New Owner...

[Olly]

Hello,

As of 13 hours ago, I am the new owner of a 944. I have been looking at cars for many months, looking at everything from Mustangs to Pre-98 Super Beetles when I came across a car I couldn't pass up. I found a 86 944 with a broken odometer and no maintenance records whatsoever and bought it for $2k !!!!

I realize it was probably a pretty big gamble but now I am trying to figure out all of the maintenance things that I should do right away, not knowing any history whatsoever. Here is what I plan to do in the next couple of days:
- Change Oil/Filter
- Change Spark Plugs and Wires
- Put in a K&N air filter

Do you experts have any other suggestions or recommendations?

Also, there is some sort of a rattling sound coming from the engine... I was told it was probably a lifter.... Any suggestions there? Reading through this so-far extremely informative forum, I lookied at a post that talked about doing some ATF fluid. Would you recommend doing that to a 944 with unkown history anyway?

The last thing I was wondering about is a steering wheel shake past 50mph (the car doesn't). Not sure if that's normal...

Thanks in advance for your recommendations,

I love this car already and am making the girlfriend jealous...

Olly

[SoCal Driver]

Replace the timing and counter balance belts.

NOW!

[thamlin000]

yep....what socal said. broken belt=broken engine. do it this week.

[swimmingly]

Here's some stuff you may want to do:
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/1760/bought_a_944.html

A new fuel filter wouldn't hurt either.

[swimmingly]

For the steering wheel, try tightening it first. I think you'll need a 24mm socket and an extension.

[SoCal Driver]

Steering shake is bad rim or bad tire or bad balance or all of the above.

Noise from the cam galley can be a loose cam gear. A single socket head bolt behind the rotor.

[very~worn~944]

It's pretty manditory that you wash and detail it...

[VT944]

Welcome to the board!

Yep - if you don't know when it was done last (and even if the Previous Owner "Claims" it was done, but can't preduce documents) change the Timing belt! It is the achilles heal of these otherwise excellent, nearly indistructable engines. Do a search for "timong belt" on this forum and see what we're all talking about.

I have documentation that mine was changed 2 years and only 3,000 miles ago, but because the car sat I am changing mine anyways. It can't hure to be safe...

Do you plan to do your own maintenence?

Good Luck with your new car! You made an excellent choice!

[MrPants]

http://www.connact.com/~kgross/FAQ/944faq.html

and really do the belts ASAP. its not something you can wait around and do next week. these do have interference engines so you cant afford to gamble.
how does the brake pedal look?

[stupenal]

Originally posted by VT944
Welcome to the board!

Yep - if you don't know when it was done last (and even if the Previous Owner "Claims" it was done, but can't preduce documents) change the Timing belt! It is the achilles heal of these otherwise excellent, nearly indistructable engines. Do a search for "timong belt" on this forum and see what we're all talking about.

I did a search for "timong belt" and i got nothing.

[ronin]

most important thing to do first...

sell it and buy a turbo

[97XRAY]

The vibration really could be any number of things. I would first be certain that it's really just the steering wheel and not the rotating masses up front (wheels).
If it turns out to be a real vibration from the spinning masses, don't worry, most of it can be address without spending more than ~$20-50 a piece on the following:
-Ball joints (late model needs a bit more work to replace)
-bushings
-strut tower mount
-bearings & seals
-rotors turned (while you're in there)
-new brake pads

Think of it this way, this type of work is fairly easy and would make for one he*& of an awesome afternoons work, all the while, building the relationship between you and the car...
However you begin working on the car, get some manuals and perhaps a parts catalog (I can help you get those).

[MAS]

Ditto what the others said... but you have to get the timing belt done immediately. If it snaps, the valve train (and maybe more) will be seriously damaged... and this will cost more than you paid for the car to fix.

Normally, the timing belt would have to be changed every 3-4 years. If the previous owner does not have records of something this important, it almost certainly means that this was not done anytime recently.

-MAS

[Britwrench]

Now you know why the 944 was $2k.
As all the others have said, you must do the belts and water pump.
Only use the Mahle oil filter. Change the brake and clutch fluid, and check under the pedals to see if the clutch master cylinder is leaking.
Nearly all "cheap" 944's need a $1000 or so to bring them up to usuable.

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by Britwrench
Now you know why the 944 was $2k.
[snip]
Nearly all "cheap" 944's need a $1000 or so to bring them up to usuable.

"Also, there is some sort of a rattling sound coming from the engine... "

and if that snowballs into $2000 or $3000 please don't post here re: These cars are crap!!!

Best of luck, hope you able to fix her up without too much investment.

[seaboltman]

isnt the water pump supposed to be changed every 30k miles? Seems to me that you would want to check when it was last replaced, if ever.

[ronin]

no, the water pump should last much longer than that. Mine lasted about 120,000 miles

[seaboltman]

hum... Ok well then i read some misinformation... Anyone know the average life of a water pump?

[MAS]

I agree, a rattling sound coming from the engine could easily be the bearings in the water pump... which means a new water pump is needed (if this is what it is).

Another (cheaper) possibility could be one or more engine mounts having gone.

-MAS

[ronin]

when my water pump went out, it sounded like it was trying to speak in complete sentences. the rollers also make similar noises when they get ready to depart this life. use the stick method to narrow down the possibilities.