Runs, but won't even crawl...

Greetings all, great site here.

I did some searching around but couldn't find anything specific to help me out.

I recently acquired an 84' 944 NA that had been sitting for sale for 3+ years. Finally the guy would take $500 for it so I picked it up.

As it turns out the car was originally purchased for the guys 17 year old son who drove the car for 2 weeks until he got a DUI and lost his license. During that time the boy drove the car hard. Apparently while trying to race at a red light his kid revved it up, dumped the clutch and a mechanical issue occurred. When I purchased the car I was told "it has a broken axle". I had the car towed to my house and looked it over a bit and discovered that the axles were fine.

Actually all signs point to a dead clutch but i'm not sure. Hopefully you all can give me some better insight. The car runs fine, but will not move under it's own power. In fact it can be pushed while in all of the gears including reverse. It sounds like the clutch is there and working. If you listen closely you can hear it (or something) engage and disengage when the pedal is worked. When you try to take off in any of the gears there is simply nothing. It's as if you are taking off in neutral.

I had considered that it was stuck in neutral but it seems like you can feel the gears working while going through the gear box. I have all but ruled out mechanical failure in the tranny due to the lack of crunching and grinding sounds.

Would the clutch go so suddenly and completely that there would be no response when trying to take off?

Could something have gone in the transaxle that would cause there to be no signs of failure (clunking, grinding, etc)?

Could it be something to do with the torque tube?

I would also like to note that the brake/clutch fluid level is low.

What could I look for to be sure it's the clutch and not something else?

I just want to be sure before I shell out the $500 for a clutch kit.

Thanks for any help you can give.

[Rick V]

The factory clutch disc, has a rubber center in it. It can rip out easily, high R clutch dumping will rip it in half. There are suposed to be a set of "tongs" in it to allow a limp home but they may be ripped out as well. Looks like you will be doing a clutch job.
There is an inspection cover on the left side of the bell housing, look in and see what you can.
Good luck and welcome to he forum

[ilikemy944]

Most likely - toasted ring gear in tranny.

[Razorback1980]

Could be either...if the torque tube shaft turns, it's probably the ring gear, if not, it's the clutch. Rubber falling from the clutch center is a give away the clutch bought it. Metal in the transmission fluid indicates a blown ring gear.

Welcome to the forum and don't forget to check out clarks-garage.com.

Since nobody mentioned it, also make sure your timing/balance belts are fresh before you run the engine.

Good luck with the new toy.

[944 boy]

I would pull the tranny first, it'll have to come out either way. If it functions fine when you try to rotate the input shaft with the axels held and in gear, then you can assume clutch. When mine went it ripped the tabs off and wouldnt go anywhere. I happened to have a spare tranny anyways.

[SolReaver]

Sitting for 3+ years = needs timing belts and ALL fluids AND filters.
Probability clutch v. transmission problem 4 to 1
the hockey puck design is a beatiful example of planned obsolescence, although they do occasionally wear out before breaking. Go to clarks garage for the procedure on both timing belts and the clutch. If yoou are handy, do the work, if not figure about 1500 to get it done. Your mileage may vary.

So, you bought a Porsche cheap huh? so did I! Check for oil in the coolant indicating OC seal failure, then you will have 3 for 3 of the common problems I bought with the car. Welcome to heaven/hell, whatever...

I will definitely do the timing/balance belts and probably the water pump while im in there right after I do the clutch/tranny issue.

The window to look in on the clutch, will it show enough of it for me to determine if that is the problem? Will there be rubber chunks that fall out?

If it is the ring gear in the transaxle is that replaceable without a new tranny?

Can you turn the torque tube with the tranny still in the car? I will also drain the tranny and replace the fluid. Would metal in the tranny fluid indicate other mechanical issues with the tranny or pretty much that is the sign of a dead ring gear?

Thanks again for all your help. This is not my first P car, but it is the first time dealing with such a mechanical failure with them.

[SolReaver]

The window will not show you enough. It will tell you how much wear is left in the actual clutch disk and you can pretend to see into the darkness, but you realy have to take this puppy down I am afraid, again check Clarks. You can also remove the starter to get a little more acess, but that may not help either. the access hole is realy hard to see much more than the throw on the slave.

I dunno bout the ring gear but I think the tranny would have to come out at a minimum and replacement may be chaper than rebuilding.

Fluid change? Huh?
I am betting that draining and replacing the trans fluid is a longshot at best for fixing the car and probably won't tell you anything. Get the tools together or get a mechanic to do the clutch. The trans can be checked out of the car. I am willing to put even money that is is NOT the transmission (any takers?)As Jim Morrison of the Doors so poingiantly stated " No one gets out of here alive". This translates roughly as " do the clutch job"

Isn't it funny how PO's will sit on a car for years after it is dead? What kind of flaming moron buys his 17 yr old irresponsible son a 944? Why not just leave a handgun and a fifth of vodka on the table? ha ha. Good luck with that clutch.

Originally posted by SolReaver
Fluid change? Huh?
I am betting that draining and replacing the trans fluid is a longshot at best for fixing the car and probably won't tell you anything. Get the tools together or get a mechanic to do the clutch.

Isn't it funny how PO's will sit on a car for years after it is dead? What kind of flaming moron buys his 17 yr old irresponsible son a 944? Why not just leave a handgun and a fifth of vodka on the table? ha ha. Good luck with that clutch.

I had intended on changing the fluids anyway, what I meant was check the old fluid for shrapnel hehe not hope that the fluid change would fix the problem.

hehe, perhaps if he had bought the handgun instead there would be one more operational 944 on the road =)

[fast924S]

First drain the tranny fluid and check for metal, I have blown 2 trannys cuz the ring and pinion SUCK in the NA's. If you remove the CV shafts the Plate on the pass. side ( i believe pass side) of the tranny comes off, I think its like 12 bolts and its sealed on with rtv, Remove the bolt and use a screw driver to pop the cover and you can get a clear look at the ring and pinion. Other then that your gonna have to remove the tranny (its easy) to inspect more.

SHould look kinda like this




In this pick the spider gears/carrier is cracked

Excellent, thanks for the pic! Pics are always nice.

I will do some searching tomorrow and update with my findings.

[fast924S]

Heres my second blown one, After paying for a custom 4:11 gear set ($600), I sent it to a local tranny shop who installed the gears. Well they did it wrong and the pinion depth was incorrect, Guess if you want it done right you do it yourself.

Second Blown tranny with incorrect pinion depth damaged teeth.

[SoCal Driver]

Bet it's the clutch disk.

Block the front wheels and jack one of the back wheels off of the ground. Put it in gear. Lay under the car where you can see through the inspection hole in the trans an view the drive shaft. Spin the wheel. If the drive shaft moves it's the clutch. If the drive shaft doesn't move (and the wheel still spins) it's the trans.