Sandspider
New member
Hi all
Bit of a problem with the 944 yesterday. I will go through the Clark's garage test procedures when I have time, but want to check a few thoughts here too first...
So. Car had been standing for a fortnight or so, thought I'd take it for a spin yesterday. It was a bit lazy to start, but got there and idled happily. I left it idling while I topped up the tyres, and it stalled after about 3 minutes - not usual. I restarted it (it took a bit of accelerator to get it to fire, but then it ran happily) and finished the tyres, and set off. Got about a mile (out of phone signal, of course) and opened it up a bit, whereupon the engine died. Revs dropped to zero and it would turn over but not start on the key. Still rolling, so popped it into gear and it started, ran for a second or two then conked out again. I managed to roll to a pull over place, opened the bonnet, wiggled the distributor leads and fuel lines etc. but it wouldn't start. It would turn over happily and almost catch, but not quite. Walked into phone signal, got someone out to recover it, which took about an hour. Thought I'd try starting it one more time, and it fired as normal and ran happily! I drove home without any problems and left it idling for a bit - still no problems.
It sounded like a fuel problem, but I can't understand why it comes and goes in that case. I was thinking it might be the coil breaking down when hot, then working when cold. But it worked OK on the way home, and the engine was warm again then eventually. I'm not keen to take it for a longer drive in case it lets me down again! As I said, I'll look at Clark's garage, but would the coil give these symptoms?
I don't have a spare DME relay to test with (some scrot stole my spare).
Fuel filter was replaced two or three years ago - it's not original!
HT leads were replaced 6 or 7 years ago - and I doubt they're the issue as it runs fine when it runs.
Finally, if it makes a difference, I live in a Welsh valley with a stream and not much sun so it's a fairly damp environment over winter! But it was a pretty nice dry day yesterday...
Any thoughts appreciated, thanks.
Bit of a problem with the 944 yesterday. I will go through the Clark's garage test procedures when I have time, but want to check a few thoughts here too first...
So. Car had been standing for a fortnight or so, thought I'd take it for a spin yesterday. It was a bit lazy to start, but got there and idled happily. I left it idling while I topped up the tyres, and it stalled after about 3 minutes - not usual. I restarted it (it took a bit of accelerator to get it to fire, but then it ran happily) and finished the tyres, and set off. Got about a mile (out of phone signal, of course) and opened it up a bit, whereupon the engine died. Revs dropped to zero and it would turn over but not start on the key. Still rolling, so popped it into gear and it started, ran for a second or two then conked out again. I managed to roll to a pull over place, opened the bonnet, wiggled the distributor leads and fuel lines etc. but it wouldn't start. It would turn over happily and almost catch, but not quite. Walked into phone signal, got someone out to recover it, which took about an hour. Thought I'd try starting it one more time, and it fired as normal and ran happily! I drove home without any problems and left it idling for a bit - still no problems.
It sounded like a fuel problem, but I can't understand why it comes and goes in that case. I was thinking it might be the coil breaking down when hot, then working when cold. But it worked OK on the way home, and the engine was warm again then eventually. I'm not keen to take it for a longer drive in case it lets me down again! As I said, I'll look at Clark's garage, but would the coil give these symptoms?
I don't have a spare DME relay to test with (some scrot stole my spare).
Fuel filter was replaced two or three years ago - it's not original!
HT leads were replaced 6 or 7 years ago - and I doubt they're the issue as it runs fine when it runs.
Finally, if it makes a difference, I live in a Welsh valley with a stream and not much sun so it's a fairly damp environment over winter! But it was a pretty nice dry day yesterday...
Any thoughts appreciated, thanks.