Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Hi,

I've just bought a Manual 1990 944S2 Cabriolet. It's done 102,000 miles. I've done about 500 miles since I bought it and its developed a couple of issues in the last couple of hundred miles.

1. Car usually makes a noise when you take your foot off the clutch after changing gear. Best described as a single clicking noise.
2. Car tends to lurch when you take your foot off the accelerator (or put it back on) when in gear, and gear lever also moves.

I can get all the gears in without any problems. Also, there's no slip from the clutch.

Looking for some advice from anyone who's experienced this before and whether or not this is likely to be an early "birthday" for the car or a normal "feature" of when this model gets to this age. As it didn't do this when I first got it, I suspect it's something to worry about....

Cheers,
Bryan

Firstly I'd stick your head under the back of the car & check the driveshaft bolts are tight & the gearbox mount loosk ok.

I get that lurch when changing from decelerating / accelerating. I was told it might be clutch / driveshaft wear.

Do you know if it's a sign of impending doom or something that can be left alone?

Cheers,
Bryan

I have a very similar issue with my S2 - 'lurching' between gear changes and acceleration on/off. This is mostly noticable when doing the kind of start/stop city driving, where moving at relatively low revs is required (2-3k revs). When you are able to open her up, meaning gear changes occur above 4k revs or more, the 'lurching' is less noticable, if not there at all! I always thought it was that a car like this, of such age, likes to be moving and changing through gears at a fair pace ...and dont get me wrong, I'm happy with that!

I don't think I have any 'clicking' noises when letting off the clutch. There is a very slight rotational noise (very slight) when depressing the clutch, but thats all.

Unfortunately, I have no record of a clutch job on my car, so I may well be on the original one (at 120k - it is possible).

I had the motor mounts replaced last year, partly because they were worn, but also in the hope it would help this...but no difference I'm afraid.

Basically, I would be very interested to hear if you have any joy with this, and anything you learn along the way (visa-versa ofcourse too).

Essentially, if I need to replace the clutch, thats fine! What I don't want to do is replace the clutch, and then find that doesn't resolve this issue and I'm £ 1k worse off I'm sure you feel the same way.

Yip, your lurching symptoms are exactly the same as mine. The solution seems to be opening her up. I'm also happy with that!

I've got a bit in my budget to do the clutch as I paid less for the car than I expected. If it's necessary, then so be it, but you're right, I don't want to do it if it's not needed.

I've got it booked into Peter Chambers in Tewkesbury http://www.pcaltd.co.uk/ who's going to do a few other bits and pieces, plus take a look at these issues. It's not going in until next week, so I probably won't get an update on here until late next week.

Cheers,
Bryan

I've been told it's nothing to worry about until the clutch gives up altogether, or I feel like replacing driveshafts for fun.

However, bertelli_1's mentions of bolts and mounts concerns me.

This has kind of been my thought process all along too - wait until the reeeeeally expensive thing actually goes, and replace it as and when. I like this approach, in many ways - if it ain't broke, don't fix etc etc

However, given I would really like to rack up a few miles this year, with some good long trips away, it would be one hell of a shame if it died when you were miles away from home. Thats the only thing that concerns me anyway...

Having had a look through the USA forums, came accross this one:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche- ... valve.html

At one point, a chap describes doing this to try and investigate possible signs of clutch dying:

1. Find a nice empty stretch of highway. Accelerate gently to about 40mph. Keep the car in 4th gear. Now just lift off the gas pedal and let the car slow down a little. Next, floor the throttle. (Don't release the clutch throughout this process). If you hear clunking and experience that jerking motion (driveline backlash) then it is your clutch that is toast.

2. Raise the car up on jackstands or on a lift. In the forward section of the differential located between the rear wheels, you will see a rubber square about 3" x 4". Pry this off with a screwdriver. Put your hand up into the diff and grab the rod that runs inside the torque tube that connects the clutch to the diff. (Of course, the car should be OFF!) If there is any play in it, and you can clank it around, then again, your clutch is toast.

IF you do both of these tests and experience what I describe, then it is definately your clutch.

I'm tempted to give this a go - seems to sound reasonable...

What about you guys, does the above sound like sensible approach to investigating a failing clutch?

James

P.s. Bryan - we would really love to hear what the outcome is from your visit to the garage next week - do keep us updated! Cheers

It does sound very clutch like, as there is a rubber do nut at the centre of the clutch and this deteriates over time and gives the backlash you describe, eventually the do nut will give up the ghost and the clutch will need to be replaced

I know some of you were waiting on a update, but for reasons too trivial to list here, it's actually going into the garage on Monday next week instead of this week, so I'll post an update after that.

On a lighter note, I took the child seat out of my daily drive at the weekend and put it in the front of the Porsche. As if by magic, the sun came out. You should have see me and my 3 year old daughter grinning as we sped away with the roof down. Does life get much better than that?

Cheers,
Bryan

Bryan - glad to hear you're training your young one early for a love of all things Porsche glad she enjoyed the journey

Thanks for the update - definitely still keen to hear what the garage has to say, so yes indeed, please let us know how you get on!

Cheers,

James

The 'click' from the clutch and the judder is probably because the rubber donut (assuming it's the original clutch) has gone and it's metal meeting metal that is making the noise. You should be able to feed the clutch in more slowly and that will eliminate the click and the judder. If it does then you know it's the clutch.

It's about £700 fitted for the clutch, and while he's in there I would strongly advise that you have the engine main rear oil seal replaced - because the whole clutch job has to be done again to replace the seal if it goes.

If he changes the clutch get the old one off him just to see what the donut is and what the noise was.

Written by somebody who has spent the £700 on a new clutch and didn't know to have the oil seal changed.... which is now leaking!

Keep us updated.

Bryan - have you had any feedback from your garage regarding the clutch noise and lurching issues with your S2?

James

Bump.... just because we're interested.

I've taken it to the garage to demonstrate the problem. They don't know for certain what it is. The clutch is the prime suspect, but as it's not slipping and the gears still go in without any problem, then maybe it isn't. They don't think it's the diff as it's not whining.

Anyway, the car's going back in on Monday for a service and new belts, so they're going to spend a couple of hours stripping things down and having a proper inspection.

Quite pleased that they didn't just say "yes, it's the clutch, give me a grand to change it", without being sure that's the cause.

As I've neither used the garage before, nor owned a Porsche before, I'm kind of a bit wary about believing everything a garage says. On the other hand, everything they've said so far makes sense e.g. they recognised that the cam chain and tensioner are non-service items, but should still be inspected. Also, when you see the GT3 and Ferrari 368 gtb in their workshop, I think my little old 944 is in safe hands.

Should have an update next week.

Cheers,
Bryan