May have my new '86 944 tomorrow night. Aux Fan Switch issue ?

[Austin87]

I haven't been on here in a few years since I sold my '87 924S. I loved driving that thing and like many said before me, I wish I kept it. Even though it was an automatic it still was a blast to ride.
Now have the opportunity to trade my 93 Mazda Navajo 4x4 with a guy locally who is not using his 1986 944 much anymore, and is looking for a nice 4x4 to ride around The Florida Everglades. Plan is to swap tomorrow evening. We met and shook on this last night.
I am not picky and we both have what eachother want.
The 1 mechanical issue known on the 944 is the drivers side cooling fan stays on continuously. He has been popping the relay out to save the battery now and is not looking to put more $ into having his mechanic correct the problem. So when I got there yesterday I put the relay back in and the fans both came on when the car warmed up, and we took a short drive down the highway and the passenger fan stayed on for a few minutes and they both stayed off. He's like this is how it should work properly and I say maybe he had the relay out of position or it may have needed a wiggle if he is lucky. My inclination is this may need a new Auxilliary Fan Switch and the relay is ok.

This afternoon when he went back to start the 944 the battery was dead and the fan must have come on during the night and day today. (It is a new battery so it was the fan.)

OK with this I know the Clarks Garage Troubleshooting checklist but does anyone here have any thoughts on what I described? I appreciate it..

I did change the Aux Fan Switch on my 924S when I had it and I was able to do it "from the top". I am hoping that if I need to put in a new one on I can also go through the top on this 944 Non Turbo.

Thanks.

[petrolhead611]

Love the colour. Enjoy your new to you car

[dgcantrell]

Changing the fan switch in the radiator can be done from the top as you did on the 924. Removing the air filter box makes it a lot easier. I had to put a new one in mine a couple of months ago for the exact same reason. You should be fine.

[Austin87]

Originally Posted by petrolhead611

Love the colour. Enjoy your new to you car

Thanks. I was not crazy about the colour but it's in pretty good condition esp considering this is South Florida. Owner uses a car cover.

[Austin87]

Originally Posted by dgcantrell

Changing the fan switch in the radiator can be done from the top as you did on the 924. Removing the air filter box makes it a lot easier. I had to put a new one in mine a couple of months ago for the exact same reason. You should be fine.

Ok that's welcome good news. Thanks.

[Austin87]

Bummed. No 944 tonight. Monday I was the passenger for a short ride, and tonight I went back to drive the car and give it more time.
Aside from the aux fan, issue # 1 ; there were some other things I was not happy about.
I took the car up to like 60mph and felt like this car should not be going any faster. # 2 is the steering wheel shakes; in even 2nd gear, up to 5th. The tires are new but off brand China tires. He said he paid $400 for them. This is issue # 3 because it's a Porsche and for another $100 is what I paid for 4 excellent Falkan Ziex mounted balanced & installled at Sears. I don't think it was the tires do ing the shake, even though they are Chinese because they had full tred.
The body is nice. Issue # 4 The seats are shot. The dash is clean, no cracks.
So then I park the car and shut her off.
Issue # 5 : I went to restart it 2 minutes later just to check the radio and sunroof and the car cranks but won't start. The guy used a shot of ether to get it started and it started up each time after this. I do not know what this issue could be but I guess it may be 1 of many possible issues. ( Any ideas? ) The owner says the car has not been used more than 1 x per week and the throttle gets dry, but that doesn't seem normal.
Issue # 6, I know about. Car is still R-12 and not cold now. COmpressor does come on but ac not cold. He says he was getting a recharge once a year & I do know the place he is using for that. They are a top notch Porsche shop. If it last a year andstill R-12 I can live with that for a while.
7 , the sunroof did not tilt or open. Sounded like only 1 gear was trying to move and one was dead.

He was not pushing the car on me at all. He did have his ad up priced at only $3600 but I don't see this condition worth even that much. He told me take another day andthink about it. These are more issues than I wanted to see.

Mainly the lack of hugging the road with the steering wheel shake. I used to drivemy 924S at 80 and it still felt like it wasn't moving more than 35 mph. This 944 I could not imagine doing 70 mph in it the way it handled. And then of course the "ether" to get it going which I haveno idea where to begin troubleshooting.

Any input? My truck is close to immaculate for a '93 but it's not a Porsche.

[Austin87]

bump for any suggestions..

[dgcantrell]

I'd offer him $1500 tops.. most of the problems you mention seem to be fixable but for $3600, that crap should work to start with. Sounds like the thing has a vacuum leak or a torn J-boot. Tire and handling issues could just be bushings issues. Control arm and sway bar bushing can get soft and mushy due to power steering fluid leaks.