a new Aussie 944 owner

tofo · 05-01-2005, 06:39 PM

I've just joined the ranks of 944 owners here in Aus (not that there's many of us) and thought I would say hi.

It's an early 1985 in Mahogany Bronze Metallic with 177000km on it and has the following options (according to the paint and option codes):

164 - Tyres 215/60 VR15
261 - Passenger side mirror electric plain
573 - Air conditioner
650 - Sunroof
651 - Electric windows
657 - Power steering
715 - Control PV-U production pilot run (944) - what's this?

And a couple I couldn't decode: C87 and V55.

The belts were changed 5000km ago and it runs very nicely indeed, a very addictive drive (my first Porsche).

I have a few questions which I have a feeling a fairly common ones:
The air con is not very cold (really ordinary) and doesn't blow very hard. From what my owner's manual says you move the top left lever to the right and the top right and bottom levers to the left. Turn of the fresh air fan (the little knob) and turn the big AC knob clockwise. I do this and I can hear the AC come on and the air is a little cool but not very and really doesn't blow hard (compared to the fresh air fan). Is it supposed to blow harder? I know the pre 85.5 944s had ventilation issues but it seems the aircon should blow at least as hard as the fresh air fan!
I live in Brisbane which is pretty tropical, so having air con in summer will be crucial!
The other issue is the gearbox. The synchros seem fine as it goes into gear OK but it is quite notchy. Is this a characteristic of the car or does it signal problems? Additional, when pushing the gear stick up and to the left (RHD car remember) to first gear, sometime there is a clunkng sound, similarly when changing to second... particulalrly when cold. It seems better when warm.

Any way, any help would be appreciated. Here's some photos:

SlowToady · 05-01-2005, 06:57 PM

Congratulations!! That's a HOT car. Love the color!!

I think you're AC might need to be re-charged, but I still haven't figured out how to work the AC on the 944, and I wouldn't use it if I could, so I'm not too sure.

The trans shouldn't be too notchy, it should be pretty smooth. Your shifting issues (the clunk) is probably cold GL5. Mine does it, too, when it's cold and sometimes if it's cold it'll decide not to go into 3rd. Throw some Amsoil or RedLine in there and you'll be good to go.

Enjoy the car!!

tofo · 05-01-2005, 07:18 PM

Thanks SlowToady! By GL5, Amsoil and RedLine are you referring to gearbox oil?

If so, how do I drain what's in there and refill it and with how much... sorry, I'm not much of a mechanic!

SlowToady · 07:50 PM

Yep, the gearbox oil is what I was referring to. If you look at the tranny on the left side* you will see two 17MM allen head bolts. Remove the top one FIRST, this is your fill hole, and then remove the bottom one. make sure you have a coffee can or other catch pan to drain the old oil into. Replace the bottom plug and fill through the top plug. The proper oil level for gearboxes is about 4-6mm below the bottom of the fill hole; I fill them until fluid starts coming out and let that drain off, then plug it up.

I can't remember how much it takes exactly, I think it's around 3.4 qts. I just use the pneumatic GL5 gun at work. The 1gal bottle that Amsoil sells ($55 USD) will work and leave you some left over.

*I know it's the left side on LHD cars, can't imagaine they'd change it for RHD cars but stranger things have happened:-P

Oh yea, be careful not to over tighten the plugs, they should be torqued to 18 ft-lb.

aggerz · aggerz's Garage

Hi mate

I am also fairly recent aussie 944 owner.. ('90 S2 Cabriolet)
I love those wheels - Simmons F90's right?

I put some pics of my car up on www.cardomain.com/id/aggerz if you are interested.

Good luck with the car and enjoy!

Adam.

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

yaaay!! another brown one!

Congrats, and good luck with the car!

will944 · will944's Garage

Love the look of the car.

Congrats

tofo · 05-03-2005, 01:21 PM

Hi Adam,

I think the wheels are actually FR's as they are 17" and I thing F90's only come in 16".

Love the S2 Cab, very nice. Unfortunately they were a little out of my price range!

Cheers,
Tom

Quote:

Originally posted by aggerz
Hi mate

I am also fairly recent aussie 944 owner.. ('90 S2 Cabriolet)
I love those wheels - Simmons F90's right?

I put some pics of my car up on www.cardomain.com/id/aggerz if you are interested.

Good luck with the car and enjoy!

Adam.

Mark944na86 · 05-03-2005, 11:48 PM

Congratulations and welcome!

Unusual colour -- normally I'm not a great fan of brown 944s, but I quite like yours. Do you know the paint code?

-Mark

tofo · 05-04-2005, 03:23 AM

Mark,

Paint code is LB8Z - Mahogany Brown Metallic. In different light you can see a red tinge to it.

Cheers,
Tom

rudidelange · 05-04-2005, 07:05 AM

Nice car - welcome to the RHD club - Pull the big round aircon knob out - towards you, there are two "click" settings - at least this is how my aircon control works, it should supply a rush of air, approx 5x as much as the little fan knob. I bought my 83 at 180 000 kms and found that the main bearing in the aircon pump (at 190 000 kms) had to be replaced.
I also found out that there are tractors (some US brand) that use the same aircon pump and was able to buy a gasket kit and the bearing (same serial number as the original bearing) at an agricultural supply shop instead of a porsche shop at a much lower price.

tofo · 05-04-2005, 06:35 PM

Thanks rudidelange, I wish I had your advice about pulling the A/C knob before I went down to A/C experts and displayed my ignorance

Turns out she blows cold and hard when used properly!

Paul Glasson · Paul Glasson's Garage

I see you also have the Euro Spec 944 there as we do. Did yours come with a cat converter or not?My aircon seems to have lost its gas and it gets about as hot here in Durban as in Brisbane, but can survive with out.

Baza · Baza's Garage

GDay and welcome.
Just a question. Did your car come from Kirra Beach?

rucool · 05-07-2005, 02:01 AM

Good to see the aussie team on posting, aggers , nice cab, do you
know if this was the one listed on ebay a few weeks ago.
Russell

OzPorscheLover · 05-07-2005, 02:11 AM

Congrats on the car Tom...great to see another aussie on the site.
I'm saving and searching myself in the hope of finding an 86 NA sometime soon. I'm sure I saw your car on carpoint a few months back

Anyway hope all is well and that your car gives you as many memories as the rest of us.

aggerz · aggerz's Garage

rucool,

Thanks, I know the car you are talking about but mine is not that one. I saw the one on ebay a couple of weeks after i bought mine and had spent nearly 2 months looking for the right one and having difficulties with very difficult sellers.
I think the one on ebay probably would have been a good buy but from memory I don't think it made reserve so who knows what happened to it.

Its a long story how i got mine but its all good now. I replaced the 2 rear speakers yesterday and need to do the fronts rather urgently as the speaker surround on one is completely broken in peices but they are such awkward sizes!

aggerz.

tofo · 05-07-2005, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Porsche_postie
GDay and welcome.
Just a question. Did your car come from Kirra Beach?

Hi postie, I got it from a guy who lives in the southern suburbs of Brisbane (down near Beenleigh somewhere). According to the owner's manual it was delivered by Hamilton's in Melbourne almost 20 years ago to the day.

OzPorscheLover, yep it was on carpoint recently!