1986 Porsche 944 problems
The Porsche 944 is a sports car manufactured by German automobile manufacturer Porsche from 1982 until 1991. A front-engine, rear-wheel drive mid-level model based on the 924 platform, the 944 was available in coupé or cabriolet body styles, with either naturally aspirated or turbocharged engines. With over 163,000 cars produced, the 944 was the most successful sports car in Porsche's history until the introductions of the Boxster and 997 Carrera.
Extensive design revisions for the 1992 model year prompted Porsche to drop the 944 nameplate and rebrand the vehicle as the 968.
History
The 924 had originally been a project of VW-Porsche, a joint Porsche/Volkswagen company incorporated to develop and produce the 914 which was sold in Europe badged as both a Porsche and a Volkswagen. In 1972, a replacement for the Volkswagen version of the 914, code named EA-425 began development. The model was to be sold as an Audi as part of the VW-Audi-Porsche marketing arrangement. Porsche was to manufacture its own version of the car. At one point, Volkswagen head Rudolf Leidig declared the EX-425 was going to be a Volkswagen exclusively, thus denying Porsche's version of the 914's replacement. Although testing had begun in the Spring of 1974, Volkswagen cancelled the EX-425 program, the reason being significant financial losses due to declining sales and rising development costs for new vehicles as well as the departure of Leidig. The recently introduced Volkswagen Scirocco was expected to fill the sports coupé market segment and the unfinished project was handed over to Audi to serve as the replacement for the Audi 100.
The cancellation of the EX-425 program led Porsche to market an entry level car to replace the 912E, which was a US-only stop-gap model for 1976, and their version of the 914, which was discontinued in 1975. Porsche purchased the design and the finished development mule with a Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection system from Volkswagen. The vehicle, dubbed the 924, received positive reviews, but was criticised by Porsche enthusiasts for its Audi-sourced 2.0 L engine. In 1979, Porsche introduced a Turbocharged version of the 924 to increase performance, but this model carried a high price. Rather than scrapping the model from its line-up, Porsche decided to develop the 944, as they had done with generations of the 911; although model numbers would change, the 924 would provide the basis for this new mid level model.
The prototype of this mid level model debuted at LeMans in 1981, an unusual strategy implemented by Porsche at the time. Called the 924 GTP LeMans, the car was based on the 924 Carrera GT LeMans that competed in the event prior to the GTP's introduction. The most noticeable change in the new race car was the departure from the Audi sourced 2.0 L inline-4 engine in favour of the 2.5 L engine developed by Porsche. The new engine was mounted at an angle of 45 degree to the right and utilised a dual overhead camshaft along with counter rotating balance shafts, an unusual feature for its time that provided better weight distribution and ensured smooth power delivery by eliminating inherent vibrations resulting in the engine lasting longer. A single KKK turbocharger producing 15.5 psi (1.1 bar) enabled the engine to generate a maximum power output of 420 PS (309 kW; 414 hp) at 6,800 rpm. The engine also utilised Bosch's prototype Motronic engine management system to control ignition timing, fuel injection and boost pressure. The new race car proved to be much more fuel efficient than its predecessor, stopping only 21 times in 24 hours for fuel. The 924 GTP managed seventh position overall behind the race winning 936 and a class win at the GTP+ 3.0 category in 1981 before being retired and stored in the Porsche museum. In 1982, Porsche debuted the production road legal version of the race car, called the 944. The car utilised many technologies its race bred sibling had used, including the balance shafts and the engine management system, but power was toned down for safety purposes.
The new all-alloy 2,479 cc (2.5 L; 151.3 cu in) inline-four engine, with a bore of 100 mm (3.94 in) and stroke of 78.9 mm (3.11 in), was in essence, half of the later 928's 5.0 L V8 engine, although very few parts were actually interchangeable. Not typical in luxury sports cars, the four-cylinder engine was chosen for fuel efficiency and size, because it had to be fitted from below on the Neckarsulm production line. To overcome roughness caused by the unbalanced secondary forces that are typical of inline four-cylinder engines, Porsche included two counter-rotating balance shafts running at twice the engine speed. Invented in 1904 by British engineer Frederick Lanchester, and further developed and patented in 1975 by Mitsubishi Motors, balance shafts carry eccentric weights which produce inertial forces that balance out the unbalanced secondary forces, making a four-cylinder engine feel as smooth as a six-cylinder engine. Porsche spent some time trying to develop their own system, but when they realised that they could not improve on the system developed by Mitsubishi, they chose to pay the licensing fees rather than come up with a variation just different enough to circumvent the patent. The licensing fees were about US$7–8 per car, which translated to about US$100 (equivalent to $316 in 2023) for the consumer to pay. The engine was factory-rated at 150 hp (112 kW; 152 PS) in its U.S. configuration. Revised bodywork with wider wheel arches, similar to that of the 924 Carrera GT, a fresh interior and upgrades to the braking and suspension systems rounded out the major changes.
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Common 1986 Porsche 944 problems
Based on the information gathered from the sources provided, here is a list of common problems with the Porsche 944, particularly focusing on the 1986 model year:
- Cam Chain Tensioner Failure:
- The 944S model had a cam chain tensioner issue that could lead to engine destruction, although it's uncertain if this was resolved in the S2 model.
- DME Relay Failure:
- DME relay failure is a common issue in the Porsche 944, affecting the car's engine management system.
- Bad Water Pump:
- Water pump problems are reported in the Porsche 944, which can impact the cooling system and engine performance.
- Cruise Control Wiring Failure:
- Failure in the cruise control wiring system is another common problem in the Porsche 944, necessitating the replacement of the computer and servo.
- Driveshaft Bearings Noise:
- Driveshaft bearings in the Porsche 944 may become noisy, affecting the driving experience.
- Erratic Interior Temperature:
- Interior temperature issues can arise due to a broken link at the servo motor in the Porsche 944.
- Odometer and Dashboard Issues:
- The odometer easily fails, and the dashboard is prone to cracking in the Porsche 944, common problems that owners face.
- Rear Hatch Window Separation:
- Installing new trunk struts can cause the rear hatch window to separate from the frame in the Porsche 944.
- Maintenance Costs:
- Overall, the Porsche 944 is known for being expensive to maintain, with various components requiring attention due to the car's age and design.
These common problems highlight the need for thorough maintenance and proactive care to ensure the Porsche 944, especially the 1986 model, remains in good condition and performs reliably over time.
1986 Porsche 944 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Porsche 944 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Fuel/propulsion system problems
- Fuel system problems
- Gasoline problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1986 Porsche 944 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1986 Porsche 944 complaints
The NHTSA has received 6 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1986 Porsche 944.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2014-12-03
- VIN: WP0AA0949GN
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: VEHICLE CAME IN FOR SMOG TEST AND FOUND FUEL LINE DRIPPING FUEL AT FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR SIDE OF LINE. CHECKED FOR RECALLS AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL LINE FOR THE EXACT ISSUE THAT WE ARE HAVING. INSPECTED FUEL LINE AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A KINK AT THE END OF THE LINE AS STATED AS THE DEFECT IN THE RECALL. CALLED THE PORSCHE DEALER LOCALLY AND THEY STATED THE RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED, AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT THE DEFECT IS DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE. EITHER THE REPLACED LINE HAS THE SAME DEFECT AS THE PRE RECALL LINE OR THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED AS STATED BY THE DEALER(ESPECIALLY SINCE THE LINE IS CURRENTLY KINKED AND THE RECALL WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE KINKING FUEL LINE). *JS
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2014-04-08
- Fire: 1
- VIN: WP0AA0944GN
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: RUBBER FUEL HOSE FROM WHEEL WELL ROUTED OVER EXHAUST HEADER TO FUEL RAIL ATTACHED TO CAM TOWER STARTED TO LEAK ON ENGINE AND FIRE STARTED. I WAS RIGHT THERE AND CAUGHT IT BEFORE THE FIRE GOT TOO BIG. *TR
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Fire: 1
- VIN: WP0AA0956GN
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: NO SUMMARY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: WP0AA0948GN
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: THE SPEED CONTROL UNIT WILL RANDOMLY PICK NEW SPEEDS AT IRREGULAR INTERVALS. IN SOME CASES IT WILL RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL SPEED AFTER SOME TIME, IN SOME CASES IT WILL CONTINUE AT WHATEVER SPEED IT WANTS. ONCE SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR IT STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. I WAS ON A LONELY PIECE OF HIGHWAY 395 SO I LET IT CONTINUE UNTIL THE CAR REACHED A SPEED OF MORE THAN 125MPH. BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE SPEED CONTROL UNIT OFF.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-03-02
- VIN: WP0AA0944GN
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: ENGINE OIL FILTER BLEW OUT.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-09-02
- VIN: WP0AA0944GN
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: REPLACED CLUTCH DUE TO SLIPPING. *AK
1986 Porsche 944 recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 1986 Porsche 944.
- Manufacturer: PORSCHE CARS N.A. INC.
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
- Summary: THE HOSE MATERIAL USED IN THE SHORT SECTION OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE HOSE, BETWEEN THE FUEL RAIL AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, IS SUBJECT TO HARDENING, AND COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKS BETWEEN THE HOSE AND THE METAL PIPE FITTINGS.
- Consequence: FUEL LEAKS COULD IGNITE ON THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM, OR ANY OTHER SOURCE OF IGNITION, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
- Remedy: REPLACE FUEL LINE HOSE WITH HOSES MADE OF IMPROVED MATERIAL.
- Manufacturer: PORSCHE CARS N.A. INC.
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
- Summary: THE PROTECTIVE SLEEVE COVERING OF THE RETURN FUEL HOSE BETWEEN THE PRESSURE REGULATOR AND FUEL RETURN PIPE WAS SHORTENED LEAVING PART OF THE HOSE EXPOSED. IN SOME INSTANCES THIS PART OF THE HOSE BECOMES KINKED DUE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HEAT AND/OR THE ROUTING OF THE HOSE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THIS OCCURS IT COULD RESTRICT AND DAMAGE THE RETURN FUEL HOSE WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE AND CAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
- Remedy: NEW HOSE WILL BE INSTALLED WITH A LONGER PREFORMED SLEEVE DESIGNED TO PREVENT KINKING. THE REPLACEMENT HOSE WILL BE SECURED WITH SCREW TIGHTENED CLAMPS ON EACH END.
Other years of Porsche 944
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