what the #5@& are all of these buttons and switches?

[Frank B]

I have acquired (someone owed me money) a 1985- 1/2 86 (still waiting for the title) 944. This car is a non turbo or S type. car was living under a pine tree for almost a year and was not moved for about a year. the passenger window was broken, in an attempt to steal the radio I'm guessing. Overall the vehicle was dirty but very cool. The drains on the rear spoiler were jammed with pine needles and mud, and theere were weeds growing from all of the body seams.

Well, after having the vehicle flat bedded to my place of employment, I started to wash the car (excavate) of all of the mud and moss and yuk that was covering it. The guys at work were looking at me as though I was wasting my time. After 2 hours of fastidious cleaning I decided that it was clean enough to attempt possibly starting it up.

That's when it got complicated. I couldn'y find the lever to open the hood. After 20 minutes of searching I found it. I filled the coolant tank with anti-freeze and checked the oil. Hmmm.. not much oil in there, probably just leaked out, this happens. Threw in a few quarts, grabbed a jump box and vroom! it started!. Yeah, it was running rough for a few moments, so I jumped in and put it in reverse it moved backwards, then 1st gear, it moved forward.

Alrighty! I drove the car across the parking lot to our detail center. It moved rather nicely across the parking lot, but the steering was really stiff! as I pulled in, our Detail man stopped what he was doing, and walked to where he wanted me to park my new dirty (filthy) Porsche 944, Right next to where he was working.

He asked me "where did this come from?" so I told him. He just looked at me and asked, "have you ever driven one of these before?" I said, "umm, nope....why?" he just laughed a little after I answered him. Well I started to clean out all of the trash from inside of the car, and discovered a pretty coll and sort of classic interior. BUt my god are there alot of buttons (with no indications on them) all over the place. Or detail man quietly watched what I was doing then came over to me with a spray bottle and a clay pad. He said, "Frank, come here for a second" So, i exited the car and walked to where he was (the front of the car) he felt the paint, it looked in good shape to me. he sprayed this red stuff on the hood then rubbed the clay pad on it and, (angels singing) wallah the finish was like glass. He then immediatly and hurriedly took over cleaning the car. I didn't ask him to do it but he just sort of got this crazed look on his face like he had found a treasure chest or something.

Well, I slowly crept away as I watched my car being brought back to life by a very experienced Detail man. He cleared his board for the rest of the day, and continued working on my car for 3 days, he even came in on his day off to just play with it a little.

Well, to say that this car looks new is not saying anything at all, this car looks better than I've ever seen one. Apparently the paint used on these mid '80's German cars is as tough as nails, also hard to find now if you need a repair.

The shop guys who heckled the car, are now looking at it and making me offers, I'm not selling this car, it's very cool and feels nice inside. I'm still waiting for a title, so I can get it inspected and have had the Passenger window replaced ($200.00) The steering stiffness scares me a little but our foreign car tech thinks it just needs fluid and a lubing of the steering rack. Other than that it may just need a tune up.

But! I have no Idea what the buttons and switches are on the center console. THey are not marked, so if anyone can help me please do!!

Thanks, sorry for the long post,
Frank M. Brigandi

[Nabeel]

Change the timing belt right now, sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Other than that, congrats on the car. If it is pre-'86 then it can't be an 'S'. If it has the oval dash and winsheid antenna, then its an 85.5+ Welcome to the board

[Nabeel]

Also, to figure out what all those switches are, you might want to buy an owner's manual. Pelican Parts has 'em (not sure about the price though). They are very informative.

[Trevor]

sounds cool, do you have pictures?

[todwic]

if it's pre '85.5 here's the lay of the center.

1. towards the dash and to left of shifter:Sun roof (which is removable)
2. button closest to the Driverside seatbelt strap:Mirror switch L/R. the in/out/up/down is on the door underneath the door handle support by the window switches.
   The next button to your right I think is for headlight washers (if equiped), next is back wiper(if equiped) and there's prolly a blank in there somewhere. My alarm flasher is occupying one
   
   

   on the dash: left side: headlights. other side of stearing wheel:E flashers. above the radio:foglights.

   Browse this bbs a bit, it's very informative.

   CHANGE THE TIMMING BELT!! IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE BELT DOESN'T BREAK. SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE WILL RESULT!

   These babies hug the road like they're on rails. Magnetic rails. Magnetic rails with Stick-um&reg

[SoCal Driver]

There's a button that will eject the warp core too.

Be careful.

[todwic]

you're always spoiling my fun. at least you didn't tell im about the ejection seat. wait. Demmit Demmit Demmit!

[SoCal Driver]

Just cuz you weren't wearing your parachute.

[todwic]

I hung in the air in exactly the same way that bricks don't. Said hi to angelboy, and then plummeted in exactly the same way that a brick would, only with more screaming.

[SoCal Driver]

Creative Falling.