tow PORSCHE 944 1987 1.G User Guide

Neutral
Shift to this position for standing with brakes
applied.
Never use Neutral for coasting downhill.
You may lose control over the car because of reduced braking and cause serious damage to the transmission when a driving range has to be selected. CAUTION: While driving with the automatic speed control set (at speeds above 25 mph or 40 km/h), do not bring shift lever into
the Neutral position as excessive engine
rpm and severe engine damage may result.
Maneuvering
When alternating between forward (D) and
reverse (R) (for instance, while maneuvering
the car into a tight parking space), only shift
into Reverse or Drive
when the car has come to a full stop and the engine is running at idle
speed.
Stuck in snow, mud or sand
When alternating between Drive and
Reverse in an effort to free the vehicle,
depress the accelerator pedal lightly while the
transmission is in gear, and release the
accelerator pedal while shifting. Do not race
the engine and avoid spinning the wheels.
Do not repeat "rocking" back and forth
with wheels spinning at high engine speed
and heavy throttle, as serious damage may be caused to the automatic transmission
and other critical parts.
If you cannot free the vehicle after a few
"rocking" attempts, call for help or a tow truck.
Accelerator Pedal

For good fuel economy we recommend
smooth and even acceleration. Very fast, racy
driving, alternating between full throttle and
hard braking, raises the fuel consumption
considerably. Also, tires and brake linings
wear faster. It is more economical to drive smoothly and at a fairly constant speed.
Accelerator "Kickdown"
When depressing the accelerator pedal you
will find resistance near the full throttle position. By applying greater pressure the
pedal can be pushed beyond this point to the
kick-down position. The transmission will now
shift automatically into the next lower gear to
give you maximum acceleration, and only shift up again after the engine has reached
maximum speed in that particular gear.
WARNING
Be careful when using the kickdown on
slippery roads. Rapid acceleration may
cause skidding.
Please observe the following when applying
the accelerator kickdown:
With the selector lever in D, you can apply the kickdown to make the transmission shift down into second gear when driving below 88 mph
or 140 km/h and down to first gear when
driving below 47 mph or 75 km/h.
With the selector lever in "2", you can apply
the kickdown to make the transmission shift
down into first gear when driving below 47
mph or 75 km/h.
As soon as you release the pedal from the kickdown position the next higher gear is
automatically engaged.
Please observe all local and national speed limits.

55





Hatchback
(If vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft alarm
see "Anti-theft alarm".)
Release switch
To unlock the hatchback, operate the control
switch on the left side underneath the
dashboard.
If the hatchback does not open of its own
accord, it must be raised by hand.
Never operate the switch while the vehicle
is in motion. Lock

The hatchback can also be opened with the
ignition/door lock key. Turn key
counterclockwise and lift hatchback up.
To close, push hatchback down firmly until
both locks snap shut. Pull up on hatchback to
make sure it is securely locked.
Keep the hatchback locked at all times to
prevent unauthorized access to the
vehicle.
Be careful when removing large objects
through th
e rear. Sharp edged objects may damage the defogger wires in the rear
window.
WARNING
Because of inherent hazards, we do not
recommend transporting objects larger
than those fitting safely into the luggage
compartment. Keep the hatchback closed
while dr
iving to prevent poisonous exhaust gas from being drawn into the vehicle.

56

Electric / removable
prop-up roof
With the ignition on , you can raise (a) or
lower (b) the roof at the rear by depressing the front or rear half of the rocker switch in the
center console.
Removing roof

Clean the roof prior to removal to avoid
scratches and soiling your clothes.
1. Turn the ignition switch to position 1 (see
ignition/starter switch section). Depress rear half of rocker switch (a) until the prop-up
linkage mechanism unlocks the roof.
2.
Loosen front holding clamps.
3. Lift up and remove roof.
4. Store roof in the pouch provided in luggage
compartment.
Installing roof
1. From above hold roof at a slight angle and
insert in wind deflector grooves and front
guides.
2.
Lower roof toward rear.
3. Turn the ignition switch to position 1.
Depress front half of rocker switch (b) until
the prop-up linkage mechanisms has
locked the roof.
4.
Secure the front holding clamps.
59





Manual Operation
If the electrical drive mechanism should fail,
the roof can be closed manually. The motor for electrical operation is located at the left
sidewall of the luggage compartment, behind
the carpeting.
1. Remove the clips from the carpet and fold
back the carpet.
2.
Take off the cover from the adjusting screw. 3. With the spark plug spanner turn the now
visible hexagon nut clockwise until the roof
is closed.
4. Replace cover for screw.
Do not operate the rocker switch. Let your
Porsche dealer take care of the necessary
repair.

60

Interior Glass

Use the same cleaning agents as for the
exterior and polish dry with a soft cloth or
paper towel.
Fabric
Use a vacuum cleaner or a soft bristle brush
to remove dust and loose dirt from carpeting,
upholstery, headliner and other trim. Dirt
stains can usually be removed with lukewarm
soap water or an all purpose cleaner solution,
or a dry foam cleaner. For greasy, oily and
other stubborn stains, use a spot remover. Do
not pour the liquid on the fabric. Dampen a
clean cloth and rub carefully, starting at the
edge and working inward.
Safety belts
Keep belts clean. Very dirty belts may not
retract properly. Do not remove belts from the
vehicle to be cleaned. Do not use chemical
cleaning agents, bleach or dyes. They
contain corrosive properties which will
weaken the webbing. Do not allow inertia
reel safety belts to retract before they are
completely dry.

For cleaning, use a mild soap water solution.
Let belts dry out thoroughly and away from
direct sun light.
Plastic, vinyl and leatherette
Use a clean, damp cloth or sponge to keep
this trim free from dust. For other spoilage,
use a lukewarm all purpose cleaning solution
or a mild saddle soap for vinyl and leather
trim. Remove water spots and soap traces
with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Use a clean, soft cloth to rub dry.
Grease, tar or oil stains can be removed with
a clean cloth or sponge soaked with all
purpose cleaner or with a solvent type vinyl or
leather cleaning agent.
Occasionally apply a colorless vinyl or leather
preservative to retain the material's luster and
pliability.
Leather and leather trim
To keep leather seats and trim beautiful and
soft, they should be cleaned and cared for
regularly. Clean leather with a soft, white
woolen cloth and a mild soapwater solution. Do not use chemical or abrasive cleaning
agents. Do not let moisture seep through
perforated surfaces to safeguard against
corrosion and cracking from underneath. After cleaning, apply a leather preservative re-
commended by Porsche to all dry surfaces with a clean and soft woolen cloth. Let your
Porsche dealer advise you on the use of the
leather preservation product.
Corrosion protection
The engine compartment, as well as all
engine, transmission, front and rear axle
assembly surfaces have been treated with a
wax based coating at the factory for protection against corrosion.
WARNING
Do not apply additional undercoating or
rustproofing on or near the exhaust
manifold, exhaust pipes, catalytic
converter or heat shields. During driving,
the substance used for undercoating could overheat and cause a fire.
Engine Compartment
If it becomes necessary to steam clean or
otherwise wash the engine compartment, the
wax based protective coating is usually lost. It is therefore important to reapply this
protective coating to all engine compart-

65

ment panels, flanges, cavities, seams and
engine assembly surfaces.
When washing the engine compartment,
only use commercially available grease
cutting solvents made especially for this
purpose. Carefully fol
low directions printed on the container by the manufacturer.
Chassis
The lower body shell of your Porsche is
thoroughly protected against corrosion.
However, it is recommended to have the
underbody inspected twice a year. Any
detected damage to the undercoating, due to
road hazards, should be repaired promptly. Oil based protective sprays must not be applied. Only tar or wax based anti corrosion protectors are compatible with the factory applied undercoating. Before application, road dirt and oily substances must be removed.
Whenever the lower body shell, axle,
transmission or engine assemblies are
repaired, the lost anti-corrosion coating of
the affected surfaces should be renewed.
Let your Porsche dealer advise and assist you.



66

944

944 S

944 Turbo Engine Oil Level
Engine oil consumption
It is normal for your engine to consume oil.
The rate of oil consumption depends on the
quality and viscosity of oil, the speed at which
the engine is operated, the climate, road
conditions as well as the amount of dilution
and oxidation of the lubricant.
Because of these variables, no standard rate
of oil consumption can be established, but
drivers should expect an increased oil
consumption at high speeds and when the
engine is new.
The engine in your vehicle depends on oil to lubricate and cool all of its moving
parts. Therefore, the engine oil should be
checked regularly and kept at the required level.
Make it a habit to have the engine oil level checked with every fuel filling. Lack of sufficient engine oil may lead to severe engine damage. The oil pressure warning light is not an oil level indicator.
Checking oil level
To get a true reading, the car should be on
level ground. After turning off the engine, wait
a few minutes for the oil to return to the oil
sump.
1. Pull out dipstick and wip
e it dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.
2. Reinsert dipstick: push it in all the way
down for an accurate reading.
3.
Pull dipstick out again. The oil level is
correct if it is between the "max" and "min"
marks on the dipstick.
4.
If oil level is below "min" mark, or not
showing on dipstick, add oil immediately.
The difference between the "max" and "min",
marks is about 1 U.S. quart or 1 liter. 69



Adding engine oil Only add the amount of oil that is needed. The correct oil grade and viscosity
recommendation is given under "Engine Oils". 1. Remove oil filler cap and remove dipstick.
2. Top up with quality oil labeled "API Service
SE or SF".
3.
Check oil level with the dipstick. The "max"
mark should not be exceeded.
4.
Replace cap and tighten securely.
WARNING
The oil filler cap and dipstick must be
secure to avoid oil spills and resulting fire
hazard.

944-Turbo
Engine Guard
Before working on the underside of the engine for the 944 Turbo, remove the two-part engine guard.

70

944 S

944 Turbo

9. When air bubbles at vent plug disappear, tighten the plug (required torque is 15-18
Nm or 11-13 ft lb).
10.
Check coolant level in tank and top up to
"max" mark, if necessary.
11.
Reinstall the expansion tank filler cap. After a test drive recheck the coolant level. See "filling capacities" for amount
required.


Manual Transmission oil
Both transmission and final drive are
combined in one housing. The lubricant used
is hypoid oil.
The manual transmission oil should be
checked and changed by your Porsche dealer
and at the intervals specified in your
Maintenance Schedule.
77



Automatic Transmission Fluid The torque converter and the transmission are lubricated with Automatic Transmission Fluid
(ATF). The final drive requires hypoid oil SAE
90 only.
Do not tow the car or run the engine
without ATF in the transmission.
Checking the ATF level
The ATF has to be checked at frequent
intervals, for instance, when the engine oil is
being checked or at least at the specified
intervals (see Maintenance schedule). A
correct ATF level is very important for the
proper functioning of the transmission. The
reading should be done when the ATF is warm, with the engine idling, the selector lever in Neutral and the parking brake applied.
The level of the ATF fluid can be checked
visually through the transparent reservoir. This reservoir is located at the rear end of the
transmission housing. You have enough ATF
if the fluid level is between the Min. and Max.
marks. It should never be above or below
these marks.
The difference between the two marks is 1
U.S. pint or 0.4 liter.
If level is too high or too low do not just add or
drain ATF. Have your dealer check and
correct the cause as soon as possible.
For correct ATF specifications, see "Filling
Capacities".
Changing the ATF

The ATF and the hypoidoil in the final drive
has to be changed at specified intervals (see
Maintenance schedule).
78

must be charged at least every 6 weeks. A
discharged battery allows rapid formation of
sulfates, leading to premature deterioration of
the plates.
WARNING
Charge battery in a well ventilated area.
Keep away from open flame or electrical
spark. Do not smoke. Hydrogen gas
generated by the battery is explosive.
Electrolyte fluid that may spill during charging should be washed off with a solution of warm water and baking soda to neutralize the acid. If you get electrolyte in your eyes or on your
skin, immediately rinse with cold water for
several minutes and call a doctor.
Never charge a frozen battery. It may
explode because of gas trapped in the ice.
Allow a frozen battery to thaw out first. Never use a fast charger as a booster to start the engine. This may seriously damage the
vehicle's electrical system and the charger.
Fast charging a battery is dangerous and
should only be attempted by a competent
mechanic with the proper equipment.
Slow battery charging
WARNING
Heed all warnings and follow instructions
that come with your battery charger.


Disconnect battery cables and remove the
battery.
All vent caps should be open. If fluid level is low, it should be topped up to the full mark in
each cell.
Connect charger cables.
Charger cables must be connected
POSITIVE (+) to POSITIVE (+) and
NEGATIVE (-) to NEGATIVE (-).
Do not connect or disconnect charger cables while charger is operating. Switch on charger. Normally, a battery should be charged at no
more than 10 percent of its rated capacity.
Rated capacity of the battery in your vehicle
is listed on the battery housing.
After charging, turn off charger and disconnect charger cables. Tighten the vent caps and reinstall battery.



91

Emergency Starting with Jumper Cables
WARNING
Improper use of booster battery to start a
vehicle may cause an explosion.
Lead-acid batteries generate explosive
gases. Keep sparks, flame and lighted
cigarettes away from batteries.
Do not charge a frozen battery, thaw it out
first. Gas trapped in the ice may cause an
explosion.
No attempt should be made to jump start any vehicle with a low electrolyte level in the
battery.
Check electrolyte level of each cell. If
necessary, fill with distilled water to just
above plates.
Make sure the voltage of both batteries is the same. The capacity (Ah) of the booster battery
should not be lower than that of the
discharged battery.
Vehicle with discharged battery: turn off
lights and accessories, remove key, move
lever to N or P and set parking brake.
Vehicle with booster battery should not be
running. Disconnect ground cable.
Remove vent caps from booster battery and
discharged battery. Preferably lay a cloth
over open vents to reduce explosion hazard.

How to use jumper cables WARNING
To avoid serious personal injury and damage to the vehicle, heed all warnings
and instructions of the jumper cable
manufacturer. The jumper cables must be long enough so that neither vehicles nor cables touch
another.
Improper hook-up of jumper cables can
ruin the alternator.
Always connect POSITIVE (+) to POSITIVE
(+), and NEGATIVE (-) to ground on engine
block.
1. Connect clamp of plus-cable to positive (+) terminal of discharged battery (1).
2.
Connect clamp on opposite end of cable to
positive (+) terminal of booster battery (2).
3.
Connect clamp of minus-cable to negative
(-) terminal of booster battery (3).
4.
Connect clamp on opposite end of cable to
a bare metal part bolted directly to the
engine block or to the engine block itself (x)
of car with discharged battery. Connect
clamp as far away from battery as possible.
5. Start engine in the usual manner. If engine
fails to start, do not continue to crank but
contact nearest workshop.
6.
With engine running, remove jumper cables from both cars in exact reverse order: Steps 4 through 1.


7. Reconnect ground cable of booster battery.
A - Discharged Battery
B - Booster Battery
Do not try to start car by pushing or towing.
Damage to the catalytic converter, the
transmission, and/or other components of the
car may result.

92

Replacing Bulbs
944 / 944 S

944 Turbo To avoid short circuits, turn off the respective
electrical components when changing light
bulbs.
Keep bulbs free of grease and dirt. Hold
them only with a clean cloth or soft paper.
Do not use chemical cleaning agents on
the plastic lenses. Plastic lenses should
only be cleaned with water or a mild soap/
water solution.
We recommend that you have an assortment
of spare bulbs in the car.
When traveling abroad don't forget that some
countries require spare bulbs as part of the
safety equipment.
Front - Turn Signal Lights /
Parking Lights

1. Remove the Phillips screws from lamp lens
and remove lens.
2.
Push bulb into holder and twist to the left
(bayonet mount).
3.
Remove bulb.
4. Insert new bulb and turn to the right so that
it snaps into position.
5. Install lamp lens and tighten the retaining screws evenly, alternating from one to the
other.
Do not overtighten screws as this may
crack the lens.
6. Check lights.
93



Front

Rear Rear - Turn Signal Lights /
Stop Lights / Parking Lights /
Back-up Lights
1. Open hatchback and unsnap carpeting.
2.
Remove knurled nut and take off bulb
holder
3.
Press defective bulb into socket and turn to
left (bayonet mount). Discard bulb.
4.
Press new bulb into socket, turn to right
until it snaps into position.
5.
Install bulb holder and tighten knurled nut.
6. Snap carpeting back in place.

Side Marker Lights

To change the bulb, open the flap at the front
of the plastic shell beneath the fender. The
rear housing is in the stowage well beneath
the mat.
1.
Unscrew knurled nut and remove the plastic cover.
2. Unclip lamp socket (arrow), remove
defective bulb and fit replacement (bayonet
mount).
3.
Clip socket into place and refit plastic cover. 4. Check that light is functioning correctly.

94

944 Turbo

944 Turbo

6. Check functioning of light and whether light beam is aimed correctly.
Replace the transparent side parts (944-
Turbo)
Screw "a" (vertical adjustment)
right turn = beam moves down left turn = beam moves up

97





Interior Light
1. Carefully insert small screwdriver at cutout and pry out the whole lamp housing.
Note:
When removing lamp, retaining clip may fall out.
2. Remove defective bulb between contact
springs and insert new bulb.
3.
Insert one side of the light firmly back into
the housing cut-out and press on the other
side. Light unit will snap in place.

Ashtray Light

1. Remove ashtray by pulling it up.
2. Push lamp holder with bulb out of support
(towards the front).
3.
Replace defective bulb with new bulb.
4. Check bulb for operation with lights turned
on.
5.
Reinstall ashtray so that light "window"
points toward bulb on left side of well.
License Plate Light
1. Open hatchback, unsnap carpeting.
2. Remove screws and take off bulb holder.
3. Replace defective bulb and reinstall bulb
holder. Check for proper fit.
4.
Snap carpeting back in place.

98

How Emission Control Works

When an automobile engine is running, it uses energy generated through the combustion of a mixture of air and fuel. Depending on whether
a car is driven fast or slowly or whether the
engine is cold or hot, some of the fuel
(hydrocarbons) may not be burned completely but be discharged into the engine crankcase
or exhaust system. Additional hydrocarbons
may enter the atmosphere through
evaporation of fuel from the fuel tank. These
hydrocarbons (HC), when released into the
air, contribute to undesirable pollution.
In addition, carbon monoxide (CO) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) contribute to engine
emissions. They, too, are formed during the
combustion process and discharged into the
exhaust system.
To reduce these pollutants, your Porsche is
equipped with a precisely calibrated fuel
injection system to assure a finely balanced
air/fuel mixture under all operating conditions.

Oxygen Sensor
The oxygen sensor, installed in the exhaust
pipe continuously senses the oxygen content
of the exhaust and signals the information to
an electronic control unit. The control unit
corrects the air/fuel ratio, so that the engine
always receives an accurately metered air fuel mixture. .
Crankcase Ventilation
Through Crankcase Ventilation undesirable
emissions from the engine crankcase are not
permitted to reach the outside atmosphere.
These emissions are recirculated from the
crankcase to the air intake system. From here
the emissions mix with the intake air and are
later burned in the engine.
Catalytic converter
The catalytic converter is an efficient
"cleanup" device built into the exhaust system
of the vehicle. The catalytic converter burns
the undesirable pollutants in the exhaust gas
before it is released into the atmosphere.
The exclusive use of unleaded fuel is critically important for the life of the
catalytic converter. Therefore, only
unleaded gasoline without additives must
be used.
The catalytic converter will be damaged by

push or tow starting your vehicle
misfiring of the engine turning off the ignition while the vehicle is moving or
by other unusual operating conditions.
Do not continue to operate your vehicle
under these conditions, as otherwise fuel
can reach the catalytic converter. This
could result in overheating of the
converter.
Federal law prohibits use of leaded
gasoline in this car.
The Emission Control System and its other
related components are illustrated and
described on the following pages.
101

Emission Control System
1 Fuel pump
2 Fuel filter
3 Pressure damper
3a Pressure regulator
4 Injector
5 Auxiliary air valve
6 Air flow meter
7 Throttle valve switch
8 Temperature sensor
9 Engine temperature sensor
10 Speed sensor
11 Reference mark sensor (TDC)
12 Control unit
13 Ring gear
14 Ignition coil
15 Distributor
16 Relay (fuel pump / control unit)
17 Oxygen sensor
18 Catalytic converter
19 Muffler

102

Transmission Diagram Manual gearbox 944Turbo
125

Gas Station Information Fuses and relays
The fuses are located within the
central electric box at the rear left
of the e
ngine compartment in front of the pivot point for the left windshield wiperarm (under black plastic cover). The use of the
fuses and relays is shown in a
list on the inside of the cover of
the fuses and relays.
Fuel recommendation
944: 91 RON (87 CLC or AKI
((R+M)/2) rating on fuel pumps in
U.S.A.) minimum.
944 S / 944 Turbo: 95 RON (90
CLC or AKI ((R+M)/2) rating on
fuel pumps in U.S.A.)
UNLEADED FUEL ONLY.
Fuel tank capacity: 21.1. U.S.
gals, or 80 liters.
Federal law prohibits use of
leaded fuel in this vehicle. Starting Manual transmission: Only start in Neutral, clutch pedal depressed. Automatic transmission:
Start in Park.
Starting cold or hot engine
Just turn ignition key. No need to
depress accelerator pedal.
Emergency starting
Car must not be started by
pushing or towing.

Seat adjustment

Pull lever in front of seat.
Backrest

Lift lever on side of seatback.
Fuel cap

Located in the right rear panel. To close, turn cap clockwise to stop. 126