for it to re-learn in the 8v 944's.. the 16v is a little different, as is the 964... But all the pre 97 Porsche models, including the 964, 3.2 Carrera, 993 and even the non electronic fuel injection 924 and 911SC are the same.. it is not even just the engine, the steering, brakes all seem to wake up after a few miles following a lay up.. Possibly the result of traditional engineering of the earlier cars, rather than cad designed teflon coated plastics and modern throw away design of the new Porsche, over heavy engineering I guess

 
Jon

Not sure of the details but couldn't agree more with you. My turbo has never been happier that when being used daily, its only when its not driven for a couple of days that it grumbles.....
 
Once you get used to it Martin it is almost something to look forward to.. I find it a good feeling to drive a car which is becoming better and better in a way you can really feel as you drive it, mile by mile... It almost feels like your connected to the car and the car is alive rather than just a machine..
 
There could be a very enjoyable business there - Post winter recommissioning - take it for a two hour drive (2hrs labour), plus parts (2 gallons of fuel), hand back a car running beautifully again, yep, I'll do that - 944s only need apply[:D]

Anyone else now has the perfect excuse to go for a drive!
 
I've experience similar with my 944S. Norm had barely used it in the last year of his ownership, but for me it was a daily driver (although still not huge mileage), and it certainly felt like the drive improved with use.

But then part of that might have just been getting used to the old girl, lol!!
 
I'am sorry but what a load of absolute rubbish. Do you people know nothing about 944's ? It's very simple they go in the huff. They just have a bit of a tantrum if you don't use them.
 
Martin, you should get them fired up and took down the road when they are not covered in salt every couple of weeks i try to, but they still play up [:'(]
 
Mine suffers from damp, more than anything. It lives outside, and even though it doesn't leak, I'll have plenty of condensation on the inside on any cold day. That must get in to all the electrics, corrode all the contacts etc.

Using it two or three days in a row it seems to dry out: the condensation goes from running water to a light mist, and it all seems happier. I'm sure my lights issue is damp-related, it's not a coincidence it's happening after a three-week lay-up in cold, wet conditions.

I think a heated garage, with a battery conditioner, is the best investment any 944 owner could make. A damp driveway, high in a Chilterns frost-pocket, really isn't the best place to store a 944, unused, for a couple of weeks.
 
Paul, would cracking the windows on each side a tad help with internal condensation, can you not get it fired up more often ?
 

ORIGINAL: Frenchy

Paul, would cracking the windows on each side a tad help with internal condensation, can you not get it fired up more often ?
Click to expand...

I don't know. The alarm would have to be disconnected, which would be a bad thing though.

It's so little water, I guess you have to accept that the air in winter, combined with the low temps, leads to condensation. My van is used daily, and is misted up in the mornings, even ice on the inside when it's frosty. The 944 was similarly misty, but not wet, this morning after last night's 200 mile run. I'd guess that was no more that natural moisture in the air today.

Leave it three weeks, though, and that moisture has seeped in to the carpets, the seats, and I'd imagine (worst of all) the hardboard of the door cards, dash and other trims. It will have enough water on the screen that it'll run if you drag a finger through it. That takes a lot of drying out, and unless you use the car daily, with it ventilated all the time, that moisture build-up is inevitable.

I never get a wet carpet or boot, and no signs of any leaks, and it's no worse than our other cars in the morning. I don't think running it for a few minutes would help a lot, it needs a decent run to air it all. We live in a fairly wet country, so if a car lives outside, and has no air-con to physically dry it out, it's down to damp air ventilating a damp car!



 
Years ago I used trays of desiccant to try and keep the inside of a car dry in similar conditions - the only problem with it being disciplined enough to remember to dry it out regularly. It might be worth a try.
 
If you go to local cash and carry and buy a tub of cooking salt and leave the tub open in the car it will absorb all the condensation in the car. 3 kg tub will be about £2.00 so makes a nice cheap dehumidifier.
 
Can you stick it in the oven to dry it out and reuse it though? I'm guessing the answer is yes actually...
 
You can certainly dry silica dessicant out and use it again and again, it comes in little packets you find in a new shoe box, or you can buy a kilo or so, remember not to leave it in the plastic bag that it comes in should you go down that route [:(]
 
lol! Brilliant! I can't remember where I bought it (before the days of eBay for everything) but yes, I bought that kind of quantity, and laid it out on a baking tray in the footwells of the car - that way it gave a large surface area to dry out the car, and likewise to dry out in the oven... just don't spill it! For those that haven't come across it, it changes colour when dry/saturated so you can tell when it needs to go in the oven.
 
My Turbo seems to behave well most of the time, although when used as a daily it is spot on.
 
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