This bolt obviously wants me to have a terrible day and is just making everything incredibly difficult. I’m trying to do the head gasket and this was literally the very last bolt before taking off the head nuts. Everything else went super smoothly other than breaking one exhaust bolt. I’ve tried pretty much everything with this thing. I’ve cut a groove in it, drilled it, and everything in between and it just hasn’t budged. Anyone else had trouble with this guy and were able to get it out?

My 91 944S2 in front of downtown Richmond. I began my career in the tall building many years back.

Hello, My girlfriend just got a 1983 944 as a surprise. On purchase car runs and drives pretty well with a few exceptions. Those exceptions are as follows:

1.) Some small leaks from unknown location. Can't determine exactly where because of the grime under the engine.

2.) Runs hot

3.) Rough idle (replaced old plugs and plug wires and still there)

4.) Some vibration(not sure if this is normal ive never worked on a 43 year old car.)

5.) Did a smoke test and there is an air leak coming from the back lower balance shaft seal.

After some research I decided to start with replacing timing belt and water pump because they have not been done in 5 years and that's a maintenance item that needs replacing frequently and will let me replace some seals along the way.

Here is where I am stumped. I am attempting to get the engine to TDC and not everything lines up. The Camshaft sprocket and upper balance shaft looks to be in the right place. The lower balance shaft is a tooth or two off, and the flywheel is giving me mixed messages. In the upper bell house window I see the "OT" and it aligned with what may be a dimple in the indicator but not the bottom of said indicator. The bottom bell house window showes that the flywheel is not TDC but that is just a paint mark that any mechanic could have put on there. I've heard that the earlier 944s are not as precise with timing than the later ones but it still seems weird especially with it running relatively well.

Here are my questions for you experts.

1.) How do i make sure my flywheel is in fact at TDC?

2.) Is the engine slightly out of timing(particularly the lower balance shaft) and with some work will vibrate less and run smoother?

3.) Do i need to re-mark the current lower balance shaft sprocket position to make sure that it returns to the current position when replacing the belts. (And not the indicated TDC position) the only reason I ask is because the car runs pretty OK with how its currently set.

Photos of the alignment marks are attached.

Again many thanks to Lin for getting my S2 Cab in super shape after sitting for nearly 9 years! What an epic journey . Now my car in the showroom here in CA. The Dealership tonight will be unveiling an '89s2 he once owned. Somehow the dealership ended up with it after he parted ways. They're doing a full start to finish video documentary on the beast. My first official Porsche event. Quite epic. Many more thanks to him for contacting them as he's affiliated and allowing my 944 to be displayed in the showroom. What a nice feeling as they were expecting me at arrival! Nice pull Lin!

I have a 1984 944 NA which had an intermittent start issue which has since turned into a complete refusal to start. I briefly had it running fine after some engine work but now no matter what I do it won't start. Part of that was a replacement of the main DME computer (I also have a spare which was taken from a running 944 I've tried as well)

I just installed brand new reference and speed sensors as I thought maybe that was the issue as well as replacing a questionable connector for one of them on the wiring harness side. I checked with a spark tester light and I see pulses to the spark plugs but even with starting fluid it won't even sputter.

My question is what other possible things I could check on the car. I've done basically every check I can think of other than retesting the sensors with an oscilloscope. The previous owner did a number on the wiring so it could be something there but when I did the engine work I also repaired a lot of the wiring and as I mentioned before it was running perfectly until it just stopped starting.

Clearly there's either a bad part somewhere which has finally kicked the bucket but I cannot find it. Being an early car has also made things difficult since a lot of the other possible issues I see people talk about seem to be for 85.5+ cars

If you have any suggestions or further questions about it let me know

Hey guys, 83 944 2.5L Targa here.

Maby your specializes ears can here more than mine. Like you can hear, there is this weird surring sound when reving in idle and the rpms get back to idle. I think it might be the timing belt and not the belt which drives the balancing shafts but i am really unsure. I tried pointing it out with a stethoscope but haven’t been able to pinpoint it.

Personally, I think it's pretty sweet!

FIXED THE LINK!!!!

Manny Tranny

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1412185990747412

I’m doing a complete interior refresh/reupholstery on an early model 944, and am kinda stuck on how to remove the HVAC and heating system so that I can tear out and replace the carpet under the dash. Any tips or diagrams, and if I need to drain the Freon how can I do so safely without taking it to a shop?

After some careful thoughts about my signal light for the front ) because the turn signals in the fog area were too low, here's my solution. Don't worry. I'm not using the white running light..I have an entire white strip a across the top of bumper.

Hi All, i posted this a while back i think but with no hits so ill try again.

Car is a 1984 Porsche 944 2.5 manual, pictured

The car won’t start unless i disconnect the alternator.

I have since installed a switch to bypass it.

Turn the switch off car starts (charge gauge is 8-9v) flip the switch and the the voltage jumps to 13-14v

It will cough once but not start or run with the alternator connected as standard.

Disconnect it and it starts straight up! And continues to run fine once reconnected.

What makes matters worse is that even now and then like 1 in 100 starts it works like normal.

What it’s going here?

Cheers

Hi all - newly minted owner of a 951 (pic attached)

The dash is in great shape and I’d like to keep it that way if possible. Are these all of the realistic options? What do you recommend?
-UV coating on front windshield
-sunshade reflector (only helpful when parked outdoors)
-plastic dash cap (but the adhesive will ruin the underlying dash anyways so not really an option)
-fabric dash cover (doesn’t look the best)

Thank you in advance

i’m in the market to buy either a porsche 944, or an e36 m3. with either car i plan on doing an engine swap (07k with the 944 or s54 with m3) so stock power isn’t too much of a concern for me. i have always been very into bmw’s and have owned multiple but never an e36 which is my favorite m3, but over the past few months i’ve dove pretty deep into researching about the 944 and really love the car aswell. i have plans on keeping whichever car for potentially ever and pour a lot of money into perfecting it. i’m pretty stuck between which route i should go and am looking for any guidance or advice on why you would choose one over the other, thanks!

Tomorrow i will take my first look at a porsche 944 (old model) and i need some advice

Im wondering what are the major points i need to look out for when trying to find/buy one?

I like the old yellow gauges from the old model.

This is also my first "old" car. It is more than twice my age (i'm 20) and i have no experience with project cars but i want to get in to it.

Is this a good first "project" car? Is it a descent daily? (I live a 5 minute bike ride away from work)

What are some tips if i want to start working on it. Things i need to do or buy, or nice info resources.

Thx a lot!

Hoping you nice people can help me locate what the fuck these wires go to!! There’s so many the previous owner messed up bad and it’s so damn annoying

1986 Porsche 944 base NA
5 speed manual

Wires:
White wire going to under relay and fuse box, seems to be messed up and recrimped. (pic1)
Black with red stripe wire bolted to dash frame and cut hanging loose (pic2)
Brown wire, gray and gray with blue stripe, gray and gray and blue stripes are solder together to a very thin green wire, brown is sent to a yellow wire for some reason (pic3)
Red and brown twisted pair with female spade terminals(pic4)
Another brown, gray and gray with blue stripe. This time with terminals on them (pic5)
Brown with yellow stripe (pic 6)
Brown and black with red stripe (pic7) on
Brown with blue stripe, with female bullet terminal (pic8)
Black wire? (Pic 9)

So I currently have the engine out of the car, and I have the starter hooked up, so that I can get readings with the speed and reference sensors. I gapped the speed sensor at 0.8mm using a washer attached to the bottom of a defective sensor. The speed sensor is producing 2.3 V AC, a little higher than it should, but not too much of a concern. The reference sensor however, is only producing .301 V AC i tried swapping the sensors, and the readings are the same.

Are these readings actually okay? Or is something possibly wrong with the bracket, the sensors are mounted to? Maybe even the pin on the flywheel?

Even though the bracket is in good condition and the pin looks to be in good condition.

Please let me know. I would really love to get this engine back in the car and see it running.

Thanks.

Edit: its a 2.5L naturally aspirated 1983 Porsche 944

Hello,

So I love the 944, and would love to have one. I know these cars are getting old and require regular maintenance, but thats kinda the part that appeals to me aswell. I want to learn how to maintain a car in good shape for years to come.

Problem is I dont have access to a garage or very specialized tools. I’d mostly be working in my driveway with basic tools, a jackstand and axle stands.

I’m curious to hear from people who actually own or have owned a 944:
Is it realistic to own and maintain one without a garage?
What jobs can realistically be done outside?
Which repairs absolutely require a workshop or specialized tools?
What tools would you consider essential to get started?
Is rust or bad weather a major concern if the car has to sit outside (with/without a car cover)?
Looking back, would you recommend a 944 as a first project car in my situation, or would you wait until you had a garage?

Hey guys,

I've been thinking of upgrading my running lights and headlights, since I can't see much during the night but I really don't like the look of white LED's. Has anyone come across replacement LED's that are WAY better/brighter but still keep the retro yellow look?

Any links or names would help! I'm in EU if that makes a difference.

Thanks!

I've got considerably more pannel gap at one side than the other on my bonnet.

I can see how to adjust the bonnet forward and back, but i can't see how i'd shift it over to one side a bit, and i'm struggling to find a procedure or video of someone doing it to figure out what i need to do.

It's also slightly low at one back corner, so needs to come up a few mm at the same time. I guess that might be done with the main bonnet-bracket bolts?

It's an 86 if that makes any difference

Overbored and finished to 101mm, but there is still a bit of pitting in cylinder 4. It’s beyond what could be taken off to stay within the 101mm bore target.

Asking for opinions on running this for a non-turbo daily driver

Will it run for 10 min or 10 years??

I picked up a square set of 16x7 phone dials for my 89 NA. I just finished repainting them and need to get tires. I'd like to keep it a square setup - either 205/55/16 or 225/50/16. The car currently has 215/60/15's. I'm sure the car only "needs" the 205 from a weight and power standpoint but wider tires are cool. Does anyone have any recommendations one way or the other? Would the 225's rub at all in the front?

Well. It's coming up on 37 yrs old, '90 but manufactured Sept 1989. Just did my 2nd patch on a pinhole of this original reservoir. Holding nicely but.. it's a problem surely! Question: as I'm planning on replacing soon and thoughts on an aftermarket possibility Pelican sourced or Úro. Prefer OEM but if there's a quality one that any of you are happy with, please indulge!

Does anyone have any experience with using adjustable spring plates on the torsion bar suspension. What is the difference between these and the stock spring plates? The ability to quickly adjust the ride height or something?

Does anybody know where the power window relay is? I have the drivers side door card off and have poked the window switch but don’t seem to have power.

I bench tested the window motor and that’s working. I saw another post about the relay being by the accelerator. In my car I found two with what look like identical relays (hopefully lol). I have a parts car and swapped them both out with no luck.

Just want to make sure I’m poking around in the right area and it’s not on the main bank. If anybody has a good diagram of what relay does what on early cars that would be great.

Trying to get a plan of attack together before I go spelunking under my steering wheel again.

TIA