Just got my first Porsche 944, I have questions?

Some1else · 08-19-2003, 07:08 PM

First Hello, and I hope everyone is doing well.

Now, having never owned anything like this Porsche, I really want to make sure to do things right! So I thought I would ask you folks. Seems like you know more then most manuals. The car is a 1983 944, and only has 53K miles on it. Everything seems to be in good working order. There is the small stuff that needs fixed, such as the e-brake cable, and the plug for the head light motor is melted but is easy fix. There is already a new HL motor installed.

My biggest concern is that every so often the clutch goes flat. As in it just drops to the floor. Simply lifting it back up fixes it, but it can be very disconcerting when it happens at the “wrong” time. I have two guesses here, first is the master cylinder needs honed out, or there is air in the line. Any ideas here would really help save some time. The next question I have is. Sometime when down shifting into 2nd gear, it jumps out of gear. I’m starting to think it may just be my failure to match RPM’s, and I just need more practice. But I would like to make sure it is not a major problem.

Other then that, my only other question (for now) is, what do you folks recommend for tires? Right now the car has missed match tires (215 front and rear). I have read that I can run 255’s on the 944, but would really like to here what you folks have to say for the best set up for simply enjoying this car on the street.

This winter, it will get a new timing belt, water pump (the 86 retro kit), bushings, shocks and struts, and anything I might find along the way.

Thanks for any help!

thamlin000 · thamlin000's Garage

Nice Fuchs. They look like they were refinished recently. The whole car looks to be well maintained. It's good to see some early 944s that have been kept up.

Do you have any records? If not, change that t-belt.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Very nice! You're clutch problem is the slave cylinder, replace both the master and slave at the same time, this repair takes around three hours the first time. learn to embrace "Clark's Garage" Clark has replaced almost evrything and has documented all of it in great detail. Buy your new master and slave cylinder from Pelican, support the forum.

http://www.clarks-garage.com/

MrPants · 08-19-2003, 10:05 PM

the clutch problem is what scott r says. i got a master and slave for around $80 from pelican i think
if you arent possitive when the belts were done last, have them changed. not doing so could cause bent valves. if your mileage is accurate youre do for new ones anyhow
what do you mean by the plug for the headlight motor?

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Change the timing belt now don't even wait for winter.

The loose shifting is either the pin sticking out the side of the shifter is worn (it's under the leather then the rubber boot). Or the linkage at the back over the top of the trans is loose. Or both.

Tires are supposed to be the same size on both ends.

VT944 · 08-19-2003, 10:32 PM

Welcome to the forum!

Good advice above. Also note, If you find the shift linkage at the transmission is the reason for the slop (usually a combination of both linkage and bad shifter pin) and you do not have safety wire holes in your bolt holes, at LEAST use red locktite after you adjust the linkage. This will help keep the linkage from loosening in the future.

Good Luck, and nice 944!

Gordon Rankin · 08-20-2003, 12:32 AM

Welcome to our BBS..Just to let you in on our secret, nobody here really owns a Porsche. We all just WANT a Porsche and pretend to make up these elaborate stories on how we think a car could be fixed. So, if you can add some neat made up stories, you can stick around, Jusy dont tell anyone else. BTW, thats a pretty nice looking pretend car you have..

ronin · 08-20-2003, 12:45 AM

I'm going to pretend I didn't read that

Paul Glasson · Paul Glasson's Garage

Nice condition. This is the first 944 in Pewter that I have seen on the Forum. It is pewter is it not. My pretend 84,944 is the same colour and that is what it is listed in the original purchase details and log book. I also had the same problem with my clutch soon after purchase and shat myself, but fortunately it was only the clutch slave cylinder leaking. I could not make out Fuchs in the picture, but someone on the forum said I had cookie cutters which apparently are similar.

MrPants · 08-20-2003, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gordon Rankin
Welcome to our BBS..Just to let you in on our secret, nobody here really owns a Porsche. We all just WANT a Porsche and pretend to make up these elaborate stories on how we think a car could be fixed. So, if you can add some neat made up stories, you can stick around, Jusy dont tell anyone else. BTW, thats a pretty nice looking pretend car you have..

???????

88_944 · 88_944's Garage

Quote:

My biggest concern is that every so often the clutch goes flat. As in it just drops to the floor.

What I would do first is check and see if your master cylinder or slave cylinder are leaking oil. I would only change it "if" it's leaking from the bad seals. One of them are sucking air in the lines. Bleeding the clutch is a *****!!

divezic · divezic's Garage

I do believe that

1-Gordon is making a sarcastic jibe at the 911 community and their bad attitudes toward our superior cars, or

2-His better-half is pissed that he is stroking the 944 more than her so she signed on as him and left a blasphemous piece of hate for him to be blamed, or

3-He's out of his mind and needs to be flogged.

Oh by the way, beautiful 944. You won't be disappointed. Only bad point to owning a 944 is that they have some maintenance quirks. The good thing (besides everything else about the car) is that these quirks are well documented, especially by people on this BBS, and they are avoidable with proper maintenance (timing belt break). Those not preventable, like the clutch master/slave cylinder, are usually easily fixed.

Another good reference for the new 944 owner is:
http://www.connact.com/~kgross/FAQ/944faq.html

Welcome!

divezic · divezic's Garage

I recommend you change both master and slave clutch cylinder now. One of then is bad and the other will go within 6 months. Do 'em both now and you only have to bleed the clutch once. Bleeding is made easy by either the Mity-Vac brake bleeder or the prssure brake bleeder advertised in Excellence and Panorama.

gearhead290 · 08-20-2003, 11:14 AM

Welcome. And thanks Gordon and Dave, I needed a good laugh.

Some1else · 08-20-2003, 03:03 PM

WOW!

Many thanks for all the replies!

To answer a few of the questions raised, sadly there are no repair records on this car. I knew that going in, and expect to replace most of the standard maintenance items this winter. As for the color, the paint code sticker is gone, so I have no idea what the “official” color is. The rims are “Fuchs” and are in very good shape, perhaps they were redone, I don’t know. However the previous owner took the lugs off with a standard wrench and they will have to be refinished.

Today I found out that the previous owner replaced the slave cylinder on the clutch, but not the master. This weekend I will pull the master and see what kind of condition it’s in. If it’s okay, I’m going to just bleed the system, and see how it acts. The timing belt will happen the following weekend, along with a new water pump.

If there is anything else you folks think I should do before she gets “docked” for the winter, please let me know! Thanks. By the way, I am lucky enough to be able to store her at work inside.

Ohh, the tires, some one mentioned the size should be the same, and it is. My problem is that I have Cooper touring SLE’s on the front, and Douglas GT-H’s on the rear. I was just wondering what brand and type you folks prefer on the 944?

Thanks again! And here’s a pic of the rims, and engine bay.

S1E

P.S. Worry not, all parts will be bought right here!

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

If you take off the master for the clutch then just replace it.

That blue hose that is in the engine picture feeds brake fluid to the clutch system. If the level in the brake fluid reserviour is low then the clutch system will draw air into it. Looking at how low the level is this is possibly what has happend.

So no records. Change the timing belt now!

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

P.S. You also need to get and install the rubber cover for the head light motor. Nothing like a bit of water to corrode it tight.

thamlin000 · thamlin000's Garage

Yokohama AVS ES100 are a highly rated tire that fits the 944. Are your wheels 8" wide in the rear? If they are 7" all-around you can go either 215/60 or 225/50. Be warned, 50 series tires on a 15 inch wheel looks a bit goofy. $79 per tire at tirerack.com and they are higher rated than tires 2x as much.

I'm getting mine pretty soon.

Some1else · 08-20-2003, 05:33 PM

Once again, thanks for the replies!

Well SoCal Driver, I do have the Head light motor cover, but leave it off for now because the plug is borked. Thanks though! See pic below! Also I do keep her out of the rain as much a possible. She may not be a high dollar car, but to me she is better then sliced bread!

Thanks thamlin000, I’ll check into those tires when the snow melts!

S1E

dj_yen · 08-20-2003, 07:03 PM

a little late in this thread but welcome to the forum even though i can't say i've been here that long either
your new '44 looks GOrgeOus... besides fixing the clutch problem and the schedule maitenance you mentioned, do you plan on modding the car or just keep stock?