Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Just been to see a really nice S2- the car has not been used much (2k miles in a year).

Issues:
1) Slight "hesitancy" when flooring it from low revs. It seem to stumble a bit then take off.
2) The idles fluctuates constantly. Is this just a gummed up ISV?
3) The vibration at idle from the engine (not helped by the fluctuating idle) can be felt through the whole car.
This vibration goes after 1500 rpm - this leads me to think the engine mounts need replacement after reading clarks garage / 944 FAQ. How much are the parts for this?

Other S2s i have seen have been cosmetically tatty, but the engines have been smoother than this. Can anyone confirm the diagnosis above / tell me more?

Thanks.

1. low usage cars seem prone to this. Probably a combination of oiled & carboned up plugs & sticky AFM. Mine has done this this since it became a second car, but it clears with use.
2. Could be 1. or yes possibly gummed up ICV, when did it last see a set of plugs?
3. Sounds like engine mounts but could be balance belt hopped a tooth. When were the belts last done?Should be 4 years or 40K miles MAX!
Engine mounts are circa 90 each plus swapping them especially f you can't do it yourself. I paid around 380 to have mine done a few years ago. It ain't a nice job especially the exhaust side one.

Generally engines are cheaper tofix than bodywork rust

vibration, could be engine mounts, check how close the steering shaft is to the exhaust manifold, and the bottom hose to the chassis rail on the exhaust side. it could also be the balance belt jumped a tooth (as mentioned above ) or the belt has come off or is missing altogether. lumpy tickover could be ICV or even dissy cap and/or rotor arm amongst other things

Hi,

Agree with all the above statements. How was the gear shift? They reason I ask is that the engine is mounted in on a slight angle anyway (15 degrees) if my memory serves me correctly. If the engine mount nearest the exhaust is shot, it can cause the engine to lean further over still causing gear shift type problems.
Unless the car has got some service receipts of work recently carried out, I would be tempted to get the car fully serviced. 12k service plus belts to be on the safe side and anything else that might need addressing.

Hope this helps,

Ben

Interesting comment about the gearchange but mine had extremely knackered mounts & the gear change was fine as were the other 2 I test drove while looking!

Hi

Gear shift seemed just fine to me, although it wasn't "sprung" in neutral to fall between 3rd and 4th like most cars - is this normal?

Also accelerator was a little "stiff", probably the cable.

Would the engine mounts really affect the gearshift - the gear box is at the opposite end of the car?

Thank everyone. Belts were all changed by specialist cars (malton) 3 years / 10k ago, i'd be loking to have them done asap as i've been informed a realistic limit is 3yrs/36k, and especially as this ones not been used much.

Hi

Gear shift seemed just fine to me, although it wasn't "sprung" in neutral to fall between 3rd and 4th like most cars - is this normal?

Also accelerator was a little "stiff", probably the cable.

Would the engine mounts really affect the gearshift - the gear box is at the opposite end of the car?

Thank everyone. Belts were all changed by specialist cars (malton) 3 years / 10k ago, i'd be loking to have them done asap as i've been informed a realistic limit is 3yrs/36k, and especially as this ones not been used much.[/quote]

porsche recommend 4 years or 48k miles on belts, and the water pump every second belt change, if you are having belts done don't forget cam chain and tensioner slipper

The 3rd 4th bias isn't as strong on the 944 as it is on some other cars.

The throttle could be the cable.

The gearbox & the engine are hard connected by the torque tube. The whole lot as two mountings on the engine & a single mount on the gearbox.

Belts are becoming due, if it's done that little mileage it may well need a water pump when it starts to get used, they leak if not used regularly.

Hi. This was something I read in a 944 buyers guide. I don't think it applies in every situation but it was something that can be linked to problematic gear changes.

Ben

I was incorrect. The engine is actually mounted at a 30 degree angle. To quote from the guide I have: -

" The engine is mounted on glycol-filled mountings, which work well at isolating engine vibration in the cabin. The right side of the unit is located next to the exhaust pipework and can leak. This causes the already tilted engine to tilit even further. Symptoms can include excessive vibration throughout the body shell on starting and shutting off the engine, uneven idling and sometimes it can be difficult to select some gears.
A failed mounting may show fluid leakage, or have a wrinkled or cracked rubber shell. There should be a heat shield to prevent the exhaust pipework from leaning onto the steering shaft, although the shield can get left out sometimes. Another sign that the mounting may have collapsed is to check the coolant hose that runs from the water pump on the front of the engine to the bottom of the radiator. If this hose is touching the right longitudinal of the bodyshell, then the engine mounting probably needs to be replaced.
From mid-'85, cars received the stronger Turbo mounting. The stronger mountings were painted grey with the later improved items painted orange".

My engine mountings are orange if this helps.

Ben

Ok thanks.

So, to recap, the hesitancy may disappear after some use?

The idle maybe fixed by cleaning the ICV and throttle body?

The vibration will be the balance belt out by a tooth or a failed engine mount?

I'm going to need deep pockets. Belts, tensioners, engine mounts and anything else whilst its in bits - possibly water pump and oil seals.

I think I'm looking at £600-700 for everything done by a specialist if I go for this car. And thats just the thing I know about now!

In order, yes & a service with plug change, maybe or itmay just disappear with use, probably mount but belts need inspection.

Yup typical 1st year cost of a 944 but once done it gives piece of mind.

I'd recon on at least 1K first year even with a good car. Anything thats not been in regular use could need some sorting. Mine had done just 1K miles a year in the last 2 years before I got it. There were a few problems that the owner didn't know about because he hadn't driven it enough! So long as you budget fot it it's not a problem.