Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

944 2.5 recently purchased - starting to sort out. What a lovely engine its so smoooth for a 4 cylinder I had V8s and its comparable except for the exhaust burble of a V8!!.

I've been reading the forum and others and see there are recurring common problems through the 944. Yes I have some of those! But I have some more immediate ones, sure to be more later... advice appreciatted.

1 On turning left usually after a long run or with 2+2 in the car which I occasionally do, I get a clunk from underneath a sort of clunk+short boing noise, only occurs on turning. Any suggestions what to look for?. It sounds too far forward to be at the rear but difficult to be precise. Is it an anti roll bar or wishbone bushes and how can I tell?

2 The clutch pedal seems far too high. The clutch works perfectly there just seems to be excessive movement to get to the point where it operates, I see from the drawings there are/is some sort of turnbuckle - can this be adjusted out - has someone put it together wrong or is it not bled properly?

3 My insurance co is insisting on an immobiliser. There is something in the car that flashes a red LED and when the ignition is off (LED near the gearstick) and something goes beep beep for 15 seconds or so as you get out. There are also two motion sensors on the door edges on bits of wire and an alarm horn under the bonnet. Is this a standard Porsche fitment? or some sort of aftermarket alarm? I can't find a control box under the bonnet. I've not tried to set the alarm off but its not gone off yet and I have been in and out with the ignition off - I think the alarm horn has been disconnected as there is a flying wire to it.

4 Whats that low tension wire on the distributor cap - theres a plug of some sort?

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To fix - I've a dropping Drivers door found a web link that shows how that can be sorted, the drivers door catch - sometimes will not let you unlock the door (Clarkes has a good description of this), there are some big sill covers that will have to come off but who knows what is under there. The steering wheel is not on straight so that to fix, and the horn does not work except it will give a pathetic bleep on its own when turning left! The windscreen washers are clogged with white deposits. I've a fair but not complete mechanical history for last 10ish yrs. And yes I do not have a completly clear picture on the cambelt status so have to sort that PDQ. I do know I have a replacment engine but not a new one, its very limited documents do not clearly state the cambelt status, engine was fitted 2K miles ago by previous owner and I've a contact to ask but not sure I can trust . I know the engine cost £495, but would somone spending that much on a new second hand engine spend time fettling the cam belts or not, I suspect not - looks like fit and sell. I guess I could take the cover off and have a look.

Ref your question about the immobilisor, you may find the control box is hidden behind the ECU which is under a wooden plate in the passenger footwell, at least thats where mine is. It took a man from the AA over an hour to locate it when my immobilsor decided to de-sychronise itself from the key fob

The knocking is probably a bush or bushes & should be fairly easily traced when over the pit. The anti roll bar bushes & drop links for the front bar have a hard life. The drop links crack (ends of the roll bar) & can knock so look here first but it could be lots of others. If you can replicate it bouncing the car it helps.
Clutch may just not have been bled properly. (It's not easy to bleed. See Clarks garage. Better with a pressure bleeder.) Or the master or slave or both could be goosed. There not big money & the slave is fairly easy to replace. The masters a bit more involved but again clarkes garage website details it. You could try bleeding it through first. GSF or Euro carparts often the cheapest.
Can't help with the alarm. Took mine to an alarm specialist & they reset the thing & gave me a certificate that pleased the insurance. (Confirming it cat 1) cost £50ish.
Don't have a low tension wire on my distributor that I know of.
If the car doesn't have loads of mot I'd put it through. Give you something to go at & you can have a proper look underneath. Just watch they jack it right. Easy to damage if there not careful.
Changing the belts should be high on your list. First job I did on mine.
Jim will be along in a bit to put me right