+1^ Yes re-check every thing that was done when changing out the Alternator.

If the J-boot (Large rubber intake attached to the Throttle Body) was moved or off during the Alt. replacement check that the vacuum connection attached below J-boot for being off or loose connection.

Check and clean the Throttle Position Sensor & connections attached to the Throttle Body.

Pretty soon you will have it all sorted out to go many reliable miles - well with maintenance of course.



150mph on the interstate - when the red and blues start flashing step up to 160mph, they are geared out to only 140mph, so that's a breeze - what do you mean, "They have Radios".

Ok so I'm feeling pretty stupid right now, but, remember I'm just learning. I can see the J boot needs replaced badly, was planning on that this weekend. It never occurred to me that this might be the issue, or that there was a vacuum line underneath it. Hubby did the alternator, and I'm 100 percent he had no clue either. He will be home from work early tomorrow, so we will give it a look. I hear Pelican is the best place to order the replacements...so, here goes another new part. I don't know if I'm excited to be replacing things slowly or worried I need a second job to support my car, lol. I've been reading about everything that's been mentioned here and I'm learning so very much. Unfortunately, the more I read, the more I want to replace things, and I'm wondering if I should second guess nursing school and replace it with Porsche mechanics 101...:P

I have been buying parts from Pelican for many years, and the quality and prices are very hard to beat. Aftermarket parts are sometimes a little less at other places. I was rebuilding a motor and wanted to replace the old used oil pump with a new one. At Pelican the new Oil Pump was a discounted Porsche price of $585.00 (Porsche dealer was $689.00). I searched and searched finally found one for $473.60. This is one of a very few cases I did not buy from Pelican.

Nursing 209 is a third semester mechanics class so you can get to school on time....lol,,,In Med School for the Doctors it is a short class that teaches them to use the Yellow Pages...ROFL

That student seems like a very naughty boy. Can't he get a fail or something?

How could he even have laid eyes on the water-pump, unless he'd removed the cam-cover? And before that, removed the accessory belts etc?

Persevere. These folks will help you. Although maybe a cheap daily drive as a backup is worth considering.

Edit:

I have to amend the above post, I forgot you have an '88 944 (Mine is a 85.5, early model of Gen. II). So all of a sudden I am remembering that on the '88's that vacuum hose hook-up is probably on the outside curve of the J-boot. So Porsche made them both ways.

That connection goes to a wye connection where one side of the wye goes to the Master Brake Cyl, and the other goes to operate fuel systems.

ok..will be looking at it this afternoon. Had to take yet another day off work, it would not start this morning at all (as usual). When we had it started last night, it ran fine, shut it off, it fired right up every time. Let it sit more than 20 minutes, it wont start again. I'm not going to go look at it right now, I'm to irritated. (I can't get anywhere to get parts I may need). So, waiting for hubby to get home. In the meantime, I'm reading a lot, and wondering about the reference sensor...

on a hunch I went out did something weird..I smelled the oil dipstick, and it reeks of gas...this can't be a good sign at all...

Update: no fuel pressure at the rails..

Oh pfooey - One problem after another, sorry to hear...

Well that may be the Fuel Pump (Located in back under close to the fuel tank, and covered by a protective skid plate), Fuel Filter (Just forward of the Fuel Pump), or the DME Fuel Pump Relay. When you turn on the ign. key can you hear the fuel pump (If it is very quiet there and if you listen closely you can slightly hear the pump running (Then Fuel Filter). I think you have already replaced the DME Relay ??

One thing to check first is to see if you have Tach Bounce. Looking closely at the Tachometer turn on the ignition key, if the Tach. bounces slightly (1/16"), then go back to above items...If not back to "Clark's Garage no run list", for sensors.

So it seems the PO (Previous Owner) just ran the can into the ground and then sold it when it started to need maintenance. Usually our 944's do not have this many problems unless someone just drove them very hard and never kept them up...

yes the fuel pump runs, and no, no tach bounce at all, again making me think its the reference sensor...I'm going to rip into it tomorrow and Sunday and see what I come up with. This week has been way too crazy.

Yes this is bad.
The fuel from the injectors while trying to start the car will "wash" the cylinders of oil and end up in the crankcase.

The pistons need this oil to prevent the coating on the piston from being scraped away. This coating prevents damage to the piston skirts and cylinder walls.

Result=scared cylinder walls and unuseable pistons. End result get a new block.

John

I feel your pain! Try not to get too anxious and depressed about it; stay cool; follow the advice given her, troubleshoot methodically from that advice, and buy the parts when you're sure you need them, and not before. (Easier to say than to do, I know!)

There are a number of cautionary threads here where people went on a parts-replacing frenzy, spent a lot of money in a hurry, and still didn't fix their problem. One step at a time, I'd say...