924Board.org

[timstar92404]

Man this really sucks I try not to go ot mechanics for this reason.

But I go to school and i work and i'm pretty busy so I didn't have time to go buy ramps etc to change my own oil and its pretty cheap to get a mechanic to do it, less mess etc so I went to one while coming home, a fountain tires. I had my own oil and filter in the car and they said it was fine. they also charge 49 bucks for a regular oil change which is pretty expensive.


anways I had to go to work in 2 hour and they were like yeah we'll get to your car in 10 mins and it should be done in 45 mins. I also todl them to take a look at my exhaust for signs of leaks.



before getting picked up I saw the mechanic go into my car and try and start it and like usual the car would just go "click" once or twice before starting (starter has been like this for like 6 months now) but it always starts after one or two tries I drive it everyday.


so I get in the car and start it for him and then he says whats wrong with that and I say oh my starter is just going bad but it still works and the car has a hot start problem.

so 45 mins later I come to get my car and I go to the mechanic and hes left my car on the hoist and says the car will not start anymore and tells me to start it and I go in and I tried starting it for like 10 mins but the starter will not work anymore it just goes click click everytime now.

I find this odd sure my starter was going bad or had a bad connection or something but its been acting like this for 6 months and I can still get it to work everytime but all of a sudden when I go to the mechanic and leave the car for 45 mins the starter completely breaks during that time?

I don't think thats very likely.


also this mechanic wasn't even trying to help me start the car or nothing he just walks away and gets in a trucka and start driving.


so I told him my car won't start anymore so its basicly stuck there so I said to him that you must have don't something maybe by acciden't (spilled oil or something on the wires) for this to happen.


and then he just told me " sorry sir we do not sabotage cars here"


anyways I'm pretty pissed off I refuse to believe after 6 months of my starter working with sometimes the solenoid just clicking it just fully dies during an oil change.



I made a thread last time where my old mechanic screwed me over when but I think it was an acciident, he forgot to tighten the screw on the distributer after setting the timing and it went out of timing and the car died while driving it home.





oh yeah I don' t know if this mechanic broke my starter or not but he seemed like an idiot.

he was trying to hold my hood open with a hammer....... when I pointed out yeah it has a support rod.


when I cam to take my car the floor below my car had tons of coolant and water everywhere I thought they may have gotten the wires wet or maybe he spilled oil onto the starter and wires.




anyways I have to go there tom and pay for my oil change and then probably get the car towed to my house which is going to cost me.



Not really complaining , I'm never going to a mechanic again other than for exhaust work and to fix my glass hatch.

from my experience most mechanics do slopppy work and don't care if they break your car because its an old porsche they can say oh well your car just broke and it needs all these repairs now.



the problem is if my car doesn't start I can't get it on ramps..... I don't want to put it on jack stands because I have never done that and it kinof looks dangerous to me because I could do it wrong. Might have to get someone ot help me.
_________________
78 924 sold.
85.5 944

[PORSCHEV]

If the starter was bad...it might have finally died if the mechanic held the power on too long when trying to start it?? That would burn out the motor itself. So now it's time you put the starter on...which had to be done MONTHS ago...so I wouldn't get too bent out of shape.

Too save yourself some money on a tow job.....bring a couple strong buddies with you from school to give you a push ......leave the car in 2nd gear and pop the clutch when you get rolling ( key in the ON position). Then just drive it home.....DON'T stall it
_________________
1976 924
5 lug conversion, 17'C2 wheels,custom body work,327 vette engine.

1978-#53 "D" track racer.

[Smoothie]

You might get it going with just a jump start.
_________________
"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."


'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

[WhoDak]

Yup, Pop the clutch. I had to use that method A LOT when my starter solenoid was going bad. If you've got a slight hill at the mechanics it will make it even easier. Try to have someone show you how on a car that starts just fine, get them to have your try it and get a feel for how it works.
_________________
Mike
'82 924 N/A
'91 Toyota Pickup SR5 4x4 Xtra cab

[ATL_racer]

I still dont understand this fear of jackstands.
_________________
late 1979 porche 924, red 2.0l NA 5speed snailshell
Plans: Restore exterior, revitalize interior, install killer sound system, run engine in stock form and have fun.(+ a short throw shifter if i can find one)

[Neil924]

[Neil924]

Try a jump start, the shop must have a zillion jump starts under its belt and if it doesn't work, leave the key in the "on" position and get a push then dump the clutch then puch the clutch in and keep the gas to it, you don't want to do that all day.

[moone924]

Tim, if people only read your posts, every 924 would be taken to the crushers.
....

I can imagine no matter the brand or type of car, you're going to have problems with it...

You are probably better off riding the bus or walking.
_________________
Ryan Moone

Always shopping for a nice s2 931 to baby.
New philosophy : one car project at a time.

[CBass]

[CBass]

Look Tim, bite the bullet and get your hands dirty. A starter is a pretty easy job, I've done many of them.

Make sure you label the wires to the starter with masking tape and a marker. Be careful not to tighten the screws too much, 1/8th of a turn is all the bite you need.

There are two bolts that bolt the starter to the engine, make notes of how they are arranged before removing them, namely which end has the nut, etc. You'll need a 19mm socket and wrench, as well as a 17mm socket and wrench. The torque specs are 35ftlb for the upper and 50lftb for the lower bolt, IIRC.
_________________
'81 931 in various states of assembly

[Joes924Racer]

You have got to get over the fear of jack stands I dont think
your gonna find car ramps you can just drive up onto unless there custom
made spend some money on that and get your hands dirty little.

You or none you guys want to know what Ive been goig thru
me n my bright ideas sometimes if you focus on the big project its easier to
fotget something in the little one.
_________________
1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

[CBass]

Get a damned jack and some jackstands. It's not that expensive, and it's really the only way to work on the car short of getting a lift.

Drive on ramps? What good is that going to do when you need to take off a wheel? How much height do you expect to get out of them, 6" at the most? A good jack will lift the car 16" off the ground, for about $40. Canadian tire always has a sale on something, you can't really go wrong.

There is info in the FAQ for jacking your car. Don't pay attention to the factory info, it's completely useless and is only applicable for emergency tire changes at the side of the road. READ THE FAQ.

http://www.924board.org/faq.php
_________________
'81 931 in various states of assembly

[timstar92404]

Arlight the car is up on ramps right now. they are pretty big ramps made for suvs and trucks and bigger cars. 9000 lb capacity.

they are cheapo ramps though 39.99 from canadian tire I searched everywhere but this is the only ramp I could find I bought extensions for the ramp that were suppose to bolt on to it and allow for low clearance vehicles to get up 19.99 but I came home to find that the extensions didn't bolt onto this ramp because its for another ramp which they don't even have. the extension was also small (width) than the ramp so I just ahd to lay the extension on the groundd next to the ramp to get the car up without damaging the front I don't think I damaged it...

anways the car is up now but on of the tires is a bit off of the ramp but its stable I'm thinking about lifting that side up a bit (not sure where to lift) to move the ramp over a bit so its on properly.


also the ramps were pretty chepa like I said and the "support brace" for added strenght which bolts onto the ramp was very hard and confusing ot put on I asked the guys at canadian tire and no one could figure it out so I finally just had to put it on the best I could, it came with not instructions.





oh yeah I got the car running by push starting it.




I also bought 2 1/2 ton hydraulic jack trolley which came with two small wheel chocks , motomaster from canadiantire for 70 bucks.

the instructions say to use 2 wheel choks per wheel (both sides) but they only come with 2 thats kinof weird.



about the jack stands , I don't really like them, its just me I'm kinof weird.


just a question is there a difference between jack stands and axle stands? they both look pretty much the same.




now I just have to figure out which site to order the starter from. I'm too busy to remove my starter anyways until next weekend.




thanks for all the help.
_________________
78 924 sold.
85.5 944

[timstar92404]

ramps are fine if you don't do transmission work or brake work or suspension work which I wouldn't do.

the ramps have a 20 cm lift which seems good. theres more than enough room underneath to work.
_________________
78 924 sold.
85.5 944

[PORSCHEV]

OMG You listened to me Tim! You actually push started your car. I feel like we might actually be able to help you! I think you will find that the 20 cm of lift you have gained from your ramps won't cut it. When your laying underneath you won't have much leverage trying to work with your arms all cramped up around your body. But trying is learning...your about to get greesy!

Lesson #1 Always disconnect your battery before working on the starter!

That is all for today's lesson
_________________
1976 924
5 lug conversion, 17'C2 wheels,custom body work,327 vette engine.

1978-#53 "D" track racer.