944 "Tips" section.....everyone add to this!

[944S Boyeee]

Hey,

I was thinking last nite that we should have a "tips" section. Just a section where we can all tell our lil' silly tips on our cars. Things like stuff we did to fix this and that or tips on stuff we figured out by fiddling with our cars.

Here is my first tip....

I'm sure most of you know this one, but for those who don't - here goes....

I was having some problems with my brake light on the passenger side going out and coming back on, etc, etc. Turns out - there are supposed to be little drain tubes that run from the bottom of the black plastic things directly under where the hatch posts go into. These tubes drain into the holes in the upper portion of the wheel wells. I ended up finding my drain tubes in under the spare tire (they must fall off over time due to hitting bumps, etc). Without these lil' tubes on there - water will drip into the back of the light cluster, causing problems.

So, my tip is to make sure the drain hoses in this area are hooked up, as they look like a part that could easily fall off if not watched.

So, anyone else have some tips???


944S Boyeee

[AFJuvat]

Whenever doing anything electrical, the BROWN wire is ground.

AFJuvat

[wolfrpi]

When looking for a used 924/944 stay away from the 944S

[Z-man]

Originally posted by wolfrpi
When looking for a used 924/944 stay away from the 944S

LOL!
Forget about Spiderman: I can see it now: there's a new superhero in town, and he's called...

W O L F R P I.

His quest: to rid the world of the ill-fated and much dispised 944S!! Tune in each week, as he and his sidekick, Lordgrommit, take on the evils of the 944S... Muhahahah.....

[wolfrpi]

LOL - that's funny stuff Z-man.

[wannaberacer]

1) rtv black+electrical tape can seal most leaks (except for maybe heater hose)
2) when tensioning belts, instead of buying that 50 dollar porsche wrench, go buy those thin washers (3/8 I think) that have a slit in them. Stretch them out using a 17mm socket, a flathead screwdriver and a hammer. And voila!! you can now fit a wrench on the eccentric!!

[lm6y]

944S BOYEE, keep some weed-eater trimmer line handy to clean those tubes out when they get filled with gunk, and don't drain anymore. This works for the drain tubes on the sunroof, and for the ones on the rear hatch.

Another tip: DON"T use compressed air to clean these out, unless you enjoy ripping the interior out to put them back together to stop the leak.

[97XRAY]

Before replacing the hatch seals and sunroof seal with the real thing, try out a window seal strip - specifically, one with a double barrel design. Hey: if it doesn't help, you're out 3 bucks. If it does, you saved a big chunk of change.

[944S Boyeee]

Good one Im6y - I was gonna use an old coat hanger. I'm guessing this would have been too heavy, no? Perhaps the coat hanger wire would have pushed the tubes off or something. Never would have thought of weed wacker wire, thanks.

944S Boyeee

[Z-man]

A couple of tips:

1. Don't lift mid-turn. Ever. And: while on the track, don't follow too close behind someone who lifts mid-turn. Never, ever.

2. While you can install a fire extinguisher mounting unit infront of the passenger's seat without taking out the seat, it takes about 2 hours LONGER than just removing the seat.

3. Make sure you use enough of that black caulk when replacing your rear tail light lenses.

4. There are two drain plugs in the wells on either side of that hatch area and they have a rubber stopper that provides an excellent water tight seal. (See #3)

5. Without removing the rubber stoppers, the rear wells will accumulate about 1 gallon of water after a good day's rain storm.
(See #4)

6. Do not remove the rubber stoppers from the rear wells if:
a. You replaced your taillight lenses without using enough caulk.
b. It's rained for a good two days.
c. You are at an autocross event and people notice your car is peeing on the grid. (See #3-6)

7. A leather office chair will not fit in the hatchback.

8. Do not let your Trans-Am-driving-Muscle-car-friend (who loves to dump the clutch and do burnouts) drive your car.

9. Dumping the clutch and spinning the wheels to redline (and holding it there) is not good for your CV joints. (See #8)

That's it for now...
-Zoltan.

[AFJuvat]

1. Don't rinse your engine off with a garden hose, unless you don't mind not being able to drive it for a day or so while everything dries out.

2. Popping noises when going over bumps usually indicate ball joints that are failing

3. Ball joint failure causes all sorts of expensive secondary damage (see #2)

4. Don't teach someone how to drive a stick in a Porsche

5. Birds will fly miles out of their way to crap on a freshly cleaned and waxed 944

6. If while examining your car, your mechanics eyes light up, prepare to spend lots of money.

7. 2 or 3 major maintenance jobs on a 944 can send your mechanics children to college for at least 2 semesters.

8. You can sit an 8 foot ladder in a 944 if you are prepared to drive with the hatch up.

AFJuvat

[Bob's944]

I've cleaned the engine in my 944 with degreaser and a hose at least a half a dozen times in the 4 years I've had the car with no problems starting or running it afterwards. The only component I have covered is the distributor cap, which I cover well with plastic wrap. I always make sure the engine is warm before applying the degreaser, but not hot. Doing this ensures that the engine will heat up quickly when finished to quicken the evaporation time, and a hot engine sprayed with cold water can possibly cause some metal to crack, definately not something you would want to happen. Typically I will spray the degreaser throughout the engine compartment, then use an old paintbrush to scrub around the problems areas, and then flush well with water. After the engine is cleaned off, I immediately start it and let it run until all the water has evaporated away. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've never had a problem doing it that way.

[AFJuvat]

You are indeed one of the lucky ones. a few others and I have all had problems after degreasing. Then again, I did mine on a cold engine too..

AFJuvat

[wolfrpi]

More tips on 924/944 ownership...

1) Don't spend too much time or money maintaining or upgrading your 924/944 as it will never be a real Porsche

a) no matter what you do to your 924/944 it will always be known as an AUDI by real Porsche people.

b) I don't care if your car laps new 996 twin turbos on the Nurenburg - it doesn't matter - its not a real Porsche and don't ever forget it.

2) Don't get too close to real Porsches as they are like porcupines, only the prick is on the inside.

3) Take pride in the fact that, thanks to real Porsche people, it is a fact through the Automobile universe that your car is actually an AUDI.

a) Meaning that even ricers with 1.5L Honda Civics will make sure the opposite sex is informed of the low status of your ride.

4) Don't ever forget that you drive an inferior Porsche (an AUDI actually).

a) If you happen to get into a diplay of speed with a real Porsche make sure and let the real Porsche advance over you. Similar to Ferrari's F1 strategy you must at all times be conscious of the fact that you are not the winner or the star - the real Porsches are and should be viewed by the public as such.

5) And number 1 tip for the 924/944 owner...

Don't join the PCA (Porcupine Club of America).

a) You have neither the dirty money nor the flakey contacts available to you as do real Porsche owners.

No matter how hard you try you'll never fit in.

[AFJuvat]

Well hell, I guess I'll just toss the 44 and the 68 into the trash then.

Does a 914 qualify, or do I have to throw that away too?

heheh

(visions of a 944 stuffed in a dumpster while a disgruntled owner stalks away muttering *&%#$ AUDI! under his breath)

AFJuvat

[944S Boyeee]

I hope Wolfrpi is totally joking.

He must be - cause Ricers are not that informed about cars.


944S Boyeee

P.S. - I have dirty money and flakey contacts - does that mean I can join PCA now? (to late, already did it!!)

[wolfrpi]

Of course I'm joking...I own a 911 but that doesn't make me a porcupine (although some former gfs may believe differently). The 944s are great and underappreciated (undervalued) cars. Project lo-cash 951 is my favorite so far. Too bad a lot of the real Porsche guys don't quite get it...that was the point I was trying to make albeit a little sarcasticly...

[snappy]

porb. the best tips I have would be:

1. Make sure your car runs great before you spend money on making it look great. a brand new looking 944 will not do you any good if you have to tow it behind the wife's miata cause the engin dont run.

2. If you plan on spending (50% of the purchase) or more on a car for added extras. then you have to realize that would have to drive it twice as long just to get your money back, cause selling it wont.

3. Spend the extra money on good lubricats.. Mobil 1 (it does pay of)

4. Service your car or get it serviced regularly.. (Remeber your timing belt, water pump and pullys. premtive maintenance is king)

5. IF IT AINT BROKEN - DONT FIX IT (but see point 4 above)

6. Get as many quotes as you can before you send your car in.

7. When you get it back. ask for the replaced Parts.(you will be supprized how the ** you)

8. Tech. forums is your friend. Ask questions, play dumb. (I would rather look dumb. on a tech forum like this. Then look $2000 dummer infront of the Girl Friend)

9. Baby needs new Shoes. (check - recheck-upgrade brakes and tires, afterall it's what keeps us mear mortles on the ground)

10. Test your wiper blades. You dont want to be stuck 60 miles from home cause you forgot to test your blades last summer.

11. When you working on any electric's remove the ground (brown) wire from the battery. (ps. remember to reset your clock)

12. Check for oil leaks under your car as you approche it whenever you can. (you dont have to bend down and look uneder it, but it saved me $4000 on a blown engin. The oil sump drain plug fell out.)

13. Look at your guages in the car. I know they are not all that acurate but it will show you if you had a burst warter pipe and the car is heating up.

14. Listern to your car once a week.(i have a really big audio system in my 944 and I would not even hear it if my wheel fell off. so once a week i drive to work with the radio off), You know the sound of your car better than anyone out there. You would be supprized to see that you would be able to hear a fault long before it happnes.

15. Dont drive your car like you just stole it. Cops might think the same thing. and you know what would happen if you live in LA

well enough for now.. that was prob. my 4 cents.. till later

[eligunn]

whenever you are doing some adjusting to the speed and reference sensor bracket , cover that damn inspection hole on the bellhousing! And as soon as you drop your allen wrench down inside there and realize your going to have to take your tranny out again and take everything apart, go smoke a joint first and the job will go much faster than it did the first time you took everything apart.

[turtle944]

Here's a few tips:

1.) Before deciding to replace your motor mounts due to vibration, make sure that the mount to crossmemeber nut is still there and hasn't fallen off (makes a world of difference!).

2.) PB Blaster is the GREATEST thing in the world.

3.) Patience is more important then getting your car back on the road quickly.

4.) The pilot bearing doesn't actually come out with the bolt and vice grips trick. Need the puller (unless its been out before).

5.) All your other car's repairs will seem cheap ($280 parts and labor to change a civic's water pump? AWESOME!!!!).

6.) No matter how much you think your car will be "done" someday, it never is.

Brian