Loss of power

[Dixie]

Any most-likely items I should diagnose first?


I've put about 500 miles on my '88 911 after having it sit for almost two years. I simply put some fresh gas in it and it's been running fine.

Yesterday it lost power. I was almost to the track, about a 15 mile drive, and the RPM started dropping. It would only rev to 2K in second gear. It cut off more than once. It would start, but wouldn't rev. I checked for the obvious, such as a loose vacuum line, and found nothing. With nothing to lose I swapped in a spare DME relay. I got the car to start and made the last mile. The car barely ran and cut off just shy of the gate.

After sitting for 20 minutes I started the car. It ran great. After the event I drove home. It ran fine. I figure whatever the issue is will happen again, so I'd like to diagnose an fix whatever is failing now. Thoughts?

[Discseven]

Might be the DME itself. Mine went bad and the car performed as you described Rob.

[pete3799]

How old is the fuel filter?

[kidrock]

cylinder head temperature sensor

[911pcars]

Maybe failing fuel pump? Random symptoms, higher rpm volume issues at first, then as FP expires, nada.

Sherwood

[seamore2001]

Different breed of Porsche, but I had the same symptoms, years ago, on both a 944S2 and a 968. Replaced DME relay cured the 944S2 - it did not cure the 968, and I can no longer remember what the cure was, since that car ended badly and I've put a lot of those memories out of my mind.

[Dixie]

Know what y'all? I'm thinking it was the DME relay. The problem has not recurred. In addition, it running a lot better since replacing it.