924Board.org

masterdave · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 183 Location: Harrison NY

About a year back i received an 88 924s from a friend after it sat broken for years in his possession. After having the DME rebuilt the car started right up and worked for about 6 months until the weather got warm. Thats when things started to go wrong. First it was as simple as the car taking some extra time to start. Then that turned in to a few minutes. After that things started to to really wrong. I was driving home one day and was stopped on a hill, as i went to go, i released the clutch and gave it some gas. The car seemed to go no where, and have what seemed to be no power. i pulled over, and revved the engine a few times which solved the problem. I got the car home, the same thing occurred later that day also on a hill. The car would be fine then the engine would begin to buck, after revving it above 3000 the engine stopped and every things was fine. i did not want to take the car out after that so i got to work on it, the engine would start run then whine down to 700 rpm, buck a bit, then cut out. After some inspection i replaced some of the bad fuel lines thinking that there was a lack of fuel pressure. that solved nothing, the car started once after i replaced the lines, the engine bucked and died as it had. after replacing the DME relay checking the distributor cap and rotor, cleaning the throttle valve. the car still will not start. Another thread lead me to think the timing was off. I know nothing about timing, what should i look for and how does one fix it. I know what it does and what should happen i just dont know how to line it all up aside from what TDC is, i know nothing. Any help would be much appreciated, pics are always nice.

D Hook · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3158 Location: Omaha, NE

Have you checked the reference sensors?
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'80 924 n/a SOLD

masterdave · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 183 Location: Harrison NY

yeah visually they look ok do you know of a way to check them electronically

edredas · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 861 Location: Charlotte, NC

http://www.clarks-garage.com/pdf-manual/ign-02.pdf
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'84 944 -White, Brown interior
'84 944 -Red, Automatic
'86 944 -Garnet, Fully loaded, Koni suspension
'87 924S -Red, 300hp 951 swap
'87 924S -Red, Project Car
'88 924S -Red, Daily Driver

masterdave · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 183 Location: Harrison NY

awesome stuff now i just have to find the time to do it. I leave for college on monday so the car will sit around until i get home for christmas break unless i fix it.

88Silver924S · Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 8 Location: Vancouver Washington

Interesting symptoms. Sometimes when a fuel filter gets clogged one gets wierd behavior such as fuel starvation when needing power while when there is no load the engine revs well. Occasionally one gets sediment from a "dirty" gas station which can even clog a relatively new filter. The filter is a big cylinder back by the gas tank on the passengers side. Use vise grips to clamp off the rubber gas line from the tank to the filter pull the fuel pump fuse and run the engine to depressurize the fuel line. Keep a pan under the filter and do it outside/ or in an EXTREMELY well ventilated area. I have also had a fuel pump relay go intermittently bad on me and now I always carry a spare. Good luck.

masterdave · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 183 Location: Harrison NY

the filter was the first thing i replaced, the car has not even been driven with the new filter. I replaced the DME relay and still nothing. I have to back and double check for spark. I am running out of things to look for. All the belts are fine, so its defiantly not a broken belt. I have a feeling it is some thing very basic that i am just over looking. It may end up being a bad ref sensor or a bad O2 sensor. on that note does any one know if the engine will start if the O2 sensor is disconnected i know they made the european cars with out them.

edredas · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 861 Location: Charlotte, NC

Yes, the engine will start and run with the O2 sensor unplugged, however it can run rich and over time possibly damage your catalytic converter... the European cars without O2 sensors also don't have a cat, so get your O2 sensor replaced if faulty.

A bad O2 sensor wouldn't keep it from starting... you would only have some hesitation, especially when the engine is cold... so I don't think this is your problem.

When you replaced your fuel lines did you install a new fuel pump? I still agree that it's probably your reference sensors, but a failing fuel pump can cause these same symptoms. If I was having a low fuel pressure issue, I would have replaced the pump long before I fussed with the lines...
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'84 944 -White, Brown interior
'84 944 -Red, Automatic
'86 944 -Garnet, Fully loaded, Koni suspension
'87 924S -Red, 300hp 951 swap
'87 924S -Red, Project Car
'88 924S -Red, Daily Driver

masterdave · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 183 Location: Harrison NY

no I tested the pump while replacing the lines and there was pressure at the pump, and it pumped the proper 850cc in 30sec i have yet to test the pressure at the rail as i dont have a metric fuel gauge to put on it. How ever i did bypass the return fuel line temporarily until i drop the rear suspension and replace it, with a clear hose, and i can see the fuel run through it.