Need mechanic for 944S 16 valve in Los Angeles

[mhariush]

Hi
My car wont start! Been trying to figure this out on the forums for a bit but no go. Need to find a mechanic that knows the 16valve engine and the S that can help look at this. Suspect something electrical/electronic.

The car is in my garage in west Hollywood. If you're a traveling mechanic that would be the best.

Need to get this car in running condition as soon as possible.

Thanks!

[944 Ecology]

Good Porsche 944 mechanics don't travel. Ask the local PCA club officers for a recommendation.


Ask to see the factory timing belt tension tool and the factory service manual before you turn your car over to them, otherwise, find another place.

[mhariush]

I dont belive theres anything wrong with it that a good mechanic who's familiar with these cars can't do on location, that's why i prefer a traveler. I'd have to get it out of my tight parking spot, up and out of the garage and that's slightly difficult. But if worst comes to worse I'd have to tow it to a shop.

Any good 944 shop recommendations in LA would be much appreciated too.

[Dantilla]

Have you tried swapping in a new DME/fuel pump relay?

Common failure mode. I keep a spare in the glove box.

[mhariush]

Thanks, but yeah swapped the DME relay

also:

swapped DME computer
swapped ICU (Ignition Control Unit by the headlights aka Final Stage something)
Full compression on all cylinders
Coil works
Fuel pump works

and lots of other things swapped and checked.

[mhariush]

Hi
Haven't tried starter fluid but it doesn't have spark, the coil works though. There's no bounce on the tach but the speed sensor works and is new.
I've checked the grounds all seems good. Changed the ignition switch with a working one, no change.
Timing is dead on, and it did ran for a day, but stopped after a car wash (could be unrelated), and the starter was stuck engaged. After that it didn't start.
FPR? The injectors are brand new.

[Harriet03]

I went over lot's of things that didn't need to be done because I skipped the very basics.

[Dan Himan]

What about the Ignition Module, driverside by the head light, mine went on some years a go, and gave a no spark. part number 944-602-706 01. Also if your hall switch is bad or has a bad wire, it might not get the fire signal.

[mhariush]

Yeah that's the ICU I mnetioned, sometimes referred to. As final stage. I tried a new unit but didn't make any difference.

[Dan Himan]

Crazy it stopped working after a car wash. Almost sounds like a short.

[mhariush]

Yeah, there could have been a short. There was foam under the hood around the fuse box (but not in it) and in the battery compartment. I'm really scratching my head on this one. And there's no bounce on the tach, but the sensor itself works. But only appear to see speed signal not ref signal on an oscilioscope.

a good and trustworthy 944 mechanic shop or mechanic that can come and look is appreciated.

[mhariush]

I ended up towing it to a shop, G-Man Automotive in Culver City. He diagnosed it and got it running.

The Ignition Module was dead. So thanks Dan Himan for suggesting it. I had tried with a new module but never heat sinked it to the fender so it didnt get grounded and thus didnt work.

Also he said the white relay (i only spoke to him on the phone so not sure which relay he refers to) was also dead.

So now the car runs! Lesson learned, always pull and install Ignition Module with heat sink even if the old one might still be good (which it wasn't in this case).