I think she's sick :(

[Carnage]

I have a 1983 944
2.5L L4 Fi SOHC 8V


Ill will get a youtube video of it soon but i have to catch it at the right moment.

Here's the issue:

First my engine has very noisy valves, i cant hear them from inside but when i pass something like a wall i can here them. I'm not sure if this is normal for this car but thought i would bring it up.

Second occasionally, my idle will oscillate (when in the clutch is down or in neutral) from about 975 to as low as 560 RPM and when it gets below 900 it surges back to 975, does this the most when warm and low on gas (below 1/4)

Third, when i have to give it some power (freeway, go from slow lane to fast lane, etc.) i can smell the exaust and frankly it does not smell like a good smelling burnt petrol, it stinks, i can't describe it because i have smelt nothing like it.

[Carnage]

anyways...

I think that all these things are related some how, but i cant think of any one thing that would do all this... i fear that it is not just one thing... anyways i will have more on it when i take it for a diagnostic, but i thought i would post this before i go just in case it is well known and simple

[968rz]

Noise from the valves, you will need to pull the cover and inspect them (that's easy).
Hunting idle, check for vacuum leaks, clean the MAF and throttle body.
Exhaust in car, your hatch seal has probably shrunk or just leaking
Bad smell, this is the hard one, it could be you are running lean (vacuum leak?) or the cat conv may be contaminated. You will need to find out what caused it and may be replace it.

[krystar]

u got good oil pressure? best case, dead lifters. worst case....something bad.

yea. vacuum leak. check all hoses and fittings

if it smells like rotten eggs, then cat's contaminated. if it smells like raw fuel, most likely cat's burnt out and it's just running straight thru.

[Zero10]

If you can't hear them from inside, but do hear when passing a wall then it isn't lifters you are hearing its your fuel injectors. 944's have some of the loudest fuel injectors I have ever heard.

As for the idle issue, re-set the idle, and check for vacuum leaks. One of the 2 is your problem

For the smelly exhaust, when was the O2 sensor last changed? Its entirely un-related to the first 2 issues, but a bad O2 sensor will give you poor mileage and smelly exhaust.

[krystar]

oh yea fuel injectors are loud too.

[Carnage]

Loud injectors eh? is there a fix for that, and i don't know when the O2 Sensor was last replaced and if i was to "look" at it what would i be looking for if it was bad?

How do I reset the idle?

The cat situation only happens at high RPMs... Are the Cats for 944s pricey?

and the worst thing is, is that it hasn't happens again (the idle) since i started this thread.

[HondaDustR]

Make sure there's no vacuum leaks first, since that will screw up the idle that way if they're bad enough. If the problem is intemittent, I would doubly suspect vacuum leaks (there are a bunch of large rubber vacuum hoses under the intake manifold that like to deteriorate). Also check the idle passageway in the throttle body and clean it out if it's gunked up. Usually it won't be unless the AOS is passing a lot of oil into the intake. Also check that the idle air bypass screw on the throttle body has good o-rings. The proceedure for adjusting it is here -> http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/fuel-08.htm

For the cat, you can get a "universal" style cat from a reputable company like Magnaflow and have it welded in for a fraction of the cost of a new OEM part.

And yes, the injectors are quite noticable as rythmic ticking. That's just they way they are.

There's no way to tell how good a O2 sensor is by looking at it. There's a test procedure here -> http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/fuel-18.htm, but if it's been awhile, especially if you're having cat problems, it's probably time for a new one. Then you might want to check this out -> http://www.the944.com/oxygen.htm

[Carnage]

Thanks so Much everyone for all the usefull advice!

I guess i will keep you posted after i have had a chance to check all that out.

I was looking at clarks garage for info on the vacuum lines and their location, but it seams that there is a diagram only for 1985.5 or newer 944's should i use that model or is there a better location to make sure that i don't miss any... also is it ok to spray WD-40 on them inorder to check for leaks (my preferred method) or should i go get some carb cleaner, like i have read to be suggested on other topics?

[Carnage]

I just have a quick question... off topic.
I want to replace my shift knob because the 'gear map plastic thingy' sticks out a bit and is sharp around the edges and has cut my palm a few times now, i was looking online but all i see is replacements for that plastic piece. Is there a place where i can place on a custom shift knob? or are all shift knobs the same and it does not matter where i get it from.

sry to digress

Thanks again btw for all the help on the idle situation

[HondaDustR]

Originally Posted by Carnage

Thanks so Much everyone for all the usefull advice!

I guess i will keep you posted after i have had a chance to check all that out.

I was looking at clarks garage for info on the vacuum lines and their location, but it seams that there is a diagram only for 1985.5 or newer 944's should i use that model or is there a better location to make sure that i don't miss any... also is it ok to spray WD-40 on them inorder to check for leaks (my preferred method) or should i go get some carb cleaner, like i have read to be suggested on other topics?

I'd go with carb cleaner myself. That way it won't leave a mess.

There should be a sticker in the engine compartment with a vacuum diagram on it. Otherwise I don't know where an early vacuum diagram is. Even the factory manual only has the late diagram, but I think it's all the same except for some kind of auxilary air valve that the late cars don't have.

[looneybin]

Originally Posted by Carnage

I just have a quick question... off topic.
I want to replace my shift knob because the 'gear map plastic thingy' sticks out a bit and is sharp around the edges and has cut my palm a few times now, i was looking online but all i see is replacements for that plastic piece. Is there a place where i can place on a custom shift knob? or are all shift knobs the same and it does not matter where i get it from.

sry to digress

Thanks again btw for all the help on the idle situation

Momo makes a nice replacement shift knob.
Check with the Pelican, they have it & the adapter you need to attach it.

also, where are you located, there may be someone nearby you that can lend a hand if needed

[Carnage]

yeah i noticed the sticker but i was not sure of how detailed it was (aka did it leave anything out) but yeah i will go ahead and use that.

[Carnage]

FOUND IT!

luckily it was right in the open
my L joint to the something (not sure what it was) was clogged with glue [ ?!?!? ] and the little plastic piece was broken off.






any ideas on what part this is and if it can be fixed? or does it need to be replaced?

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by looneybin

Momo makes a nice replacement shift knob.
Check with the Pelican, they have it & the adapter you need to attach it.

also, where are you located, there may be someone nearby you that can lend a hand if needed

I'm south by south east of Fresno, CA in a town called Parlier. But I drive to Fresno almost 3 times a week.

[Carnage]

Is it the Temperature Control Valve?

[looneybin]

may be the temp control, do your vents only blow hot air?
I think the system fails in the "on" mode
BTW my aunt was a teacher at Parlier High for 20+ years

[Carnage]

yes they do actually i inquired about it in this forum... weird heater problem would that be the cause as well?

[Carnage]

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/ksearch/PEL_search.cgi?please_wait=N&forumid=&threadid=&command=DWsearch&description=058131851&FILTER_MISC=ON&FILTER_CARE=ON&FILTER_944M=ON&FILTER_PERF=ON&FILTER_TOOL=ON&FILTER_PORS=ON&FILTER_TECH=ON&FILTER_SUPP=ON&FILTER_ACCE=ON&FILTER_STUF=ON&FILTER_GADG=ON

i think this is the part....

[HondaDustR]

that looks like the one. Don't forget to replace the copper sealing ring too or it might leak.