DME relay...
 

I hear horror stories about it; what exactly does the flippin' thing do?

Switches power to the fuel pump and the DME computer.
Its interlocked with the ignition switch and the factory alarm system.

No real horror involved, its just one of those minor parts that can totally disable the car if it fails. And failure IS an option after 15-odd years of service.

I just bought an extra to keep in the glove box of my NARP 944. Awful cheap insurance.

$38 @ Pelican, consider it the switch for the cars brain, if the switch goes out the brain stops and then so does the car...

A friend with a 993 (some local Pelicanheads know who I'm talking about) was having bad intermittent stalling problems. He is not at all mechanical and paid a local garage $1200 to fix it, which they did NOT do. His car even died at our Sept. fun run and he limped home. I told him to throw in a new DME relay just to rule that thing out. He did so for $25 and now his car works perfectly. Never overlook the obvious and never leave home without a spare DME relay.