Bought an S2

[chrisjcoe]

After a lot of hunting, my speculative £2k bid on a 1989 S2 won. I picked it up Saturday and enjoyed the 3.5 hour drive home. It's rough around the edges, but gives me the chance to get my hands dirty. Photos will follow, but here's a list of jobs that I know need doing:-

* Noisy fuel pump - previous owner claims to have changed it but didn't bleed it properly, but I'll have a look for myself. Might need a new pump, might need bleeding, new fuel line perhaps, I'm just not sure yet.
* Bonnet struts need replacing.
* Rear wiper does not work.
* Occasional brake squeak.
* Tired battery - it's not fantastic at turning over.
* 2 tyres with slight side wall cracks.
* Brake pad light is on - previous owner says he did the pads but didn't realise he had to connect a sensor wire up. Hopefully an easy fix.
* Occasional squeal (like a fan belt) when pulling heavily away, such as up a hill in 2nd.
* Transmission whine.
* Passenger door lock does not work.

Longer term, it's previously had a bad spray job, so some panels need redoing. Also the brake discs are a little pitted. It has a few bits of rust at the bottom of the front wings and a small patch on a sill. The sills have previously been done but it doesn't look a great job, and they have black stone-chip paint over them. I'm tempted to have the sills done with fresh panels and sprayed in properly.

There's probably a lot I've missed, but this is my first 944 so I'm not sure what to look for. If anyone is in the Colchester/Ipswich area and fancies a look, just let me know! Probably a lot to spend on a car with that number of faults, but it's an S2 and the drive home was fun! It also has MOT until June 2013.

I plan to tackle some easy tasks first, like the bonnet struts and possibly the battery. I'll also try the additive fix for the transmission whine and will investigate the fuel pump. Shame there's no Haynes manual, I think I'll be using Clarks garages info quite heavily.

 

[Hairyarse]

Hey nice one Chris, glad you have one now after your hunting around. Was this the S2 you posted up last week? Was it Baltic Blue? Anyway, a nice car for you to enjoy.

Ref the battery, if the only 'symptom' is turning over then don't worry, S2's sound like the battery is dying when you start them given each cylinder is 750cc they're quite large. If it's charging and all working ok then probably nothing to worry about.

Also ref the transmission whine, that's not uncommon so unless it's really bad I guess it's normal but will be worth changing the fluid if it's not been done lately.

Looking forward to the pics

Well done again and enjoy []

Cheers
Andy

 

[chrisjcoe]

Ref the battery, if the only 'symptom' is turning over then don't worry, S2's sound like the battery is dying when you start them given each cylinder is 750cc they're quite large. If it's charging and all working ok then probably nothing to worry about.

Yes, seems lazy on turnover, everything else is fine. Nice that I might be able to cross a job off my list!

 

[944 man]

An S2 shouldnt turn over slowly.

 

[ukmastiff]

Is it the car with the sills painted a different colour ?
im itching to knoe which one you bid on

Enjoy the project !

Mas

 

[frankydoom]

Sounds like my car lol - ohhh mine turns over slow as well ... always wondered if there is a fix.... mine takes about 5 turns -but never let me down tey in 5 years .. welcome to the s2 fold enjoy your car ... and get the belts checked / done .

 

[andy watson]

Hi Chris, glad you eventually got one!!

That list of jobs does not sound to bad, where abouts are you? I am in Colchester just of Berechurch Hall Rd
I don't profess to be any expert but if you want to meet up for a chat give me a call 07920589750

 

[T3rra]

Could the turning over be related 2 the fuel pump? My turbo turns over straight away compered 2 my S would sound like it have 3/4 try's. Just when I changed the filter and pump 2 fuel line, I needed 2 press the gas pedal while turning the key. Been fine again after that.

Rear wipers are pointless I think, replaced both off mine with a bung. So Iv got 2 complete working units should it come 2 that when trying 2 fix.


Door lock, dose it lock? There's a plastic linkage that has a ball and cup joint, that often fail, best 2 replace with new, go 2 Opc 4 that.

Bonnet struts if your not replacing with new Iv got them aswell, well Iv got a whole car I'm braking.


At least with an s2 as low as that ur be putting value back in 2 it, lux seems 2 be caped at round that price dispite condition unforntulay. You still get 2 get ur hands dirty.

 

[chrisjcoe]

Was this the S2 you posted up last week?

Yes, it was this one. A long trip to get it, not sure why it only went for £2k considering it has a years mot, but it was down in Eastbourne and the seller only realised that he had put paypal only until I asked him a hour or 2 before the auction was due to end.

Also ref the transmission whine, that's not uncommon so unless it's really bad I guess it's normal but will be worth changing the fluid if it's not been done lately.

It is noticeable and something that will annoy me. I've read a change of fluid might help, on this forum there is mention of an additive that might cure it. Otherwise something about a pinion joint/bearing/thing in the transmission, which is beyond my tools and skills at the moment.

Is it the car with the sills painted a different colour ?

Yes, it looks like a bad sill repair then covered in that black stone-chip paint. That's a job lined up for when I get a bit of cash. I've seen conflicting info about that job. Some say you can get the sill panels and having them cut in and sprayed ranges from £500 to well over a grand.

get the belts checked / done

Previous owner says the belts were done in the last service. There is no paperwork for it though, so will check for myself once I work out where to look. I'm not sure if the water pump was done though, which I hear should be done with the belts.

I am in Colchester just of Berechurch Hall Rd

I'm in Mile End, but my brother lives near you. I should be popping the car over his for a look so I will definitely give you a ring. Thanks!

Could the turning over be related 2 the fuel pump? My turbo turns over straight away compered 2 my S would sound like it have 3/4 try's. Just when I changed the filter and pump 2 fuel line, I needed 2 press the gas pedal while turning the key. Been fine again after that.

Rear wipers are pointless I think, replaced both off mine with a bung. So Iv got 2 complete working units should it come 2 that when trying 2 fix.

Door lock, dose it lock? There's a plastic linkage that has a ball and cup joint, that often fail, best 2 replace with new, go 2 Opc 4 that.

Bonnet struts if your not replacing with new Iv got them aswell, well Iv got a whole car I'm braking.

At least with an s2 as low as that ur be putting value back in 2 it, lux seems 2 be caped at round that price dispite condition unforntulay. You still get 2 get ur hands dirty.

I'll start another thread about the fuel pump investigation, but it sounds similar to what some have said here. It takes 4-5 turns before it starts, always with a bit of gas, but the turn is a bit slower than I'm used to on more modern cars. There is an mot advisory of a corroded fuel line, which I want to change. So, I'm tempted to do fuel pump, line and filter all at the same time. Mind you, haven't really got the tools (no ramps!) or much space to do it yet.

I'd like to get the wipers working. Previous owner mentioned a jumble of wires in the back. The electric aerial doesn't work, which suggest I have a common failure point to sort out. I might take you up on the offer of parts! He also mentioned a sensor or something like that, which is missing from the passenger lock. It only locks/unlocks from the inside, but the handles work fine to open it.

Regarding value, that's why I pushed the budget for an S2. I saw one go on ebay the other day for £2201 with no tax or mot. I figured that a reasonable condition S2 could go for £3-4k, so I have a bit of money to play with before I'm putting money in I'll never get back.

 

[j4mou]

That's a nice looking car for £2000! Well done .

 

[david924s]

Looks like a nice car for the money

They do tend to turn over a bit slower than a modern car but could be bad earth connections.
Rear wiper might be the cables which can snap as the hatch is opened and closed easy to test as the battery is next to it and you can connect up directly.
Most S2s use a radio aerial in the windscreen not normally a separate unit.

 

[Catamax944]

Looks nice . I'm pretty close to you ,if you need any help just let me know.

 

[T3rra]

Rear wiper Could be anything, even simple clean off the switch. I just did the fuel line from the pump 2 filter, with the rear wheel sitting on the spear wheel, so no need 2 jack up really high. But don't expect 2 re use the pump 2 filter line. Porsche have stop production on these 4 at least 3 months.

 

[eddieedmo]

Good luck with your new car.
My S2 always takes 3 or 4 turns to start except when it has been sat in the sun and under the bonnet is hot but not the engine - then it fires first touch of the key - I think this means fuel pressure is higher when it has been sat in sun so not waiting for pressure to build before it fires ?

Nick []

 

[chrisjcoe]

Looks nice . I'm pretty close to you ,if you need any help just let me know

Any help would be appreciated. One thing I would like is having an experienced pair of eyes look over it to see if I've missed anything, or if there are any horror stories waiting to bite me.

I hope the clarks website fuel pump/line section is good, I'll be using it heavily in the next few weeks until I get it sorted.

Most S2s use a radio aerial in the windscreen not normally a separate unit.

It has a black line running up the middle of the windscreen, a strange little aerial at the front of the roof in the middle, and the non-functional electric aerial at the back. Inside it's got 2 (I assume) aftermarket LEDs, probably for a removed/not working alarm and an immobiliser which again I think isn't working. I'd love to strip all the unnecessary junk out to be honest, apart from the alpine stereo with iphone hook up of course.

The previous owner had removed and cleaned all the switches, so the boot release and electric roof work. In fact the only electric things that don't are the rear wiper and aerial. It used to have a cd multi-changer in the boot, the cables are still there just laying about, more stuff to remove.

Oh yes, no passenger side speaker, so I'll be looking for one of them soon too.

 

[PSH]

Well done Chris , glad you found one in the end, have fun with her!

Pete

 

[PSH]

Strange assortment of aerials that's for sure. Just so you know the only aerial that should be on the S2 is the integrated windscreen type, ie the thin black line that you mentioned.

Pete

 

[944 man]

Rear wiper motors used to be a common failure. On the positive side theyre worth next to nothing now, so buying a used one shouldnt break the bank.

 

[chrisjcoe]

Just so you know the only aerial that should be on the S2 is the integrated windscreen type, ie the thin black line that you mentioned.

Thanks. I'll get that working and remove the other 2, leaving 2 nice holes to patch up!

The alloys are a bit shabby too. At some point a refurb is in order, but a couple have been dented on curbs so I might need replacements. Does the S2 have unique alloys, or would any 1989 944 do?

 

[944 man]

They have to be 16"+ at the front to clear the brakes.