944 Help - Big Bill to be expected

[mr_yogi]

Hi Everyone,
Just a quick question hopefully someone can answer regarding my 944 turbo. It’s booked in for a full service next Tuesday (it was booked in for a couple of weeks ago but I broke my toe). It was serviced about a year ago but did not have a 6K/ 6months service as it had only done a few hundred miles since the service, but has done about 1000miles since I got it nearly 2 months ago.

It’s been running perfectly but on Saturday I took it on a run to Stourhead (over an hours drive) and after a few overtaking manovers towards the end of the journey it developed a faint ticking sound in sync with the revs. I backed off for the next few miles parked up and enjoyed the day. Due to heavier traffic on the way home I didn’t get many chances to put my foot down, there was no ticking and I’d forgotten about it. Then on Tuesday I took the car to work (just under an hours drive) Enjoyed the car and didn’t notice anything. But on the way back, when nearly home I “pressed on” and by time I was in the next town with the windows down the ticking (almost like a chuffing too) was very prevalent (bouncing off the houses and stone walls). The car didn’t seem to rev freely and seemed strained, I took it very slow for the last few miles and when I parked up it definitely wasn’t idling as smoothly as normal. I’m not going to use it again until I take it in on Tuesday, but does anyone have any Ideas what might be up, should I brace myself for a big bill?

Also on a different note how much would you expect an independent to charge to fit a sports exhaust, after seeing the videos on the FabSpeed website I quite like the idea of one.

Thanks in Advance

Kristin

[williamp]

mr_yogi said:

Hi Everyone, Just a quick question hopefully someone can answer regarding my 944 turbo. It’s booked in for a full service next Tuesday (it was booked in for a couple of weeks ago but I broke my toe). It was serviced about a year ago but did not have a 6K/ 6months service as it had only done a few hundred miles since the service, but has done about 1000miles since I got it nearly 2 months ago. It’s been running perfectly but on Saturday I took it on a run to Stourhead (over an hours drive) and after a few overtaking manovers towards the end of the journey it developed a faint ticking sound in sync with the revs. I backed off for the next few miles parked up and enjoyed the day. Due to heavier traffic on the way home I didn’t get many chances to put my foot down, there was no ticking and I’d forgotten about it. Then on Tuesday I took the car to work (just under an hours drive) Enjoyed the car and didn’t notice anything. But on the way back, when nearly home I “pressed on” and by time I was in the next town with the windows down the ticking (almost like a chuffing too) was very prevalent (bouncing off the houses and stone walls). The car didn’t seem to rev freely and seemed strained, I took it very slow for the last few miles and when I parked up it definitely wasn’t idling as smoothly as normal. I’m not going to use it again until I take it in on Tuesday, but does anyone have any Ideas what might be up, should I brace myself for a big bill? Also on a different note how much would you expect an independent to charge to fit a sports exhaust, after seeing the videos on the FabSpeed website I quite like the idea of one. Thanks in Advance Kristin

Depends where the noise was comign from. If you are feeling brave, open the bonnet and start the car. listen to any noises: top of engine, exhaust? Does it rev freely? If not, it might be a blocked airway.

The injectors on our cars also tick quite loudly- mine does, and it soudns like a tappet making noise but its the injectors.

If you can diagnose where it is coming from it will help.

Will
89 Turbo

[steve 944t]

maybe a plug lead braking down or faulty spark plug, causing it to run on 3 cylinders?

Also worth checking all the vacuum lines in case one has popped off.

Steve

[James s]

Would second the vacuum lines option. I had a similar thing happen - horrible noise keeping pace with the revs. Turned out to be a loose hose cuasing a diaphram to virbate and resonate with something else - not sure what.
Give the black pipe a gentle tug and look for loose ends

I expected a massive bill and it cost nothing. I use super glue to keep those pesky lines stuck together though there are far better solutions if it is a regular problem

[slim_boy_fat]

I have the echaust from ESS in mine. Including the deCAT pipe. Its a nice pipe, made by Janspeed and has a 6x4 oval exit, you can also get a twin pipe one. Its about £600 for the deCAT and rear box. The good thing is, its not too loud, just a nice bruble at tickover and growl when reving.

As for the other stuff, its very had to tell, but as has been suggested a vaccume line might be the one. If you use a good independant very few things are very very expensive.
Clutch, ABS and major engine failure being the big ones.

[mr_yogi]

Thanks for the replys guys. If i'm feeling brave at the weekend i might take a little peak around the engine bay.

I did open the bonet when i parked up the other day before I turned the engine off, but the ticking wasn't really there (the engine just wasn't smooth). On the way home the ticking was much louder at higher revs.

Thanks Again

Kristin

[mr_yogi]

slim_boy_fat: Did the £600 include fitting? Do you know at what year cats became compulsory? Mine is an 89 (F). I assume if you de-cat a car from when cats were compulsory it would fail the MOT.

Cheers

[domster]

Cats are mid 1992 onwards.

You'll be perfectly OK with a 1989.

[slim_boy_fat]

mr_yogi said:

slim_boy_fat: Did the £600 include fitting? Do you know at what year cats became compulsory? Mine is an 89 (F). I assume if you de-cat a car from when cats were compulsory it would fail the MOT. Cheers

You will be fine with the 89.

No thats not including fitting, but a good independat would take about £50 off you to fit it at the most.

[k27]

Check for broken exhaust stud, 2nd from the front is the most common, just try nipping them up with a spanner. Yopu may find one won't tighten at all.
Broken stud is around 5-6 hrs by a skilled mechanic. all the pipes have to come off.
If this is the problem, replace them all while you are there.

[uktrucks]

I agree on vacuum piping on "straining" feeling, it affects boost, fueling etc. The ticking noise could be absolutely anything but when driving a 944T in built up area's enthusiastically you can hear the wastegate dumping and it makes a clicking sound ?

Best to just get it to someone like Steve Bull who is down your way [01380-725444] a quick drive with him should diagnose the problem and a cure can then be worked out

Allan

[mr_yogi]

Thanks everyone for your replies. It's had it's service now and running as normal

No extra charges just a standard 12K service and a couple of things to keep an eye on, now for the embarrassing bit. Turns out it was low on oil, only had about 1 litre left, even had to go through the humiliation of being shown where the dip stick was and where to put the oil The garage were really nice about it but I still felt like a school boy who hadn't done his homework. I must admit I had no idea these things can drink 1 litre or more a month

Anyway everything's ok now and thanks for all your help

Kristin

EDIT: Alan, does Steve Bull run a garage, and where abouts is he?

>> Edited by mr_yogi on Thursday 9th September 23:19

[AJLintern]

You're oil level warning sensor must be knackered - the red '!' light on the dash should come on if the oil gets below minimum on the dipstick!