Hi all,

Maybe some of you can help put me on the right track here...

I'm having a most enigmatic problem. My 944 decided it wouldn't start anymore, the starter still fired but the engine wouldn't catch. after a lot of testing we discovered that there was no fuel pressure at all. I had just installed a new DME relay a few months ago, so I got and installed a new fuel pump...

well, that was this morning and now I have fuel pressure at the engine, but the car does the exact same thing. The starter tries but the engine never turns over.

I checked the distributer, it was a little grungy, but not too bad, cleaned it out, still nothin'

Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated!

 

I've been helping mike out a little. it's makin me scratch my head... When it first died, the fuel system at the rail was NOT pressurized at all. Mike tells me now that it is pressurizing, so the fuel pump must've been part of it...

LOL I'm basically retyping what he said... Basically, IMHO, it's either spark or fuel. it does have new plugs, the wires I'm not sure about, but it ran fine before, just wouldn't start in a parking lot one day... I also had Mike check the engine speed sensors, make sure they're down and tight, and they were... they are plugged in and everything...

so... we're a little confused...

 

You need to check for injector signal. The best way, is have someone crank the car, and use a screw driver with the tip on the top of one injector, and the handle up against your ear (use a long screw driver!!!) If they are getting signal, you will hear them clicking. Next, check the plugs, look to see if they are wet after cranking a few times. It is also possible the FPR has gone bad, and is flooding the engine. Pull the vacume line off of the back of it, and see if any fuel leaks out of it.
Todd

 

Have you used a stethoscope and listened to an injector to see if they are firing? Could be an open in the injector harness. You never say if you have spark or not only that it ran before the problem. Even a bad solder joint in the DME will drive you crazy. Swap DME's with someone if you can after confirming the spark and injector question.

 

hmmm, ok, none of those I've tried yet. I'll go check it out. What is an FPR, if you don't mind my asking?

oh, and thanks for the tips!

 

Mike, the FPR is the little golden drum looking thing at the back of the fuel rail. on one end, there is a fuel line, the other is a vacuum line. take off the little black vacuum line. there is no hose clamp attached to that one.

FPR is a Fuel Pressure Regulator. I've got an arrow pointed to it in the pic I stole from someone on here

 

mike,

while you're cranking the engine, are you getting 1) spark at the plugs, 2) fuel from the injectors, and 3) a bouncing needle on the tach?

allen

 

Well, so far the FPR looks fine, no leakage from the vaccume line. All of the sensors look good in a cursory once over. Tomorrow I'll check out the sparks and injectors.

I wanted to thank you guys for your prompt and informed responses!

 

Hokay...I went over there today, helped Mike figure out where things are and what they do... Anyway, while I was there, we checked the FPR, and it's not leaking out the vacuum fitting, so that seems good. Anyway, Any recommendations on how to check spark without shocking the f*ck out of yourself? Also, with the DME, will my 1987 924S DME swap with his 1987 944 DME? if so, we may have to do that one if the others turn out bad.

 

HI MIKE!

 

: )

 

Over the years of plugging and unplugging the DME relay this occured with my 944. The problem was intermittent. Good luck.

Dean Felton

Go to this thread for pictures

https://rennlist.com/forums/924-931-944-951-968-forum/261435-whats-wrong-with-this-picture.html

 

Just got off the phone with Mike... He discovered there is no spark... his spark plug wires are around 20 years old... cracking, and could turn the boot almost 360*... so he's on his way to pick up new ones... apparently he got shocked when checking for spark... so I'm guessing it went through the cracks and arced to him, explaining the lack of spark if it's arcing to the engine... will report back after those are installed.

 

um...yeah, what he said...

not to do too much of a plug, but the cables at lindsey were the cheapest by about $20 after shipping...now I wait.

Thanks again everyone!

 

How can he have gotten shocked if there was no spark???

I see no mention of the speed/reference sensors. In the 911 world you should be able to get certain voltage to the sensors while cranking. It's been so long that I don't remember the exacts. I fought with my 911 for a week before I discovered it was the sensors.