Please Help

porschepilot62 · 12-06-2005, 05:59 PM

Hi Folks,

I'm a newbie when it comes to the 951, but not a newbie with regards to Porsches. I sold my '67 912 last summer, and just recently bought an '87 944 Turbo with 77K miles on it. Bone stock.

I have been picking my brain here, and thought I would ask for some opinions before I started messing around it.

The car I just bought was from Florida, and I just got it a couple of days ago. It's a balmy 5 degrees here in Indiana right now, and I have absolutely no heat in the car. The heater controls sound like they are cycling, but no heat is coming out. In fact, the car itself will not get up to temperature. I drove it 25 miles on the way home tonight, and the temperature guage stayed in the lower 1/8 of the scale. I "bled" the cooling system and pressure fed new coolant. I also pressure tested the system. It looks like it is filled correctly.

Since the car is from Florida, I am thinking the PO removed the thermostat. Would having the thermostat removed keep the car running as cool as it is? Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Thanks alot, Mike in Indiana

Porsche944 · 12-07-2005, 04:55 AM

Sounds like you hit the nail on the head. The 944 series T-Stat is a dual poppet type.

When the coolant is cold, one poppet is closed, and one is open. The open poppet allows coolant to circulate through the block and heater core.

When the coolant reaces the T-Stas set temperature, the first poppet colses, and the second poppet opens. When this happens coolat circulates throuth the block, heater core and radiator.

If the PO removed the T-Stat, the coolant does not recirc through the block properly during warm-up, and during this time of year in your area the engine will never come up to temperature.

When you get a new T-Stat, be sure to get a snap ring. The T-Stat goes in the suction side of the water pump (flange where the lower radiator hose is connected). When you put the snap ring in, make sure to put the open end of the snap ring UP. With the open end up it is a LOT easier to remove the snap ring later.

BTW: Welcome to the world of "wasser pumpers"!

porschepilot62 · 12-07-2005, 02:51 PM

Thanks for the excellent reply, Cliff. I ran over to a shop here in Fort Wayne called Evolution Customs (they do unbelievable work on all Porsches) and I ran into another 944 Turbo owner. What a friendly guy. He concurred on the thermostat theory. It's nice to own a car with a helpful and knowledgable following. I can't say enough good things about the 944 crowd....

Thanks again,

Mike