Dales944

I need some advice. Two Thursday's ago, my rubber hub crapped out right before a weekend of Auto-X fun. The shop I called said they could do it in a day or two (I actually thought I might get to the Auto-X after all). TWELVE days later (yesterday) my car is ready. My wife drops me (and my spinal injured hound dog) off to pick up the car. I was going to leave the mech and take my dog to her follow-up vet appt. I pay, get in the car, and it won't start. It was OUT of fuel! They shop let me use an employee's truck and lent me a gas can. I drive up and get $2 worth of gas. Get back to the shop, car starts right up. I went to put it in gear and the shifter was totally loosy-goosy. I pull up on the shifter and it comes off along with the leather boot. I look in the rubber boot (through a tear) and see the lever is not connected to the linkage. I ask for a C-Clip. The mech locates my clip down in there and retrieves it and puts it back on. I find the large clip that holds the shifter/**** in my ash-tray. We clip the shifter on. I start the car again and drive away. After a couple hundred yards, the car starts having a fuel issue. The gas is cutting in and out and it even stalled a time or two on my way to the vet. Lurching and bucking due to fuel problems is not good for a dog with a slipped disk. From the vet's office I went to a gas station. I thought maybe there was still some air in the fuel system. After I put in about 8 gallons of gas, it still ran horribly. I called the mech and he said change the fuel filter (sediments clogged it when the tank went dry). I still tried driving it around a parking lot and then I noticed - The OIL light came on. I stopped, checked the dip-stick, the oil wasn't even on the stick! So, my crippled dog and I hobble back to the gas station and buy 3 quarts. I put one in, the level rose to the bottom of the dip. I put another in, the level went between min and max. I call the mech again, he says the lack of fuel pressure would have stopped fuel delivery, to keep me from burning up the engine. So, the car does run pretty good on my way home. Then, I decide to go out without the dog and see how the car's running (I really missed her those 12 days). It runs real good up to my local Taco Bell. I go inside (I hate drive-thrus).

When I leave Taco Bell with my food - The car WON'T START!!! It cranks and cranks but never fires. I had a hot-start problem before, I chalked it up to a faulty F.P. check valve - it would crank for like 10 seconds but it ALWAYS started. Now my car is dead at the Taco Bell.

So, what should I check first? I don't want it to go back to that mech. I thought I'd spray some starter fluid into the throttle body and see if there's a spark. If so, then I'd know it's a fuel issue, right? I've got a spare fuel filter. Do you think the reason it won't start is due to the fuel tank getting completely dry? Could I have totally crudded up the pump?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

pete944

Wow, that's why I don't go to mechanics. I simply don't trust them. I hear too many stories about mechs fixing one thing on a car and when the owner gets it back it has four or five new problems. With the help of this forum I'm not afraid to tackle any job on my car.
You may as well change the fuel filter, it could be all clogged up. Check the reference and speed sensors. They may have messed them up when they put in the clutch.
If I think of anything else I'll post it here.
Hope to see ya this weekend.

Dales944

Thanks Pete. I was hoping to do the clutch myself, but it went out at a very bad time. Anyway, how do I check those sensors???

tifosiman

What's the name of the mechanic so that we can all avoid them in the future? How could they have tested your clutch with a test drive if the linkage wasn't hooked up?

Anyway, I am in agreement with Pete. I remember a 911&Porsche magazine article last year where the author of the magazine had the same sort of problem and it was the speed sensor. Apparently it is a b@tch to get at, and it is in the vicinity of the clutch so that makes sense that this could be related to the work that was done.

If you want, I can get that magazine out for you when I get home tonite. It went over the process step by step.

Unfortunately, I am catching a plane early tomorrow and won't be back until late friday. Wanna come by and pick it up tonite?

Tifo

qoncept944

Could I possibly get one of you to scan the article? I'm having a cold start problem after a clutch job as well. I've changed my plugs, distributer cap, ran some injector cleaner through it and I'm changing my fuel filter as soon as it gets here in the mail.

pete944

The sensors are on the back side of the head almost directly over the TDC window in the bellhousing. There are 2 wire connectors, check to see if they're tightly connected.
If you can't get the mag from Tifo, I've got it also. If you can't pick it up I may be able to run it out to you.

Dales944

Tifo - thanks, if someone can answer my next question I'd love to come pick up that mag tonight.

<Ignorance> Because my car ('83) has a cable driven speedo, would I still have a speed sensor??? Or, are the two totally unrelated? </Ignorance>

pete944

You still have it. The speed sensor sends a signal to the DME.

Dales944

Ooops, thanks Pete. You squeaked in there while I was typing. I could just get the mag from you, I think you're closer to me than Jeremy. I wouldn't dream of having you run it over to me. But the question still stands - does my early car have the same thing?

Qoncept - I have scanner, if I get the mag I'll scan it and share.

Oh, and the shop was Oakwood Automotive. Supposedly specializing in foreign cars. There were two 944's on the lot when I had it towed there.

billybones

The sensors are at the top of the bell housing at the back of the motor. THere is two rectangle connectors in a bracket follow the wires down behind the motor and you can see the switches. I would make sure that they were plugged in at the bracket to start with. The other thing and most common is the Dme relay in the fuse box. not working properly This controls the fuel pump. Might be dirty. HTH.

Dales944

Jesus Pete! You're fast. Ignore my question about having a sensor.

Thanks again.

qoncept944

bump

*Michael.*

Here is a little visual help with the sensors. One is for crank reference and the other is for speed (RPM signal). If either is messed up your car won't start.

Picture 1 is where the sensors plug into the wiring harness. The left side goes to the wiring harness and the right goes down to the sensors...

<img src="http://members.rennlist.com/speeddemon/Clutchhelp1.jpg" alt=" - " />

To find the acutal sensors just look right below where they connect as shown in the above pic. Make sure they are securely connected to the bell housing mount. If you can unscrew the bolts that hold them in and move them around while someone tries to start the car.

<img src="http://members.rennlist.com/speeddemon/Clutchhelp2.jpg" alt=" - " />

There is also a ground that attaches to the top of the bellhousing, I am not sure if this would cause the problem you are experiencing. I couldn't get a good picture of it, it is almost midnight here..

Hope this helps a bit. Let us know the outcome. I can't really think of anything else that would keep it from starting. I don't understand why you were low on oil either?? Did they change your rear main seal??

*Michael.*

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*Michael.*

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