early '85 944 starts runs 20sec. then dies

[joshl1978]

my 944 has been starting then dying after 20 secs or so I replaced the dme relay exact same results. could it be afm? fuel pressure regulator, fuel pump? dme? or some sensor? alarm system shutting her down? any help would be greatly appreciated.

[krystar]

my bet's on fuel pump.

[joshl1978]

where is the fuel pump located on my early 85 944 and how can i test it?

[flightdr]

Can you keep it running if you feather the throttle during this time? Have you checked all of your vacuum lines? There is a large vacuum line on the back of the intake, and if it is cracked or rotten you will have the same conditions that you have described.

[ScoobySteve]

Does it just die suddenly like you turned the car off or does it sputter to death? Also, is it running rich when it runs?

If it's the former and you've got rich running, I had the exact same problem. Turned out to be the FPR. I read through Clark's and discovered there's a condition whereby it fails closed (too much fuel pressure) which causes the injectors to draw a lot more current. There's a thermal protection circuit in the ECU for the injector drivers and that condition will trip it like clockwork.

$80 or so and 5 minutes to get back running.

[joshl1978]

replaced fpr does the exact same,dies suddenly after20 secs of running

[944 Ecology]

Check for a bad ignition switch.