$800 944 ALOT of problems, don't know where to begin

Imwithstupid^ · 01:56 PM

I did search, but it was way too much searching for me so i figured maybe you guys could help me out.

I just totalled my 12.3 second VR4 because my 4 wheel steering malfunctioned, so i bought this 1984 944 na for $800. It runs and drives, but has alot of problems.

Problem #1 Power window doesnt work. Only the drivers side, passenger side will work from passenger switch but not driver. Probably just a short, or bad switch.

Problem #2 rear end clunking. Owner said that he thought the pinion might be going out. Doesnt sound like it to me because it doesnt do it all the time, and it varies in loudness and consistency with absolutely no pattern. It isnt making any nose right now.

Problem #3 sunroof doesnt work. I actually dont really know how to work the sunroof. I know there is the switch on the left of the console which i figure is the roof switch but it doesnt seem to work. No motor sound or anything, just dead. Also how can i remove this?

Problem #4 power steering leak. I hate leaks. Can i just pour some stop leak in here and fix it?

Problem #5 door locks. Aren't they power? how do i lock the door lol. I have no switches or anything for them i dont think.

Problem #6 headlights. They went up, very smoothly.... now they won't go down. They will power off, but not go down.

Problem #7 AC. Doesnt work. compressor doesnt kick on, fan realy works, but no AC. I have a few cans of R12 lying around so i can recharge it if i need.

Problem #8 hatch doesnt open. The rear hatch won't open, no motor sound, key wont work. I'm sure it's just stuck though.

Problem #9 shift knob. Ok this really isnt a problem but it keeps falling off and it's just irritating. I'm just gonna apoxi another PS1 driving wheel shifter on it, just like the gt.

Problem #10 after market radio. I was playing it, worked fine sounds great then it just stops. Still has power all functions, but no sound. no crackling through speakers when you turn it all the way up or anything like that.

I have had this car for about 47 minutes now, so i haven't really done a thorough inspection or anything, but these are just the things i noticed while i was out there. I totalled my VR4 a little over a week ago and i bought this with spare money from selling parts.

I have no problem fixing this car, i built the last car from bottom up, it's just a pain for me to fidget with the car and not know what im doing. This car is very different from every other car i have worked on so i'm trying to learn as i go along. The suspension on it is purely amazing with the tranny in the rear. I've never seen that before.

Thanks for helping,
Shawn

Don 944 LA · 05-16-2004, 01:59 PM

sounds like the same problems I had with mine when I bought it ( $1500 )

some are common problems...

but like you said.. Where to begin ...

window switch... no biggie... cheap replacement

clunking.. could be the rubber center clutch going south.. sounds like other things going bad.

sunroof.. common problems ( I'm converting mine to manual )

Leaks Leaks Leaks... welcome to P-Car ownership.

Door locks.. Mine- driver side locks from outside.. pass side locks from inside.

AC.. probably needs a charge..

Hatch.. push down hard to get it to unlatch, then adjust the pins. lube the mechanism and loosen the 10mm nuts to allow free movement of the latch.

It's all worthwile when you hit the accelerator

Lots of people here that can help.

Good luck

Don

Imwithstupid^ · 02:06 PM

The guy said he just repalced the clutch with a rubber center one, not sprung. Still it's new with like 200 miles or something on it, and he said it was making the noise before he replaced the clutch. He gave me brand new floor mats from porsche too. That's why i bought the car. I figure the floor mats alone cost more than the car.

How does it lock from outside? I tried the key and it only locked my door. I figured maybe it would lock both doors or something.

Quick question. Will these cars handle better than an AWD AWS ECS VR4 on 245 zr 17's? I have heard these cars handle insanely but i was wondering if it will handle as good as that.

Don 944 LA · 05-16-2004, 02:07 PM

84 didn't have electric locks. I think only the very latest models did, and I think there were problematic.

anyway, I have to lock my drivers door from the outside with a key. On the passenger side, I have to manually push down the thingy then close the door, it wont lock with a key. I'm not sure if this is normal operation, just how mine is.

Imwithstupid^ · 05-16-2004, 02:14 PM

Oh... Electric locks aren't a big deal, only windows.

Also my Tachometer doesn't work, but gas MPG does, and odometer doesnt, but speedometer does

The gauges give me a headache. They jump all over the place. Not extremely, but the needles are always moving, is that normal? I think i am just going to replace every gauge with autometer mechanical gauges because that would stop my problem.

will944 · will944's Garage

Odo problem can be solved with a very simple white plastic gear available at www.944online.com

I suspect the tach would be a bad ground....check it out when you pull the cluster to fix the odo. Many have this same problem

Sunroof motor is in the hatch....above the drivers side rear wheel. Check there to see if it's working....if not, the cable has probably pulled out. To repair that you have to pull the panels off behind the sunroof....simple setup....you will see how it works.

Will the 944 handle better.....I would think so.....it's MUCH lighter than your old car (just make sure all your bushings are in good shape etc)

Imwithstupid^ · 05-16-2004, 04:06 PM

nice call with the tach. It just randomly started working when i was out drifting in my yard. Must have been a bad ground.

My head ligths will not go down. How come?

Oh yeah the button i was playing with for the sunroof was the mirror button. My sunroof button is missing. i saw the wires down in the console. so i guess i'll have to buy one of them.

Tested the switches. I played with them and the passenger one ended up working, but the drivers didnt. You can just hear a tick or low thud when you press the button. I guess it's time for a new window regulator.

will944 · will944's Garage

Don't know much about the headlights....luckily I have never had a "lazy eye" or any other headlight problems...knock on wood!!

When the switch is turned off, can you push them down....or will they not budge. I would think either relay or the switch is not sending the correct signal to the motor.....

If you need any parts, take a look at the classified section or post your need here. There are tons of guys with parts cars willing to help you out.

serge944 · serge944's Garage

We'll help you, but please don't do this to your 944 too:

Imwithstupid^ · 05-16-2004, 04:24 PM

haha that spoiler didnt end up going on there so don't worry i didnt butcher it too bad. They sent me the wrong spoiler anyway. I was suppoed to get the "GTR", not the "INVADER". The gtr was a straight spoiler. the body kit went on because my sideskirts and front bumper were in really bad condition and i didnt want to paint it with them like that.

No the headlights won't budge when the switch is off. I can manually close them by twisting the knob and then when i turn them on they will come back up, but won't go back down.

will944 · will944's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Imwithstupid^

No the headlights won't budge when the switch is off. I can manually close them by twisting the knob and then when i turn them on they will come back up, but won't go back down. [/B]

What do you mean by "manually close them?"

They should operate as follows:
Switch turned all the way left....no lights and are closed
Switch turned ONE click to the right....parking lights on but headlights still down
Switch turned all the way right....all lights on

From ON to Middle setting....headlights off but don't go down, parking lights remain on

Imwithstupid^ · 05-16-2004, 04:37 PM

There is a knob on the motor i can turn to close them. Mine don't operate that way... i think i am going to take out those lights all together and just make something cool like xeon.

Ferrara_racing · 05-16-2004, 04:45 PM

based on your description of this 944, I would postpone any lateral G force skid pad handling vs your old car tests until you check it out. It sounds like a poorly cared for vehicle. Once you set it straight, I'll bet you'll like the handling better than that rice rocket...

MrPants · 05-16-2004, 04:51 PM

Holy *****. Hope you got some cash burning a hole in your pocket.
First off, dont drift the car. the n/a trannsmission will NOT put up with abuse. For some of your problems

It sounds like you have some bad grounds. Do you have a Haynes manual? if not, buy one.
Clean all the grounds.
#1 I have the same problem, I'm relatively sure its the switch.
#2 Could be a lot of things. I would guess CV's but SoCal or one of the other wrneches would know better
#3 You electrical problems may all be realted. I say clean grounds and whatever else you need to fix the more important problems.
#4 Nope. Stop leak wont do anything. Degrease the area, jack it up and have someone turn the wheel and see if you can spot the source of the leak. Remember they use Dexron ATF, not power steering fluid.
#5 I dont think '84 had power locks. Just use the key
#6 Can you manually crank them down or are they seized up? If you can turn them down manually (there is a knob on top of the headlight motor, under the boot) Check out the switch and then the motor. Again, this could be a ground problem.
#7 I dont know about that but where did you get R12 from? I need some for mine
#8 If it has been sitting for a while it probably just needs some jimmying
#9 The cap falls off, or the knob lifts off? If it lifts off, the bushings on the lever may be dead

Hope you get her running. Hope your clunking isnt the tranny $$$$. It is really an amazing design. Plus you got my personal favorite year 944

Ive never driven a VR4 so i cvant say for sure but i would think the RWD 944 would handle much better. The Vr4 is 3500 lb or something, isnt it? Your n/a will defintaley not pull like a VR4, though. Also, if you are into the whole "tuner" thing, this is not the car for you. Its expensive to fix and the aftermarket doesnt really offer anything that is better than OEM

MrPants · 05-16-2004, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Don 944 LA
84 didn't have electric locks. I think only the very latest models did, and I think there were problematic.

anyway, I have to lock my drivers door from the outside with a key. On the passenger side, I have to manually push down the thingy then close the door, it wont lock with a key. I'm not sure if this is normal operation, just how mine is.

Thats how mine is too, i wonder if they were designed that way? I dont really like it cause i cant open the passenger door for girls.

Anyway, imwithstupid^ this is a helpful website: http://www.clarks-garage.com/

Imwithstupid^ · 05-16-2004, 04:57 PM

the vehicle has sat for a very long time, and the more i drive it and play with stuff the more stuff works. It just needs some work is all.

And my 'rice rocket' wasn't all that ricey. it never drove anywhere with that spoiler, and it had turbo back pipes so it sounded deep as hell. I took 03 cobras, saleens, ss's, and corvette ls1's. it would go 0-170 in a mile. But i'm glad i'm kinda glad it crashed when it did rather than at 180+mph.

Anyways, i like the 944, and i dont plan on modding it at all. I plan on gettin the whole car back in top shape, and maybe putting a K&N on it just becuase that box makes me nauseus.

Ferrara_racing · 05-16-2004, 06:43 PM

Ohh boy, K&N is like bringing up roe vs wade on this site!! The stock box although ugly is a really good design, it brings cold air from the wheel well into the AFM. I have read on here that the cone actually is more restrictive than the box, that may just be opinion though I don't know. If your planning on seeing 180 in your 944 you may have to drive off a cliff.....

Imwithstupid^ · 05-16-2004, 06:51 PM

nah no modding to the 944. I will get another VR4 and have the Porsche as my daily driver while i build it. I had a mustang but had to sell it so i had troubled modding the vr4 since it was my daily driver. now i have the porsche so i can get good gas mileage and all.

Ferrara_racing · 05-16-2004, 06:55 PM

I find keeping the 944 at the posted speed a daunting enough task..I have friends "on the job" though and occasionally when one is with me I get carte blanche to "clean out the injectors"..It's quite a rush to see the faces of people you pass going triple digits...

Imwithstupid^ · 07:05 PM

The rush i got was with ricers. I put my car in sport mode and let them line up in 1st and they do their thing. They slam in and out their clutch to make it look like their car has power, and then i just keep flooring it and letting off in first which WILL make my front wheels come off of the ground. VR4 have butt loads of torque. It's very intimidating.

What are the top performance modifications you would reccomend for my 944? Besides sea foaming the entire engine, oil, and fuel.