Q – Hey MC, my 944 needs help. This winter, while I am not driving it, I wanted to work on my “wish list”. Here goes; The inside hood insulation is falling off in chunks and it looks terrible, the left turn signal does not cancel after I make a turn, the windshield washers stopped working, heat pours out constantly, the parking brake lever pulls up too far, radio reception is terrible, the gas gauge reads about ¼ tank lower than it should, the dashboard lighting is too dim, and my headlights seem a little dim as well. I love this car and I want it to work like it should but I am not sure that it is worth spending a lot of money on it. Teri
A – Wow, that is quite a list but nothing on it is horribly expensive. Some things you can do to keep your expenses down but some you will have to leave to the pros, here goes:
- The hood insulation is not very expensive as a part, but the labor is a pain. I think that most folks could tackle this job themselves but you had better set aside several hours for removing the old glue from the hood. Use only a plastic scraper, otherwise you may damage the paint. A very mild application of heat, using a hair-dryer turned on “low” and held several inches away from the hood, can help soften up stubborn glue. No matter how you approach this, it will be a messy and annoying job! By laying an old blanket across your engine, you can catch most (if not all) of the crumbs of old foam and old glue. Bear in mind that some of the aftermarket pads do not match the Porsche pads so be careful that you check them before you apply them. Once you are ready to apply the new pad, make reference marks with tape with north/south, east/west coordinates to line it up well. Get two friends to hold the pad once you remove the adhesive backing in order to line it up well. Once you press it in place, there is no going back.
- Turn signal cancelation is activated by a tab that extends from the bottom of the steering wheel hub (where you can’t see it). That tab engages a little finger that extends from the turn signal lever, into the steering column. Occasionally the steering column, which is adjustable, might be too far away from the steering wheel to allow the tab to engage the finger. You need to check that first. But if that is not the case, you will need a new switch; these are readily available but are somewhat pricey.
- The windshield washer pump sometimes fails so start there. If you cannot hear the pump motor run when you pull the lever, it may be dead or may not be receiving power. It is fairly easy to test for power with a voltmeter. Have your assistant pull the lever back while you listen and test. If the motor runs, but there is no squirt, you might have a faulty valve, valves, or clogged nozzles. The hoses have check valves that keep the squirter lines full of fluid for instant flow when you pull the lever. After many years, the rubber sealing washer inside the valve degrades into a gooey mess, which can clog the valves or nozzles. The nozzles, and check valves are inexpensive, readily available, and you can replace them yourself. My advice is to warm the hoses up with a hair dryer before you try to pull them off or you may find it impossible. Another common problem is squirt nozzles clogged with wax. Wax clogs can be avoided by using masking tape before waxing. You can clear them out and adjust the spray angle by using a small pin or needle. When you are working with the nozzles, don’t forget to wear safety goggles!
- 944 heaters have a plastic clip in the dashboard which always breaks. When it does, usually in July or August, the heat comes on full blast. This is one of the cheapest Porsche repairs ever. The clip costs almost nothing, compared to other Porsche parts you’re probably all-too-used-to; the labor to replace it is not very expensive either. Pay a pro to do it, it won’t hurt too badly.
- Parking brakes are cable operated and they do not self-adjust as do the normal disc brakes. If you forget to release it a few times and drove with it applied, it might need adjustment (or you can burn it out). Since it is just a parking brake and we live in Michigan as opposed to San Francisco, I would recommend an adjustment first. If you need rear brake work done in the future, or if an adjustment does not work, to access the mechanism requires removal of the rear calipers and rotors. Underneath the rear rotor “hat” are the cute little brakes shoes, bits and pieces that occasionally need to be replaced. If you are handy and well equipped with tools, servicing the system is a potential D.I.Y. process.
- The radio reception issue could be caused by the antenna connection at the windshield or an internal radio problem. Once connections are verified, you can plug in a known good radio and see if reception is improved. If the problem is the radio, I would spend very little to figure it out since higher quality replacements are both inexpensive and easy to install in the factory “DIN” mounting spot. The only tricky part on a 1986 car is the lack of an accessory position to power the radio up and more importantly power it down when you exit the car. There is a circuit in the ignition switch that can be tapped into to accomplish this however. With this modification, you battery will not go dead if you forget to shut it off.
- Fuel gauge inaccuracy is generally caused by connections between the dashboard instrument pod and the sending unit in the fuel tank. Based on ease of access, I would start at the sending unit and make sure the wiring connections are tight. You can also test the “full” calibration by grounding the signal wire which replicates a full tank. If the problem is not there, checking grounds at the instrument pod would be next. Finally, there is an adjustment for gauge accuracy on the back of the pod. That was even a surprise to me since the last time I saw an adjustable fuel gauge was on a 1979 VW Beetle.
- Dashboard illumination on a 944 is accomplished by spreading the light from a few bulbs to a much broader area by the use of diffusers. Diffusers are little clear plastic trapezoids strategically placed near the bulbs and attached to the pod. Two things happen that dim the lighting over time. Bulbs burn out or degrade, the grounds may corrode which reduces the available voltage and the diffusers lose their reflective coating that directs the light. I have had success repairing the diffusers by removing the remaining finish and covering them with reflective chrome tape. With good grounds, fresh bulbs and highly reflective diffusers, your dash lights will be back to normal. If you want more light, L.E.D. bulbs are available that work amazingly well. They are brighter and the color truer than normal incandescent bulbs. Everyone I have spoken with loves this upgrade. They are not very expensive. You can also upgrade your interior lighting to L.E.D. You can do that yourself although the dashboard work should be left to a pro.
- Headlights on 944s are inadequate in stock form…just my opinion. Installing Euro H-4 headlights have been the modification of choice for years and there are many different wattages available. Stock bulbs were “45/55”, the low beam was 45 watts and the high beams are 55 watt. Other sizes available include 45/80, 45/100, 55/100, and some as bright as 85/135! The problem is, the wiring on the car was not designed for higher wattage bulbs and to use them safety involves adding load relays wired directly to the battery to prevent overheating. The other disadvantage is the extra load that is placed on the alternator. Many years ago, high intensity discharge (H.I.D.) lighting was introduced to provide brighter, truer lighting with reduced electrical loads. You have seen them and if you have them, you would never go back. They are that good! For years it was cost prohibitive to retro fit older cars. But now, HID lighting is available at a reasonable price. The units are also compact enough to allow the ballasts to be mount directly on the headlight bracket of the 924/944 which makes for a very clean installation. So for stronger lights, we suggest phase one or two depending on your budget. But don’t forget, have you had the headlight aim checked? Even with the brightest bulbs, if they are poorly aimed, you won’t be happy.
Regarding your last question, whether it is worth it depends on your love for the car. Rarely is it a good investment to spend more money on a car than it is worth but that has never stopped me. I do it all the time because I am a fan, not an investor. Most people I know who own 924s and 944s love them. My first Porsche was a 944 and two of my brothers have them, one of each. So it boils down to is this: if you love the way the car drives and there is no other car that make you feel as good to be behind the wheel, do it for yourself, not your investment counselor. These cars continue to be one of my favorite test drives. I could afford one of every Porsche, another 944 would be on my list. . MC