944 Won't stay running

[Flathed]

Hi, I have a 1985.5 944, worked great til last week. Parked it for 2 days, wouldn't run after that. It would start, then die right away, doesn't seem to be a fuel flow problem. Changed the plugs and cleaned out the dist. cap. I got my friend to play with the Air Flow meter while starting, which helped me to idle a bit longer. It looks like I need a new one, but I want advice from people with more experience. I've read that if the meter is bad, it will make your idle wonky because of the bad air mixture, but I've never read of it doing whats happening to my car. Also, my timing always (I've had it 4 months) seemed a bit out, as it would sometimes run on after I turned it off. I read that a backfire can screw up the meter, and running on is close. Any advice about timing is apprecieated as well. Thanks in advance, hope I gave enough info.

[SteveONeal]

I would check for an air leak in the boot between the air flow meter and the throtle body. If there is any kind of leak it will cause the car not to get fuel to start/run...having your friend lift it up allowed fuel to get to
the cylinders but not at the right volume and that's why the car eventually dies. Check for a hole/missing plug and a tight fit on either end. May or may not be the problem but its all I can come up with off the top of my head. Let us know what you find.
Steve

[Flathed]

The boot seems fine, no holes or loose clamps.

[Eldorado]

when this happened to me, one of the hoses under the intake manifold jiggled loose... check those.. you might have to take the manifold off. i was lucky enough to be able to see my leak from the passenger side of the car looking down..

[Flathed]

Checked all the hoses under and around the intake, they all look good. There's no Porche dealership in town, or I would take it there, would a VW dealership be able to help?

[Flathed]

Hi guys, thanks for the help. I (with the help of Clarks-garage) I found out that I simply have a bad DME relay. I did the 3-wire jumper test and it fired up and stayed idleing.

[SoCal Driver]

You didn't replace it with a ford relay???

[Flathed]

Is that an option? If so, what's the part #? I was going to get a Porsche one from the wrecker tomorrow if they have it.

[Razorback1980]

NO! He was kidding. Someone on here was trying to replace it with a Ford relay. NOT a good idea. I would also suggest that you order TWO new ones from an online Porsche place and put one in and the other in the glove box. These do go out from time to time and it's always a good idea to have one handy to replace it with. They are not very expensive and it might save you from walking.

[Flathed]

Thanks, very good advice.

[SoCal Driver]

Hopefully you will follow our advise.

[Eldorado]

buy new...

or buy used AND buy a new spare.

it's worth it if you look at the price of a tow.

[Flathed]

Originally posted by SoCal Driver
Hopefully you will follow our advise.

Whats with the attitude? You come across as a jerk. Everyone has given helpful advice but you. Both of your posts only add to your post count and help no one. Seems like it was just to irritate the newbie.

[SoCal Driver]

I dare say it's the newbe irritating those who know better. Acceptable to some degree IF the newbe really wants to listen to the advise. For those that don't: PLONK!

I am looking forward to the 10,000 post.

[Razorback1980]

Flathed...SoCal doesn't need to run up posts....he spends a lot of time here helping many many people including me. My advice to you is when he mentions something, it's worth listening to.

[SoCal Driver]

I do have my non-944 moments. But not often. We have to be reminded now and then that WE are the PO's.

[Flathed]

I was polite until disrespected. Simple as that. If SoCal gets a manners pass because of his past, I guess I have to live with it.