Steve Ody

After $1500 on a water pump and timing belts i found out that the computer in my 84 944 is broke and the car will not start.

Is there a proper term for this "computer"? maybe a part number?

Has anyone had to replace thiers?
Im wondering what a general price range is and how hard it is to replace. Is getting a used one an option?

Thanks for any input you have.
-Steveo

Carl Carlson

It's called a DME (digital motor electronic).

It's real expensive. There are rebuilt ones available on the web.

Usually there is nothing wrong with the DME. It's just mysterious and too easy to blame. Most starting problems seem to be caused by faulty wiring or dead sensors. The two clasical problems are 1) dead DME relay and 2) dead flywheel sensors. Either can cause the DME to not send power to the coil. Tapping the flywheel sensors often helps.

My advice is don't touch the dme unless you have rock solid evidence that it is to blame.

Steve Ody

Thanks for the info.

The car is a a repair shop here in town and they said that they had the car running once they put the "computer" from another 944 into the car, but with my original one it wont start.

After reading a thread about Vertex auto parts, i checked their site and they have one for $480. Quite a difference from the $1800 (part alone) the shop quoted me.

Thanks
-Steveo

Steve Ody

oh, i should mention another thing. The shop that is working on it said mine is a euro model.

Is that going to make a difference in which DME I will need? I dont see any designation on types in the part catalogs.

-Steveo

Oilslick964

There is a particular relay (on my 964 anyway) that controls the fuel pump. I was having trouble with my car not starting so I called my wrench and he had me pull the DME relay, tap it on the ground a couple of times, relace it and guess what? VROOOM! $26 for a new relay and I'm back on the road!, Maybe worth a try!

Peckster

Do you get a new one for $1800?

If you don't trust the shop, I'd make sure you get your old one back and try to make sure it's YOUR old one. Some people have fixed them by resoldering. Or you could try that first on your current one. Make sure you mark it so you know it's yours.

Always the cynic...

ERAU-944

if that fails i have a few extras... i know they both work, and its cheaper than buying one from someone else. $400 if you're interested

email ERAU944@hotmail.com
good luck!
Mike

Peckster

[quote]Originally posted by Carl Carlson:
<strong>It's called a DME (digital motor electronic).

.</strong><hr></blockquote>


I think you're right, but aren't we missing a noun here? Electronic what? Unit? Whatever.

GMS

We specialise working on Porsches in Seattle. The DME control unit can be rebuilt, we send them to California. You should always replace the DME relay, part number 993-615-227-00 every 5 years or so. There are several different part numbers for the control units, but some have been superceeded and rationalised into different numbers.

If your car is a "Euro" it will have several differences; no side marker lights, it will have lights in the front bumper as well as the air dam, an "inported by" plate on the left hand door pillar with a WPOZZZ......... vin number on it and it won't have the "complies with USA regulations " decal.

Good used control units are always on Ebay.

Steveody

Sorry to bump this back to the top...

ERAU944: Expect an email

GMS: Thanks for the info, I'd be interested in chatting with you via email, maybe on how hard this is to replace, etc.. If you are open to that.

Thanks for all the posts.
-Steveo
(yes i have a different account now, bad bout with the nimda virus together with the fact that i have a new email account)

led

[quote]Originally posted by GMS:
<strong>If your car is a "Euro" it will have several differences; no side marker lights, it will have lights in the front bumper as well as the air dam, an "inported by" plate on the left hand door pillar with a WPOZZZ......... vin number on it and it won't have the "complies with USA regulations " decal.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Don't the euro models have the side marker lights behind the front tires?

*Michael.*

yeah they do...

*Michael.*

[quote]Originally posted by Steve Ody:
<strong>Quite a difference from the $1800 (part alone) the shop quoted me.

</strong><hr></blockquote>

I wouldn't trust that shop at all...

Danno

What ?!@#$%!! Aren't shops the most reliable and honest source of info?

There could actually be any number of things that can get in the way of a properly-functioning DME. As mentioned before, it could be the DME relay. Also suspect is the voltage driving the coils that activates the DME portion of the relay. This voltage is supplied by the ALARM BOX and if you got a fault with your door-switches or some other logic circuit, the alarm box can disable your DME completely! Talked to a guy just today about that and we tracked down his non-powered DME to an alarm-box that was completely filled with water!!! <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

jim968

[quote]Originally posted by Peckster:
<strong> I think you're right, but aren't we missing a noun here? Electronic what? Unit? </strong><hr></blockquote>

Peck, just a guess that 1t's the translation of DME from German to English that leaves it dangling like that. Kinda like translating stuff from Canadian to English...

JIm, more coffee, then off to play with insulation in the atic...