Please read and help if you can,....engine problems
 

Ok, on moday night i was driving my 944, i only got about 3 miles and the engine just died, my rpm's went flat but i had power to everything else. the engine just turned off.

After trying everything for about 30 minutes i had to be towed home. I went outside tuesday and looked a few things over and didnt see anything wrong but the car still wouldnt start.

So today i pulled out a few tools and took one spark plug out and turned the car over to see if there was spark, i didnt see a spark but the car started and ran. I put the plug back in and drove 2 or 3 miles and it runs fine.

Can anyone tell me maybe whats going on, im buying new spark plugs today and maybe a coil wire, but im 16 so money is limited till i get a job. any help on this greatly appreciated, thanks josh

It definately sounds like an ignition problem and by you removing a plug, you must have wiggled some wires around. Run the engine at night and see if you can see any sparking coming out of the plug wires. When they get worn out, you can sometimes see the current pulsing thru (when it's dark out). You may also want to check the conditi0on of the cap and rotor. Also, look for any loose wiring to any sensors as you must have moved something causing the car to startup.

Vern

Did you happen to check your DME relay when the car died? Alot of 944 drivers carry a spare, as after time the solder joints can wear out and leave you standed with the same kind of problems you are describing. Note: the DME relay is also often called the fuel pump relay.

Good luck,
Nick

Re: Please read and help if you can,....engine problems
 

So when you say it wouldn't start, am I correct to say that the engine was cranking etc but it just wasn't "catching?"

OK, whatever was wrong has temporarily fixed itself and seemingly the only thing that has changed is time and you fooling with the spark plug. My advice: Take the car somewhere really dark and start it up with the hood open. Look for arcing from the plug wires or the coil wire... if you see anything your wires are shot and need to be replaced (around $100). You can jiggle the wires a bit to see if you get sparking, but be careful around the running/electrically hot engine.

Dang, Tidybuoy beat me to it! Also Many944s has a good suggestion...

I carry a new relay as a spare just for the above reason. They seem to fail at the worst time too.;)
Dal

Cam reference sensor? DME would be 2nd guess.

is there a way to check the dme relay? yes the engine was cranking but would not start, i will drive the car tonight and check the spark,

also i have another question, this time its aobut my oil pressure, when driving the car around my oil pressure stays at 5 all the time somtime just a little lower somtmes a little higher, is this normal or not. thanks josh

I think that is normal. My car runs at 5 but occasionally will dip to 3 when idling.

Vern

If the DME is flaky, you can sometimes get it to work by lightly tapping with the handle of a screwdriver... it's just a relay after all.
Or if you've got a no-start condition and suspect the DME, you can jumper the connections (don't drive the car around like this...diagnostic only). Check out Clarksgarage.com for a good explanation of how to jumper.

ive been driving the car all around and it hasnt died, would you say it is safe to drive until i get a new dme? thanks josh

Well, if it's the DME that caused your original problem it's going to keep doing it. Is it "safe?" Well, no damage will take place in your engine or anything but you will definitely be stranded. If you look around you can find the DME for not too much money, and as the other guys pointed out it's good to carry a spare. I do.

im purchasing a new relay, ill attempt to drive it around, i it dies again then ill know its the relay, and ill just park it till the new one comes or ill try to fix this one, im pretty good at soldering. thanks for everyones help, josh