1983 Porsche 944
1983 Porsche 944 questions and answers
Find Great Deals on a 1983 porsche 944 at the best Automobile Search Engine Online, LemonFree.com
Q: How much for a decent 1983 Porsche 944 paint job?
How much do u think one would cost? I would want to get black. Thanks for all answers!
A: The paint job itself could be quite cheap depending on the specific paint you choose... but as with any such work, how good the results are will depend almost entirely on the prep work to do such a job. And this is also where most of the cost will come in.
Many cars from the 80s are quite difficult to repaint without lots of prep work... the use of lots of rubber trim precludes masking for inexpensive jobs (or at least if you want "decent" results), and the 944 definitely will have this problem.
The ideal situation would be complete disassembly and taking the car back to bare metal... etc... but such a job would be at least $10k, and could easily get closer to $20k depending on the choice of paint and other issues that could come up.
At the other end of the scale would be simply having someone mask it as best they could and respray... which could be a few hundred bucks. But either of these routes won't make sense here (the first beign far too much beyond the value of the car, making it cheaper just to find a mint condition 944 and buy it instead, and the second while cheap is just throwing money away as the paint job will look much worse than the car probably looks now within a year).
Somewhere in between those two is the route that will probably make sense... but the issues will remain. The less costly the work, the less you will get, while anything more will quickly outpace the car's value. Ultimately, look for some referrals to bodyshops in your area and get some quotes and information on exactly what they will do (and see if they have examples of similar work they've done), and you might, just might find someone that can deliver something in the $2-3k range (though you will never recoup this cost if you go to sell the car).
Q: How reliable is a 1983 Porsche 944?
does it need alot of maintenance, and if so, how often and how expensive is it? I'm seriously considering buying one very soon, but I need more information about the car. Any information would be helpful if you've ever owned or if you know about this kind of car. Thanks!
A: With Porsches it is all about the maintenance and how well it was taken care of. The parts will eat you alive if you are not careful. Get a very thorough mechanics check with someone very experienced with Porsches before you buy. If the engine is blown or close to it you will be buying a world of hurt. It is money well spent up front. They can last a long time if well-kept but spend the money first for a mechanic who knows their stuff.
Get a compression check for sure on all the cylinders. The A/C is very expensive to fix as well.
Q: My 1983 porsche 944 sunroof looks to be totally intact, no cracks etc. however when it rains water seeps in?
I went as far as sealing the frame of the roof with a sticky rubber sealant; no help though. Is this common with these models and if so what can I do about it? Thanks, any help would be highly appreciated.
A: Very common problem on 944s and 924s. Like the guy who answered before me, the drain lines are plugged. I have a 924 and two drain tubes are in the back hatch beneath the carpet on the left and right sides. Blow pressurized air through them to clear them out.
Q: how to repair a stuck hatchback on a 1983 Porsche 944?
The hatchback or rear trunk lid won't open and stuck how to repair or get it to release
A: First try to turn the key as hard as you can and pull up on the hatch hard. If that doesn't open it, crawl inside and unsnap the carpet at the rear of the hatch. You should be able to see the cables to pull the latch to open it.
They could be stuck or the cable could be broken.
Q: 1983 Porsche 944 wont start... any suggestions?
We just replaced the battery and spark plugs. It has plenty of gas as well. It cranks but it wont turn over. It starts to turn over but then stops suddenly. Any other suggestions to get it started?? Thanks!
A: When it starts to turn over, does it fire and then stops the engine turning with a sudden "jolt"? if so, check he timing is correct, could be too far advanced. Also, check starter motor and solenoid are working properly, also the connections to this. If you have had the car garaged for e few months, it could be that the fuel is considered "Old", sounds stupid but beleive me it can be this, i know, cos i rebuilt my porshe from scratch and found the same symptom, i changed the fuel and it went like a little rocket with no prob's. can't garantee this is the same as your prob' but it may help you on your way to finding the fault. best wishes, good luck.
Q: which car is more valuble a 1994 Mitsubishi 3000GT or a 1983 Porsche 944?
Which car has a better resale value and is it considered a classic car
A: it TOTALLY depends on the condition of the cars. both are old AND common so for collectors they are not a big deal. the 944 is probably a better choice but both will cost more than they are worth on short order should they need repair...and they WILL need repair!
Q: 1983 porsche 944.....turbo upgrade???
I am about to buy an 1983 porsche 944 2.5 liter natural aspirated motor. it runs pretty fast for a 4 cylinder. faster than any honda.....but...i wanted to know i purchased it for 500 bucks....wat a steal....great looking too and nice big sun roof. problem is im use to big v8 power...anyone know of any kits or any "how to install" a turbo into that motor? any help would greatly be appreciated. also does ne1 have the complete stats on this car. hp? wieght? torque? for a four banger...it really lights up the rears fairly easy.
A: i have a '83 944 .. 160 hp at 5500 rpm ..
im not POSITIVE on those stats but they are almost exact.
Q: my 1983 porsche 944 refuses to start. it turns over but there is no spark, my mech says its the crank sensor?
he first thought it was the ignition coil but we tried that and it wasn't it. any suggestions. P.S. I can't get my headlight mechanism to work, the light fixture stays up at all times I'm wondering if its a motor issue or relay or even a fuse issue... Appreciate any help I can get...
A: Thats a hard one. When it comes to electrical , there can be so many things causing the problem. I do think there are mechanics that can trace the problem down and replace the faulty part, instead of replacing parts untill you get lucky and replace the one that fixes it. Sorry I could not be of any help, but I do know that by just guessing and replacing parts untill you find the right one can be very expensive.
Q: 1983 Porsche 944 wont start..... help?
I have fuel going into the cylinders, and spark but no ignition. It will crank but not start. I have a brand new battery and new spark plugs in it. the fuel tank has plenty of fuel but it seems like its not going into the tank, almost like its over flowing.. It just doesnt want to start... any suggestions at all please. thanks
A: Cap and rotor are a likely problem...
Q: 1983 Porsche 944 wont start.. any ideas?
We just replaced the battery and spark plugs. It has plenty of gas as well. It cranks but it wont turn over. It starts to turn over but then stops suddenly. Any other suggestions to get it started?? Thanks!
A: Does your tach bounce when the engine is cranking? If not, then your reference sensors are bad. Otherwise, try replacing your DME relay, listen to see if you can hear the fuel pump running, check for spark, check your fuel pressure (could be the pump), check for spark.
Q: where R Porsche 944, 1983 vin # located at other than windshld and in the hood? both vin r not identical y?
The vin # thats located on my windshield is not identical to the one in the hood . There are 4 characters that are not, 4-6 and 9. Is that a big deal?
nevermind guys i found what im looking for.
A: No. The vin on the dash or A pillar is the important one. It just means the hood has been replaced at one point. Insurance, and registration should use the A-Pillar Vin plate.
Q: how hard is it to convert 1983 944 porsche to turbo?
A: Too hard to be worthwhile doing. It would also be very costly if you had a mechanic do it for you
Q: will 18 inch bbs rims fit on a 1983 porsche 944?
A: 18" is larger than the supposedly largest wheel you can fit... though realistically, there is no reason (with correctly sized tires and correct offsets on the rims) why you couldn't fit 18" wheels.
However, there may be problems finding the right size tires to make this work, you will almost certainly need to roll the fenders in the front (and maybe the back) to prevent rubbing, and you will probably KILL the performance of the car.
A 1983 944 does not have alot of power, it's main strength is being well balanced and that it handles well. 18" wheels will increase the grip by giving a larger contact area... but you'll get a much harsher ride. The real problem though will be loss of usable power... Since you probably have 15" or 16" wheels on the car now (as it came from the factory), you'll realize about 12-15 pounds of extra weight at each corner of the car... 12-15 pounds of unsprung rotating mass!
This will be about the same as losing 16hp (more than 10% of your car's total power). Likewise, you'll be losing a similar amount in braking, and losing alot of the handling you gained from the larger contact patch.
Q: I'm restoring a 1983 porsche 944, having problems getting fire beyond the coil, any help appreciated. Thanks
engine rotates good no broken belts just no fire coming out of the coil
what are you calling the sending unit??
A: If you are getting involved with restoration - you may want to join up with www.rennlist.com -- all Porsche people, very helpful. They have a forum where many of your questions are already answered, and they have a used parts section - great for checking out what you may want to do for your 944.
Q: 1983 Porsche 944?
I found one for sale by me and it is selling for 2,500 and it is in good/fair condition it has 94,000 miles on it. just wondering if it is a good choice of buying this if it is hard to get parts or something and to see if anyone new the horse power and stuff on it thanks
A: First, understand this: There is NO SUCH THING as a cheap Porsche. You will pay, one way or the other. If you are able to work on these particular cars yourself, you will save lots of money, but you will spend lots of time. If that's your hobby, then great, you are way ahead of the rest of us. But a qualified Porsche mechanic is going to charge you $85-125 per hour, whether he's working on your $2500 944 or your 997 Twin Turbo, and you are correct to assume that parts are going to be problematic. Not always hard to get, but often ridiculously expensive because they are no longer manufactured.
MOTIVATION: Ask yourself why you want to own this car. If it's to have a peppy car to zip around in, I'm afraid the '83 944 is going to let you down before too long. Early NA 944s are disappointing in terms of power. It's fun to corner in, but is a pig at low speeds (no power steering until 1984). If you want to own it because you think it would be cool to own a Porsche, ask yourself what you would think of a guy driving a $2500 beat up 944. "Desperate" is what comes to most people's minds. A classic 911 in concourse condition is one thing, and even a showroom condition or heavily (expensively) modified 951 (944 Turbo) can draw respect at Porsche Club gatherings; but a $2500 car is a $2500 car, and the Porsche badge on the front only makes it that much more dubious. 'Nuff said on that.
PERFORMANCE: for the '83, I believe you are looking at a 2.5L engine that puts out 163bhp @ 5800 rpm and 151lb/ft torque at 3000 rpm. 0-60 is a delinquent 8.4 seconds and top speed is a disenchanting 131 mph. Which is probably faster than you want to go in a 24-year-old car with very little in terms of safety features.
TROUBLE AREAS: Cam belts, oil coolers, sunroof drive gears, electrical issues surrounding the audio system, dim dash lights, engine fans that run continuously are all known issues with the early 944s. Many may have been addressed by the original owner.
GUT FEELING: How does the car look? Does its appearance say, "I have been cared for, inside and out?" or does it imply that at least one of the previous owners treated it like the $2500 car it has become, and drove it hard only to put it away wet, so to speak? Trust your gut.
THINGS YOU CAN LIVE WITH: The following are common problems that you shouldn't worry about. Most rear decks will creak going over bumps, due to delamination of the glass from the adhesive that holds it in the frame. Loose door handles, missing under-belly pans, slow power windows.
THINGS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITH: Bad body/paint work is virtually unrecoverable. Long term water leaks into the passenger compartment will destroy the carpet, and cause rust and mold that you haunt you until you get rid of the car. Avoid unknown title histories for obvious reasons -- there are ways around "salvage" titles for badly wrecked cars. Clutch health plays a large part in determining value because the cost of a Porsche clutch job can easily exceed the value of a car this "cheap." It's about a 20-hour job (roughly $100 per hour, plus parts). If the car has original wheels, check for availability and price of tires that will fit the car, because they are becoming quite rare.
SUMMARY: Check the title. Get a pre-purchase inspection -- a few hundred spent now will save you thousands later. Expect to pay and pay and pay to maintain the car, even if it is in great condition now. Expect to rapidly become disenchanted with the car's power, making you want to get a newer Porsche (it's an addiction). Expect no respect from mechanics, dealerships, or other Porsche drivers -- sorry, that's just the way it is when you're driving a car that cost as much as a '92 Tercel.
RECOMMENDATION: If you're in love with the 944 -- and certainly some Porsche fans are -- spend more to get a later year and better model. 1985.5 has many interior and A/C improvements. The 1987 944S is 188hp and 170lb/ft. The turbo is a much better car -- though more expensive when something goes wrong. The 1989 944S2 is 208hp and 207 lb-ft, with suspension improvements and much more.