Porsche 924/944/968
Technical Tips

Remote Unlocking

The addition of a an after-market alarm (to supplement the Porsche factory alarm) is an excellent investment to provide the now universally standard "remote locking/unlocking".  Wiring a modern day alarm to work in harmony with the Porsche central locking and factory alarm is tricky but possible.

Heat Blasting From Airvents

There are many posts to 944 newsgroups reporting uncontrolled heat blasting from the cabin ventilation system which turns the normally comfortable climate controlled cabin into a blast furnace.  My God... the Germans know how to make a heater!

Thanks to some well informed people in the 944 newsgroup, the fault has been isolated to a broken plastic clip costing about $1.00 from the local Porsche parts dealer.

The problem is a damper linkage under the dashboard which is located on the passenger's side in right-hand drive models and the driver's side in left-hand drive cars. Lie on your back with your head in the footwell and point a torch up under the dashboard towards the center console. You will see a small white threaded plastic clip attached to the bottom of a thin silver metal rod. This rod controls the damper and when this damper fails to operate the ventilation system sticks in the "full heat" position. The small white plastic clip will have it's thread striped or may be broken or missing. This clip is available from Porsche parts dealers for around $1.00 and the part number is 944.572.314.00.

Towing

The 944S2 nose is the same as the 951 (944 Turbo) and can only be towed without damage to the front of the car using the special forged steel Tow Hook that is usually supplied in the factory tool kit.  If  your car does not have a tow hook, they are available from Porsche parts dealers for around AU$50.00 with the part number is 951.722.101.00. 

Flat Battery Trap

After returning from a 3-week trip, found that the alarm system had completely flattened the car battery.  The battery in the 944S2 (Right Hand Drive models) is located in the rear left luggage compartment cubby which can't be accessed with the key because the rear hatch lock release is electrically operated!   To open the tailgate manually you must climb thru the car into the luggage compartment, unclip the carpet from the back and you will see a cable linking the electric release motor to the lock.  Pull down on this cable until the rear hatch is released.  Now you can access the luggage compartment to  jumpstart the car or replace the battery.   The replacement battery is a readily available 12V 63Ah DIN55.  There is small tube that must be fitted to the battery in order to vent any vapours from the passenger cabin.  The battery compartment is also designed to accommodate a larger DIN66 battery which may be of benefit in colder climates or for cars fitted with extra electrical equipment.

Starting Problem - DME (Fuel Pump) Relay

After experiencing an intermittent hard to start problem for a couple of months, my 944S2 failed to start at all one morning.  Symptoms were that the starter motor was going but no fuel getting to the engine.  Problem was traced quickly by my Porsche specialist to the DME relay (fuel pump relay) that lives in socket G5 of the main fuse box.  The original part number is 944.615.227.00  and the current replacement part number is 993.615.227.00 (same as the 993 DME Relay).  Cost for the DME relay was approx AU$50.00.

Sound System

The standard Porsche sound system fitted to the 944S2  is not easily identified because the cassette door only says PORSCHE.  In the Australian 1990 944S2 it is a Euroxox MCC-8280E Security Coded Radio/Cassette.  Eurovox in Victoria are very helpful and still have instruction manuals available for AU$7.00 which contain good wiring diagrams.  I guess that other Australian Porsche 944 models in Australia are also fitted with Eurovox systems as opposed the Porsche's usual habit of fitting Blauplunks.

DME EPROM (Chip)

The 944S2 uses an electronic engine management system known as Digital Motor Electronics, Motronics or DME.   The DME unit is manufactured in Germany by Bosch and the 944S2 uses Bosch Motronic Type M2.1.   The DME firmware (program data) is stored on an Erasable and Re-programmable Memory Chip (EPROM).  Although not recommended by Porsche, aftermarket chips are available which claim to boost the performance beyond the factory specifications and improve throttle response.  The DME unit is a metal box which is located under the carpet and wooden panel in the passenger side footwell.   The DME unit contains static sensitive components and great care must be exercised when handling it.  To access and change the DME EPROM, you must remove and open the DME box.  The 28-pin 256K EPROM is fitted into a socket on the PCB and can be removed for replacement or upgrading with an after-market EPROM.  The original factory EPROM should have a silver matallic label showing part number 1267356132. 

Touch-up Paint

Excellent touch-up paint is available from Porsche by quoting your car's paint code from the option label in the luggage compartment.  The code for Guards Red which is also called Indischrot or India Red (depending upon your Country) is LM3A.   The touch-up paint is supplied in an easy to use 12ml "nail polish" type bottle and the Porsche part number for it is 911.095.932.20.80.K. 

Main Fuse Box - Relay Chart

The main fuse box is located in the engine corpartment on top of the firewall on the left hand side of the car.  This fuse box contains all the main fuses and relays.

944 & 928 Specialist Mechanic

Bruce Buchanan
Bruce Buchanan Automotive
Balgowlah, Sydney, NSW
Australia
Tel/Fax:  61-2-9948 2651 

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~dr_scott
Updated 16 August 2002
© Copyright 2002  dr_scott@optusnet.com.au