87 944S No start

[thekidd]

I saw a post on Craigslist about a guy selling his 87 944S because it didnt run.1987 porsche 944s I called him and told him that I would be willing to help him work on the car. I just meet up with him and he started the car. It turned over but wouldnt fire. There was a sound like metal hiting/ slaping metal that comes from near the cam cover. I said that I sounds like a broken chain tensioner, but not exactly sure. The car was running fine, then all of a sudden he went out to start the car and got nothing, just that noise. I have never worked on 944S' before, nore have I done an engine timing procedure, if this would be the problem. Any help/comments/questions from you guys would be great.

[mistertate]

Well it's worth a lot less than $3000 now and it sounds like you just gave him some free diagnostic help. That sound is the sound of pistons hitting valves. Either belt or tensioner, either way it's shet now. He's probably lying about "Oh, dude, one day it just wouldn't start?" He either did the belt himself or towed it home from wherever it broke or both.
Parts car

[JivenJim]

Metal sound could be some wrong with Chain as suggested. It's easy to remove the Valve cover with the 16 or so Allen head bolt and plug wires out. May need to pry a bit at the points where the valve cover has small square tabs.
If it was just clicking sound that could of been Cam Lifters that were not energized with Oil. (ie sitting long time)

Neither of these would give the engine a no fire problem.
Check for fuel pressure at rail. Check for spark with a plug tester. Then you could address sensors and such.

Chains do strech over time and thus get looser. Should be replaced about 120K miles.

If the timing belt is still in place I would not suspect bent valves.

Clarks CAM-04 has Cam tension instructions.

[thekidd]

He did take the plug off of the ignition rotor and had his friend see if the belt was there, and spinning while he tried to start- it was. I noticed that the car had 125K, and he did not know when the belts were last done. He said that he has many maintenance records from a renouned person named "Guy" out near L.A. The story behind the car was a lady crashed it into a chain linked fence and didnt drive it for almost 10 years. He bought it about 1.5 yrs ago. and droveit x-cross country L.A. to Philly. We tried to pop the nut on the fuel rail, but stoped because it was bending, not turning. Said he was getting spark. Cam lifters that weremt lubed with oil due to sitting for so long- he has beendriving it for the past 1.5 yrs, dont know as a Daily. He was supposed to call me today to take a little look at it, but never did. Ill keep posted for those who are interested.

[Dantilla]

Take the cam/valve cover off, and tell us what happens when attempting to start it.