Meet "Shaggy"

[lateapex911]

Hello all. I'm usually in the 911 section discussing early 911 stuff, and sometimes in the track section as well. But I just bought an old 944S2, and I thought I'd introduce myself and the car.

It's an '89 coupe, and frankly, its a bit shaggy, LOL, hence it's name. I'm on a committee with the SCCA that governs Improved Touring racing, and we've created a new class that this car fits in nicely. If top brass give it the OK, I will likely slap some money and numbers on the car.

Until then, it's a streeter.

I have to say, compared to my old 911, it's a very different beast. Obviously more refined, given that it's 16 years further along the development curve. Great balance and good brakes.

That said, it's not without problems, LOL.

One big thing is rattles!!!! The sunroof, the hatch, and the dash sounds like theres a hundred bucks in quarters down the defroster ducts. Oh well, we'll get to those in due time.

The biggest issue is the airbag light. The seller assured me that it was merely in need of a reset that Porsche needed to do after a battery change. He assured me 3 times on this. I called Porsche, and have an appointement tomorrow morning. Somehow I think this is going to cost me more than $30 bucks. I am concerned that one airbag is non functional, and I could be liable for injuries to a passenger in an accident.

What are your thouhghts?

I am inclined to contact the seller if he has misrepresented this. (He states he was told when he took it to a Porsche dealer that they were lacking the tool. suuuure... ! also, the working AC aint. )

Any thoughts on that are appreciated. The receipt stack for this car is thick...lots of AC recharging. new head, belts H2O pump, trans, clutch, etc. if I can get thru the airbag thing it's would be all good.

thanks! (more pics to come, but there's nothing noteworthy, LOL)

[livewirevoodoo]

Congrats on the purchase.

Airbag Warning Light Reset

Repairing a Rattling Rear Hatch

That should keep you busy for a day or two.

[ae1969]

Once you get that S2 sorted it out......... it will put 'THE HURT' on many cars at your PCA events.


http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/elect-12.htm

You can reset the light with the above link.

THe dealer should do it in a few minutes......thats if they don't find anything wrong......then $$$$$

[lateapex911]

Wow! Thanks guys!! I'll hit that reset right now...my appointment is tomorrow AM..I'd love to cancel it!

I already tried adjusting the threaded hatch units...but both nuts were able to be loosened, but the threaded shaft would not turn in the anchor on the hatch. I'll take another try..maybe some more PB Blaster...but I removed the whole deal and put it in a vise, and twisted as hard as I thought it would go before stripping out. Maybe heat is in order.

Also, on the hatch, my seal leaves a 1" gap right at the bottom center where it should butt join. I can actually see the road thru the gap in the mirror. I'm thinking thats not normal...right?

[Razorback1980]

I have learned from this forum that will let exhaust gases in your car. Get a small piece and glue in there or fix it somehow. The back hatch may also be rattling due to the window coming loose from the frame. That is what mine was. There is a thread I started about six months back where the good folks here helped to figure out the right procedure to fix it. If you look at the aluminum frame around the window, there will be a small gap where the aluminum frame is not in contact with the window. FYI...this will also usually be a water leak on a rainy day. You may even check for this separation using a garden hose to see if water runs inside.

I also had a/c trouble and I started a thread on that here as well. Seems a lot of us run duracool in ours or have converted to the new R134. Any idea why your a/c doesn't work? Have you put any gauges on it to check the freon levels? If they are low, then check the fittings to determine which type of freon is in the system. Recharge the system and then check for leaks...I use a freon detector but there are many methods. I check with a lot of people here and most seem to run duracool if it is still on the R12 system.

Hope this helps a little. Welcome to our side of the forum.

[lateapex911]

Thanks guys...just an updater on the issues:

$127 of my favorite greenbacks were given to porsche of Faifield in exchange for some info and a wash. The info? Bad passenger airbag, long term fault code. The seller represented pre purchase that the airbag light was just from the installation of a new battery and it was a recent event, that he had asked his dealer to reset, and that they said they didn't have the tool.

Interestingly, I followed the above links, and performed the reset numerous times, to no avail. Then later, I found such a set of wires in the back of the car....as though someone else had already tried it. Hmmmm.....

So....the estimate is over $1350, plus taxes.

He and I are discussing options. The jury is out at this point.

Unfortunately for him, he indicated to me that "Everything worked" before I bought the car, so things like the No AC, no cruise, one fog busted and out, sunroof partially inop, rear hatch not opening but rattling, seat elecs out, crack in the dash and a gallon of water in the back have left me annoyed.

Of course I understand there is give and take in buying a high mile used car, but....................

Anyway, it's hot, and the AC isn't working, so I will crack that next. Not sure how to test for leaks, but it sounds like the Duracool is the way to go.