mideastmafia

really hard to explain the conditions or symptoms but here it goes.

periodically, my head lights wont go up. i will hit the switch, and the fogs will come on DIM, but the head lights wont go up.. at the same time, the horn honks REALLY quietly if i push it, and the stereo wont turn on.

other than that, everything is fine.. also, sometimes the clock light turns off when i turn the headlights on, and wont come on until i tap the dash.

the stereo will intermittently turn off while driving as well. it seems as if it turns off when i hit over a bump. this also triggers the headlights not working..

it has to be some kinda electrical short, but i dont know where to start.

anyone??


SHAUN

IceShark

It is not a short: your car would burn up or at least kill the battery.

These old 944s are a disaster on wiring as I have been saying for quite awhile. To start with, replace the wiring that attaches to the battery. Both positive and ground. Add a supplemental ground off the engine block to the frame rail under the headlight bucket.

All my posts on electrics and headlights fall on deaf ears it seems. <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

mideastmafia

[quote]Originally posted by IceShark:
<strong>To start with, replace the wiring that attaches to the battery. Both positive and ground. Add a supplemental ground off the engine block to the frame rail under the headlight bucket. </strong><hr></blockquote>


could you clarify what you mean? are you saying to replace the whole ground strap and positive wiring?


SHAUN

IceShark

With your condition, probably yes, Shaun. Some work but that would be best.

Many people that have installed my headlight package, which includes a supplemental ground, have reported that all sorts of prior electrical problems have gone away. That is real World experience.

Turby

I have no useful info, but that sounds like one hell of a electrical problem!!!

Hans

IceShark:

Where does your additional ground wire connect to the motor?
Front lifting lug?
TIA
TakeCare

Kuma

I have had my share of electric problems with my '87 944 n/a. Currently the car is just sitting in my driveway till somone can fix it for less than the car cost me. It's a problem that began happening about a year after i bought the car. MY batery would drain DEAD in a matter of 15 minutes. BRAND NEW BATTERY!! Any how, at first a local electric shop found that the hatch release motor was the problem, so i just disconnectd it. It worked fine for all of about a month then it began doing it again. GEEZ, you know how embarresing it is having to disconnect your battery when you go somewhere if you know you will be in the place for longer than a few minutes. I went through about 8 new batteries in less than 3 months. Any suggestions? BTW, I live in Houston, and if ayone knows a place that won't charge a fortune, or ask for my left ******** to fix the problem.

IceShark

Hi Hans, my friend,

You will probably gig me on this, but I tell people to use the upper balance shaft housing bolt. And if they don't like that the motor pull eye, as you suggested.

The balance housing has an inner O-Ring seal and isn't particularly stressed. So no screwing up original flat seals. Good long bolt into the block. A perfect place in my mind.

Kuma, you have a drain. A major drain. You need to pull fuses with the ampmeter on and find out which area is the problem.

Brian Wilson

I had similar problems with the ground that connects to the upper part of the bell housing next to the crank ref sensor.

I took it off and sanded it down and just cleaned up the area and everything is fine now.

I hate electronics.

Hans

Thanks Shark
I have the air filter box out at the moment and was looking for a convenient spot for the extra ground.
Just wondered where you hooked up to.
TakeCare

IceShark

Hans, well you are right there. Do it. You need a 5/16" (8mm) eye on the terminal. It works great and I have used for many years. Only a 2 foot length (with plenty to spare for vibration) to get down to the left lighting ground point on the frame rail under the headlight bucket. That is a 6mm bolt (1/4" eye needed).

Hell, e-mail me your address and I will send you a spare ground from the headlight kits I made.

Hans

IceShark
[quote]..I will send you a.. <hr></blockquote>Thanks for the offer.
Got the wire and the lugs in more than sufficient quantities and just need to "cut & paste".
Live in Europe, so by the time it gets here transport has killed us and I have grown a full beard
Whenever you are around, let me know, we will try some of that liquid investment the other thread is talking about
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
TakeCare

IceShark

I was just going to send you an extra one for free. I lost exact count on the last build and ended up with 26 grounds rather than 25.

Anyway, make sure you solder after crimping. No sense ever doing this again.

triscadek

I'm just waiting for mine to pop up.

JohnK944

If IceShark put together a rewiring kit that would solve alot of the common problems with our 944 cars, I would be a customer.