New to 944's - advice appreciated

[ddbach]

Thank you for your posts. They helped me decide on whether to buy and what to buy. Found 88 944 na manual w 23k miles, only 3k last 15yr, poor car at least lived in a garage. Took my more mechanically experienced brother along for advice/reality check before buying. Changed belts (professionally done), fluids, tires, needed new front brake pads (had done as long as at the shop). Discovered yesterday the horn isn't working so will check fuses today and try to figure out from there. Took dad out in car yesterday and put 200+ miles on from Milwaukee to Elkhart Lake on back roads. Much fun through the kettle moraine roads. Advice on what else to do/check/watch for appreciated. New to blogs/forums too.

88 944 na

[Ritzblitz]

You replaced the water pump, belts, rollers, and all that??

[ddbach]

No - last documented service was oil change in Oct 1994 @ 22k. No doc = 21 yo belts and trouble waiting to happen. Had professional go over car after my brother and just had belts replaced, changed oil, coolant, brake fluids. Water pump ok. Mechanic also cares for another 944 in the neighborhood said this one was very clean, was very knowlegeble(sp) about many issues discussed here. Brother (83 944) approved mechanic.

[zedsn]

Make sure that you are getting power to the horns when the button is pushed. If so repalce both high and low note horns. I had power to the horns but no horns. Or try to clean the connectors to each horn. They are kinda in the way of water where they are mounted.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

If that car really only has 23k original miles that's pretty unusual. The downside is (as you might expect), having these cars sit is not especially good for them. Rubber deteriorates (engine seals, hoses, etc.) They really need to be driven hard periodically.

My biggest concern would be the fuel hoses that run (on the post-85.5 cars) from the passenger's side inner fenderwell over the exhaust headers to the fuel rail. These are NOTORIOUS for causing engine fires, more so on the turbo cars (they create more heat) but certainly the n/a cars aren't immune from the same fate. Replace those lines immediately. I wouldn't wait (I personally lost a pretty nice 951 to this problem a few years ago). Also I'd consider checking all the vacuum connectors - 944s are pretty notorious for vacuum leaks too when those connectors split or crack. The good news is replacements are relatively inexpensive, or you can just replace all the hard plastic lines and rubber connectors with purosil hoses (very commonly done).