Roka

While taking apart the front end of the engine of my new (to me) 87 S, I came across some electrical plugs in the engine bay that were not connected to anything.
Since there is evidence of prior shoddy work on this car it would not surprise me if these cables were just forgotten as part of previous work.

Any help in identification would be appreciated.




Suspect #1. Originates from the same harness as the hall sensor and the oil pressure sending unit plugs. The plug was neatly corralled with a zip tie so it may not have any use in the S?






Suspect #2. This plug(??) is connected both to the main harness and to a cable that extends from the fuel rail.






Suspect #3. Not electrical, perhaps some sort of vacuum line that was snipped? Originates from under the intake manifold.

V2Rocket

#1 is the connector for the optional oil pan level sensor from 1987+ models.
maybe you don't have the sensor installed? passenger side of oil pan above the drain plug.

#2 i can't see very well, can you take a new picture?

#3 in that location either the vac line to the heater control valve (above oil filter) or the fuel pressure damper (metal pot thing mounted to the intake manifold)

Roka

Thanks for the help. I'll try to take a better picture of #2 later tonight.

CVR_Rally

Weird. There is no hard vac line that goes that way on an S but yes check for heater control valve connection.

SloMo228

#3 is the vac line for the heater control valve. It should connect to that black plastic valve, looks like you're missing a rubber connector piece to do it. You should be able to get vacuum fittings at any local auto parts store.

Roka

Thanks to all who answered
#3 does indeed look like the vacuum line for the heater control valve.

I looked high and low for the oil level sensor on the oil pan but could not find it. Were those an optional equipment perhaps on the 87 S?

Here are a couple of additional pictures of #2. Since this didn't look like an actual plug I took apart the rubber boot. Inside I found a couple of wire with corroded ends that look like someone just placed together.
The yellow/black wire originates on the fuel rail and the red one from the main electrical harness.





Rubber boot




Rubber boot




Yellow/black wire




Red wire from main harness.

ramius665

#2 in your original pictures is the power steering low pressure warning sensor. It's exclusive to the 1987-1988 944S models and is essentially useless. Doesn't matter if it's attached or not, someone likely replaced the power steering pump with a non-S one which didn't have the sensor.

Roka

And so the mystery is solved. Thanks again for the help.

drgon

Also of some note: Porsche had a recall on that wire/sensor setup. There is a thread with an image of a Porsche offical recal letter and reccomended repair: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...h-failure.html

SloMo228

Yeah, you are best served by not connecting the PS wires. You should insulate the ends so they can't short and secure it out of the way of anything it could get wrapped up in. Those wires have been known to cause fires in the engine bay....

CVR_Rally

My S has the optional level sender. It is located on the right side of the oil pan at the bottom.

Interesting the the heater used a hard line as mine has a soft line coming from the other direction which when I replaced it that's what I used.

KevinGross

On #2, there was a factory recall because as it came from the factory, the circuit was not fused. I agree that it is not needed. I replaced my 944S power steering pump, when it leaked, with a donor from a 944 Turbo that lacks the on-pump switch. However, at another time we fiddled with the AFM to improve idle stability, not certain there was any relationship.

I'd make sure your car has had the recall done, even if you leave the switch circuit disconnected. Low risk, but I wouldn't leave the unfused +12 lying around.