Porsche newbie

[Geosangel]

I wanted to say hello. I just bought my first Porsche for a birthday gift to myself. It is a 1988 944 5 speed. It's amazing the mixed reviews I received on it, my boss telling me what a mistake I made, others raving about it being beautiful. I didn't care, I'm in love with the car. I just brought it home today, purchased it from a Porsche mechanic, who replaced the infamous belt that I'm learning about, all brakes, did a tune up, and filled it up with gas for me before I bought it. I paid a whopping 1500 for it, (I thought a really good deal) and was told by one of my students that I basically stole it at that price..I don't know, I'm new to the Porsche scene. As soon as I can get pics, I will post them. The good: it runs and drives great, and my husband likes it as much as I do. The bad: it needs paint, its a rough black, the dash top is loose, the odometer and gas gauge don't work,windshield is cracked, needs a shift boot, and the sunroof does not work. The new windshield is on it's way, and plans are being made to restore it. I have a question, though. There is a button in front of the shifter, and I have no clue what it does. On the button are two circles, one white and one black, with a red light next to it. I'm sure this sounds silly, but, I've tried to look up what it is with no luck. The other question I have is that it seems really loud. I realize it is an older car, and older cars are not very quiet, but, are they all really noisy, or am I just used to newer vehicles being quiet and need to get used to the loudness? That being said, there are no "bad" noises, such as knocks, rattles, grinds, or exhaust, it just seems, well, loud. I have had other older cars (79 Camaro) and it was louder as well, I don't know, maybe it's just me being used to a newer quieter vehicle? Either way, I love my car, and am thrilled to have found this site. Any tips and or advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks, and, Hi!

[Cocacolakidd]

Hello, and welcome to the board here, and welcome Porsche owner. Well you Just got bit by the Porsche Bug, and will be a Porsche nut forever afterwards. Yes it seems like the car you are driving was a steal at the $1500.00 mark. Yes there are always the things that need repairs on our 25 + year old cars.

Check with "SafeLight" auto windshields for the replacement on the windshield. My experience has it they do the most excellent windshield replace/repair. They will come out to your place and replace the windshield there. They will do it for less money than any one else around, and back that up with a life time warranty - Some places want $900.00 ++ to replace a 944 Windshield (It's a Porsche) - I paid $379.00 for mine complete from "Safelight". http://www.safelite.com/?wt.term=safelight%20auto%20glass&wt.campaign=Brand&wt.content=&wt.source=bing&wt.medium=cpc&wt.srch=1&WT.mc_id=B

That button/knob with the black and white circles sounds like an after thought by a previous owner, so it may no longer do any thing. Or maybe it's a seat ejection button so be careful with it, he he. Does not sound like that button is an OEM Porsche button (OEM = Original Equipment Manufacture).

Mufflers/exhaust systems on older cars do get used, loose, worn out, and holy and therefore louder. Your '88 944 can be restored to be like a new quiet sounding automobile. Plus under the carpet in the cab is allot of sound insulation which may be worn out. Replace this and the outside sounds will be quite a bit less here also. Any thing that was built to be a certain way can be restored to almost that same condition.

Shift boot replacement can be a real challenge because they are made of leather, and that leather needs to be stretched over the old shift knob/handle. They are super tight and take awhile to finish them up. It's not very technical, but requires working with the leather. Once you have had the experience you will know. If I could give an experience example without being rude I would compare it to a first born.

There are allot of very experienced owners and mechanics here on this board so when you have questions or need any help with any thing post it here and we can help out.

In the mean time have pfun with your new toy - it will grow on you.

[VirginiaF1]

Originally Posted by Geosangel

It is a 1988 944 5 speed. Thanks, and, Hi!

Welcome fellow '88 5-speeder!
I assume its also an 8-valver and not a 16-valve 944S?

For my first P-car I really appreciate the various updates baked into the '88 model year; including a wee bit higher compression and thereby engine output.

Could that switch be the central locking?

My roof is also kaput, my dash be cracked and my list of updates intended continues to grow..

But as far as smiles per mile, I paid $1700 and she runs quite well..

Be sure to update your avatar & signature line to include your car's vitals: miles, options, etc..

Coming from Honda/Hyundai, I was pretty shocked at how much mechanical noise/feedback our cars relay... But now I LOVE it!
I just pretend I'm on my Qualifying Lap in the 944 Cup Series..

Cheers!

[ernie9944]

Geosangel__ congrats on your purchase & welcome to the insane world of 944s,don't seem to bad for the price but we will need pics to determine exactly what you got yoursef into.If the PO did the belts on it (great) cause it's the first thing to be look at when buying a 944.Just wandering if he did the water pump at the same time & do you have any idea how long the clutch been in there (because it will be a major/time consuming & pocket draining job unless your husband can DIY).Shift boot/Odometer & gas gauge are usually pretty easy to fix ,sunroof & dash will be a little more complicated depending what is wrong with them.If you I will try to fix those things first & drive the car around for a while before you decide painting it which could turn out to be expensive on a 944 depending on the quality.Noisy well it all depend what your talking about,if it's the exhaust the PO migth have install an aftermarket system on it.About the button in front of the shifter take a look at the pic (this is my 968) but your late dash should be very similar to it___from left to rigth_first round button is the fan contol switch__the sliding one are heating & ventilation control-lever/dashboard/floor__second round one is the temp rotary switch __next the toggle (I believe this is the one your talking about is the AC switch & the red toggle is the emergency flasher. May I suggest you go on this site Clark's Garage Home Page & learn all there is to know about your new ride.

[ernie9944]

Other switchs in front of the shifterLeft to rigth Sunroof/Rear wiper/Central locking system/mirrors

[John_AZ]

Originally Posted by Cocacolakidd

Check with "SafeLight" auto windshields for the replacement on the windshield. My experience has it they do the most excellent windshield replace/repair. They will come out to your place and replace the windshield there. They will do it for less money than any one else around, and back that up with a life time warranty - Some places want $900.00 ++ to replace a 944 Windshield (It's a Porsche) - I paid $379.00 for mine complete from "Safelight". Windshield Repair and Auto Glass Replacement - Safelite AutoGlass

I disagree.

The OP already said the windshield is on the way so my remarks will not change her decision.

I used SafeLite for my '98 Cherokee windsheild a couple of years ago. Yes the price is right and I had a good installation tech.

The glass just pits and "stars" too easy. In the first 6 months I had 2 tiny but major stars plus a lot of pits. I will not use SafeLite again.

I am not on a dirt road and mostly city driving.

One of many threads on SafeLite:

Porsche 944 Windshield Replacement

John

[Geosangel]

Thanks! I got lucky, living in Florida, my new windshield is free. (Love my insurance company!) I was reading about the shift boot, so I'm looking forward to that one. I'm getting ready to take pics in the next hour. I stayed up most of the night reading about the car online here and have bookmarked about 20 links, before my hubby had to pull me away from the laptop to get to bed . He is a diy guy, and very mechanically inclined. I've been reading and telling him almost every step of every repair, I'm used to seeing engines (semi trucks lately to include them all from 70's muscle cars all the way up) my current job is teaching students about semi truck engines, lol. This being my car, I want everything done the right way. The water pump was changed not with this last belt change, but the one prior. The button near the shifter looks stock, but does not match anything I've seen yet. I'm wondering if it's "normal" for me to wake up early and look forward to cleaning the interior (it's an unholy mess) or if I'm becoming quickly obsessed! He was supposed to be putting a new floor in our home starting today, and I have plans to persuade him to fix the odometer, and try to look and see if the lines are crossed for the oil sending unit. Its pegged at 5 and the oil light stays on as well. My next question though, is that the red exclamation point also stays on, I know that's indicative of something major, but would it be on due to these wires being crossed? Nothing else seems wrong with the engine, and the oil looks brand new, as well as the filters and belts. Well, I'm off to go take my "before" pics....will be back on to post them soon

[Geosangel]

1st attempt at posting pics...[IMG][/IMG]

parked at my friends house...

[IMG][/IMG]

shows the red button and other stock button I mentioned

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

the engine

[ernie9944]

Haven't much time for a long reply_the toggle swith with the white/black circle is your central locking system.The red ligth is not OE it's a add on, ask the PO what purpose it serve.The shifter save yourself a lot of headach & hassle buy a combo boot/knob available from our host here,will get back to you later on .Take care.
(Available in both brown & black).

[Cocacolakidd]

I used SafeLite for my '98 Cherokee windsheild a couple of years ago. Yes the price is right and I had a good installation tech.

The glass just pits and "stars" too easy. In the first 6 months I had 2 tiny but major stars plus a lot of pits. I will not use SafeLite again.

I am not on a dirt road and mostly city driving.

One of many threads on SafeLite:

That's why "Safelight" has the lifetime Warranty. Even in the complaints that were listed they received a new windshield under warranty, or so they said.

[Sirius Driver]

Shift boot is easy. Good start. Boss is just jealous. You can get that car really cleaned up and desire will take over. Enjoy many miles!

[ernie9944]

[QUOTE=Geosangel;6259195] My next question though, is that the red exclamation point also stays on, I know that's indicative of something major, but would it be on due to these wires being crossed?

The red exclamation point is your central warning ligth, telling you to look at your other gauges such as coolant/low brakes/low oil warning ligths/parking brakes ect ect ,so I do believe it's on because of your oil ligth warning.When you turn your ignition on all your warning like should come on,once the car is running none of them should ligth up.
LOL just in case someone want to make a nasty comment (yes the seat belts warning ligth is on but I didn't feel it was necessary to buckle up with the car sitting in the garage

[Geosangel]

Thanks, that's what I thought as well. I at least got it washed, buffed, and polished today, got a better look at the body, which is in great shape overall despite some body work on the hood, which has made the paint crack, and ultimately made me want a new hood altogether. It has a bad paint job over the original color, which looks to be a pearl black. Why someone would get a 300 dollar paint job over a beautiful black pearl has me steaming. The runs, drapes, and wet sand flat marks, are extremely irritating, considering I could have done better blindfolded with house paint. They dripped paint onto one of the rims, so I'll add rims to my list, and never bothered to paint any door jams, which is how I found the original paint color, not to mention the pearl still shines through where they sanded, never primed and in spots completely missed with the new paint. End rant. I decided on a full color change, Ice white with some pearl, from House of Kolor, offset with black trim. That's as far as I got today, with the exception of checking on my windshield which will be put in next week. Good thing, because dear hubby cracked it again when the wiper slipped from his hand, with a massive bang on the glass For this slip, I was rewarded with a full house new floor install with ceramic tiles of my choice, to be done by him and a promise to treat my car with kid gloves from now on, lol.

[VirginiaF1]

Originally Posted by Geosangel

Thanks, that's what I thought as well.

Red light next to Central locking Switch seems like an aftermarket "alarm L.E.D." saying hey don't try and steal this Porsche..

I think its great that the previous owner installed the round throttle cam ( top of engine where throttle cable attaches to round disc) in lieu of the factory "long throttle pedal" cam... mine makes such a nice difference vs. the stock one.


Did the previous owner say what oil (brand and weight) he has been running in it?

[Geosangel]

yes, Royal Purple 20/50

[VirginiaF1]

Originally Posted by Geosangel

yes, Royal Purple 20/50

Wow.. nice. No corners cut..
With the broken ODOM, did he say what he suspects the current mileage is?

[Geosangel]

Not a clue on that. I wish I had an idea, though.

[VirginiaF1]

Originally Posted by Geosangel

Not a clue on that. I wish I had an idea, though.

Hmmm... yes my ODO is frozen at 225,070 for last 8k miles...
Certainly a Carfax or the like would list certain mileages at milestones ( transfers, emissions, body work).

Like me, you've already stayed up until 4am to post on here.. ha!

Love the 944.. hope all goes well!
mikey

[Geosangel]

Thanks yes, I am still up, though going to bed soon, hubby is starting the new floor in the morning, and I'm the errand girl, lol.

[egil]

Originally Posted by Geosangel

It has a bad paint job over the original color, which looks to be a pearl black. Why someone would get a 300 dollar paint job over a beautiful black pearl has me steaming. The runs, drapes, and wet sand flat marks, are extremely irritating, considering I could have done better blindfolded with house paint.

If you want to do a new paint job right away, then I suggest you take the old windhshield out before painting, and wait to have the new windshield installed until after the car is painted. A "windows out" repaint is always better.

I guess I would also be considering carefully if I really wanted to change the colour. It is a huge job if you want a nice result (think about door openings etc).

Also, more often than not, there are reasons for a previous paint job, so be mentally prepared to fix anything a strip-down of the previous paint might reveal. (Not trying to scare you!)