brandencads

Hey, I'm new here.

I was driving down the mass pike yesterday in my 944 in traffic. i had just shifted from 1st to second gear, got to about 3k RPM's in 2nd, then all of a sudden my engine sputtered then i got this little vibration in my shifter, followed by my engine ceasing to run and a strange smell.

There was no smoke, there was no overheating, engine oil fine. I tried to restart the car to no avail. It doesnt even click over when i turn the key, almost like the starter is dead or something. Well, i had to have a flatbed come and pick me up in mass and drive for 2 hours back to connecticut with me.

The car is sitting in my garage right now, i have no idea what it could possibly be, maybe the alternator or the battery??

Any ideas/suggestions????


Thanks in advance,
Branden

SoCal Driver

Insufficent information.

When you try to start the car does the engine turn over? That is does the crank and the exposed belts rotate?

If so does the rotating engine sound too free? That is does it sound like a sewing machine?

I ask as the most likely failure is the timing belt and cam cross over chain. If this has happened then you have a $3,000 repair job on your hands.

pete944

Pull the black plastic timing belt cover and have a look. It sounds like you broke a belt. You may also want to remove the valve cover and take a look at the cam chain.
If it's either of those it may get expensive.

sweanders

Could it be the timing belt, when was it last replaced?

pete944

SoCal beat me to it.
It sounds like the balance belt broke first, hence the vibration. It may have taken out the timing belt when it broke, hence the no start.

sweanders

Damn you guys are fast.. Let's hope that it's something simple.

pete944

I'm not fast, I just have nothing else to do at work today.

dualblade

wait, he says it seems like his starter is dead. i thought the engine would crank too freely if the belt broke but his doesn't at all....

pete944

You're right. It would spin freely with the valves bent out of the way. It could be the DME relay, but what about the strange smell?

SoCal Driver

Strange smell = burnt belts. Pete has the scenario down. Balance belt then timing belt.

Engine locked up because the smaller "S" valves can be bent quite a bit compared to the larger 8 valve heads. This is why the CTR (cost to repair) is so high as the valve seats have to be repaired.

Fishey

I hear that little symbol coming to mind what is that symbol again? ohh yea lots of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Peckster

How old were your T-belts?

pete944

Put the car in neutral and put a 24mm deep socket on the crank and see if the engine will turn. If it doesn't turn then it's not the starter.

Chris_924s

Uh.. Mine did the same thing on Saturday.. I looked in the inspection hole- Whew, belts were still there
Turns out the alternator adjusting rod bolt had sheared completely off, alt belt was OK, no power due to the fact I had my blower fan on and no alternator spinning.
Normally when this happens (ala 944 fest!!) and the alt belt goes the alt light will come on- Mine didnt this time, or at least I didnt see it- the bulb will be checked when I replace the speedo cable!!

Just another thing to check for.. We all run like scared kids from the boogie man when we think about belts!!
Is it only me who wakes up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat just to reassure myself my belts are OK!!??

OK, I NEED HELP..

Hope for the best, and Welcome to Rennlist!

adrial

I just want to add that wiring for the starter is very simple.

There are no relays, nothing to really go wrong except for the starter itself or the ignition switch.