87 944 auto...how much time do I have

Dawg44 · 01-13-2009, 12:06 PM

OK...get the picture, now....cold morning, tired battry, engine stalls, on restart I have aquired a rattling, knocking noise coming from the back end of the engine/firewall area.
Tech says its the flex plate (damper plate), which I might point out has been replaced in the last five years or so.

A: Are there two flex plates, one at each end of the car?
B: I have read there is a limp home arrangement on the flex plate if it goes kablooey, is this correct.
C: If this is the flex plate, and the rattle goes away above idle and lessens significantly with warm up (which does not make sense to me!!!!) is there any way to know how long I have before kablooey.
FWIW I hear a slight rattle if I run it up in second gear, then shift.

I am way too far into the car to just park it.

EuroShark · 01-13-2009, 01:32 PM

How many miles? Any history of the trans being removed and serviced before?

Dawg44 · 01-13-2009, 06:54 PM

Yes, transmission rebuilt about 5 yrs ago, one flexplate replaced then.

legoland951 · 01-13-2009, 10:15 PM

A flex plate is what the torque converter is bolted to, which is in front of the tranaxle. The damper plate, which does not flex, is behind the engine. The damper plate is made of rubber and goes bad causing the clank. Its pretty stupidly expensive for the part and very labor intensive to replace. It sounds like your damper is bad again from the rubber breaking up. This leaves the metal tabs to bang on each other and eventually the metal tabs will break off leaving you stranded. This is whats referred to as the "limp" warning feature. Its what you are listening to most likely.

924RACR · 01-14-2009, 07:01 AM

The damper was perhaps recently done? Well, if you pull the starter or even just the access shield, after putting the car in the air, you'll be able to see the damper. You probably won't be able to really see the condition, but you can assess how much ground-up rubber is in there. I assume a used, not new, damper was installed?

But it was done somewhat recently...

Are you sure they used loctite on all the bolts???

Dawg44 · 01-14-2009, 07:15 AM

brand new, in the box from Porsche, damper installed by a mechanic who has, overtime, demonstrated that he usually knows what he is doing, had all the training on 944's when they first came out (he worked at the dealer then).

But I am beginning to wonder if maybe, just maybe....well, you know. I see all these shims and I don't remember buying any when I bought the damper.......

FWIW, I have a long history with this shop, and I have no intention of trying to hardnose anybody, but there is some humor to be found if I discovered a mistake...and who knows, I might even get a "deal" on installing the new damper.

Dawg44 · 01-14-2009, 07:19 AM

Truth be told, I am not 100% convinced the rattle I have is, in fact, the damper plate...maybe 75%, but to actually find out you got to pull the gearbox....but, the rubber in the starter hole would help with the diagnosis....I will try that....we shall see

924RACR · 01-14-2009, 09:20 AM

OK - well it won't hurt to take a looksee... (at least it's warm enough down there - currently -10F where I'm sitting, and was something like -24 on the drive in to the office!)

Of course, there's always the possibility it's something else dead or loose under there - exhaust, mebbe?

I do have trouble believing a good new damper would die within 5 years...