Rough/ no start condition

[BananaClip]

Hi all,

My 944 (1988, NA 8V) quit on me today. Can anyone help with a diagnosis?

What it's been doing recently:

Gas smell in cabin (I assume it's the charcoal canister, low priority)
Slow to start (not all the time-- sometimes requires significant cranking, sometimes with a foot on the gas)
Runs weakly after starting for up to 20 seconds sometimes

What it did today:

Took even longer to start than usual
Ran very weakly, dying three times after putting it into gear and starting to move. I couldn't give it enough throttle to keep it alive. After the third stall I had to get out and push.

It was raining pretty bad today, and this is the first time I've taken it out in rain that heavy in a long time. Don't see how it could be related but you never know.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[944Toon]

Might or might not be the same thing....

Had a problem with mine whereby longer I left it (days) the harder it was to start, and problem got progressively worse over time. When did start, took a few miles to stop running a bit rough. Initially suspected fuel pressure problems so changed pressure regulator, fuel filter and pump / check valve. All looked a little suspect so glad changed them, but no change with starting problem.

Moved on top spark and did find some issues with plugs and leads so changed them but still no resolution (changed coil at same time). Eventually found that there was no spark on downstream side of distributor cap when cranking (i.e. at king lead position). Changed this and started up straight away and hasn't run better. As matter of course, changed rotor at same time, although I'm sure wasn't root cause.

[BananaClip]

So you just changed your distributor cap? I haven't checked mine in a while so I'll look at that.

[968 GUY]

If you change the cap, may as well do the rotor and plugs.
If you can, check the plugs afteryou attempt to start it. See if plugs are wet.

[BananaClip]

Well I managed to get it running again after things dried up a bit... and the starter promptly died. The starter also happened to be a rebuild I installed last November. (I'll get back to that below)

The cap, rotor, wires, and I believe also plugs are fresh, but during an inspection I noticed a tear in the rubber shielding on a wire, so those are getting replaced in a few days. The distributor was also missing its dust shield and grommet, so those are on the way too.

I got an inductive plug wire tester (the kind that fits over the wires) and tested for spark... got nothing. Not sure if it's just the tool. I pulled the ignition coil and i'm 99% sure it's the original unit. Resistances across primary and secondary coils were out of spec according to clark's garage-- primary was 40 ohms (normal .4-.6) and secondary was 8k (normal 5-7.2k) so I'm replacing THAT too.

Now I know I have a vac leak/ improperly routed vac system (PO had a turbo brake booster check valve... don't have any pics from before the fire to figure out how everything was routed so we went back as close as we could to stock) and that'll be sorted soon too.

What's really worrying me at this point is in the last few days, since I tore down the ignition and put it back, the first few times I turn the key in the morning the starter doesn't even come on, but I can hear the solenoid engage. Then, the first few turns of the motor are really slow or hesitant, and once it gets spinning like it should, it won't start until I give it some gas.

I'll be able to rule out spark and vacuum as possible causes in a few days, but until then, any idea what could be causing that?

cheers

[iplagolf]

The slow start of the starter and then it gets going sounds like a battery to me. How old is it. Have it tested. Sounds like you were in a wet humid condition. How is the quality of your spark? Pull a plug, ground it, have someone turn it over and look at it. Weak or strong? I had a problem a year ago. I was in Northern Louisiana, raining cats and dogs, humid as all get out. Car would crank, pop a couple of times, then nothing. Noided the injectors, cleaned all elec. connections, checked all electrical specs per Clarks, everything dead on. Pulled the plugs they were wet. Found out they were not gapped correctly, Engine would spin, tried to fire up, but the very moist air wet the plugs and the injectors finished them off. Corrected the problem and no problems ever since.