924Board.org

Llamaguy · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 711 Location: Indiana

1. When I push the horn I get an almost groan that is in no way a horn

2. How do you turn the brights on?, I can flash but it won't go constant

3. Any idea on why the windshield washers don't work?

4. When I turn my headlights off for the first time each day, the keep popping up and down for about 10-15 seconds, weird

5. Exactly how big is the tank on a 1987 924s? I've seen 20 gal and I've seen 17ish, but 10 seemed to almost completly fill her up
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1987 924S Guards Red
1997 Suzuki Tl1000 Supersport

gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

#1 Probably bad contact at the horn ring under the steering wheel, or a bad ground connection at the steering wheel, or a defective horn relay.

#2 Push the turnsignal stalk towards the front of the car (as opposed to pulling it towards you to blink the high beams).

#3 Do you mean the windshield wipers, or the washers? can you hear the washer pump working? Non-functional washers could be plugged washer nozzles, a defective wiper/washer switch, out of washer fluid, a defective washer pump, or a blown fuse. Defective wipers? Bad wiper motor, bad wiper switch, bad ground on the wiper switch under the steering wheel, bad fuse?

#4 Defective headlight motor.

#5 Gas tank capacity 17.4 US Gallons, including 2.4 Gallon Reserve.

Llamaguy · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 711 Location: Indiana

Smoothie · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 9:54 am Post subject:

#1 could also be rusted horn innerds. bthih (been there had it happen)

#2 mine has the later style controls and I believe they're the same as yours. You pull the lever back a little to flash, pull it further back until it clicks to keep the brights on.
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"..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

Sleykin · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 10:45 am Post subject:

#1 ... look for an adjusting screw on the horn. Some have one.
#2 ... On mine ya pull back on the turnsignal stalk till it klicks.
#3 ... Does the pump come on? Have you tested the pump by connecting to B+ and ground? If the pump comes on there are a bunch of check valves and a bypass valve. Blow air through em to make sure the are not stuck.
#4 ... weird

There is a relay at the motor and a switch in the motor either could do it.
#5 ... 17.4 US Gallons. 2.4 of wich is reserve. When the light comes on mine takes between 13 and 14 Gallons to fill.
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Glenn Neff
Medford, OR
87' 924S

Llamaguy · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 711 Location: Indiana

okay, thanks for the info

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1987 924S Guards Red
1997 Suzuki Tl1000 Supersport

Lizard · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 3:18 pm Post subject:

you paid $3k for an 87 924S w/ all these issues you got jipped, for an 87 with these types of problems it indicates it didnt have the best POs and there are more problems further in.

I recommend that if you dont know everything about the car, that you go to a designated Porsche facility and have a pre purchase inspection done normally are around $100 but will be able to tell you roughly how much $$$ you will have to fork out over the next year or 2.
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3 928s,

Llamaguy · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 711 Location: Indiana

i bought it from a dealer, so it was going to be a little high, but I'd looked at about 7 or 8 cars iver the last year and they all needed belts, and some were in even worse shape than mine and most were more expensive
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1987 924S Guards Red
1997 Suzuki Tl1000 Supersport

gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

Most 924S cars that are for sale need some kind of work. I mean, every used car for sale is going to need work after you buy it. Something always gets missed during prepurchase inspections.

The reason why many 924S and 944 cars are priced low is because they need the front of engine service (the cost of the service $1500-$2500) lowers the selling price of the car, or the belts are already broken, or the waterpump is shot, or the headgasket is blown (very common on 87 924S with over 80K miles).

If the body and paint are clean and original, with no rust, the interior is not ruined, the engine miles are relatively low, and it runs well (regardless of the need for the "front of engine service"), you may not have gotten a real bad deal. That is, as long as you understood that the car needed the "front of engine service", knew the cost of the service, the fact that you cannot delay the service, and can afford to have it done immediately.

Almost three years ago, I paid $1100, plus $80 for my 87 924S, and having it towed home. It only has 72K miles, and has a very clean, never crashed, never repainted body, fairly clean interior (usual dash cracks, and a split seam on the driver's seat). The engine was destroyed by hydrolock in a storm. The cost of a used engine block, and the parts to assemble a replacement engine with a new clutch are bordering on $2000 right now, without adding the cost of any machine shop labor that I am going to need, and I still don't have all the parts yet.

Looking back, I could have gotten out somewhat cheaper if I bought a running used engine, then did the front of engine service, and replaced the clutch and installed the engine. But the cost would still have been over $2000 to replace the engine.

I think it would be very difficult to buy a 924S for less than $3000-$3500 in good running condition, or buy a non-running or rough running project car and get it into good running condition for a total cost of less than $3000-$3500 (including the cost of the car, and repairs to bring the car to good running condition (decent body and interior), including a current front of engine service history).

So, if your car is in good shape (other than the front of engine service, and the previously mentioned problems that it has), you will probably end up with $5000 in the car when it is ready to run. While you won't be able to sell it for $5000, because of the number of 924S and 944 cars for sale for less (in worse condition than you bought yours for), you will know why those cars are selling for less, and why yours cost you more.

garthfan · Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Posts: 226 Location: Manchester, NH

High-beam lever on the 924S should definitely be a "pull back" affair. If your highs flash when you pull back, but don't stay on, then the switch is most likely busted.

For the washer-pump....I just recently found this one out: As suggested by sleykin, jump the pump by connecting a lead to the battery positive and another lead to ground -battery ground is okay to use. If the pump works, then start checking all connector points that the washer-pump wiring harness uses. You probably have corroded contacts somewhere and they just need simple cleaning. If the pump doesn't work by jumping it then, obviously, replace it.

Good luck!
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1987 924S - Was a daily driver...now it's GONE! *sniff*
1986 944 N/A Guards Red
1996 VW Jetta Grocery-Getter
1995 Saab 900S Winter-Driving-Feeling-of-Security-Vehicle

Sleykin · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 6:10 am Post subject:

All good points

Seems to me the fact that you have 2 switches in the same area that are non functioning (possibly) there is a fair chance they are both just dirty inside. Pull the steering wheel and clean em out/check em. Odds are they had a drink of coke at some point in their life

The high beam switch does have a flash to pass mode partway up and it does take some effort to get it past that to the high beam position.
Definately not a white knuckle effort though

I took the information I posted directly from my 87 owner's manual and by actually walking out to the car and checking.
One note about the belts. When I did my belt change the parts came with a sticker to place under the hood with mileage and date info. You might get lucky and find such a sticker on your car.
I paid $1800 for my car and drove it about 4K miles before I learned about the belts. My water pump was on the way out and the headgasket blew shortly after I did the belts & pump. Now the A/C compressor seals are shot and it won't hold a charge more than a week so more $$. The A/C repair will bring me up to about the $3K mark for the car including the new tires and window tint and repair/paint on the RF fender. That is doing all the work myself so if you got a nice looking driver for 3K you got an ok deal. Watch the temp and oil guages carefully as these motors have some issues with overheating when problems pop up. On mine the belts were so loose I could easily turn the water pump pulley by hand. That caused it to not work well and the temp guage hit the red zone a few times in town traffic. That probably pushed the headgasket over the edge but it was due for replacement anyway. It looked like cheese cloth when I pulled it out

Be sure you use an antifreeze that is designed for alluminum engines! Straight water or the wrong antifreeze will kill these motors.
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Glenn Neff
Medford, OR
87' 924S

JP Shelton

Llamaguy,

On my '87 924S, you pull back on the same stalk that does the "flashin' for passin'", rather than push it forward, as Gohim suggested.

Also, my car holds about 15 gallons of fuel in the tank. I think. I'll have to check my owner's manual to see what it's supposed to be. But I can tell you that it'll only take 13 gallons after the "idot light" telling you the tank is about to run dry comes on.

I'll also add that I don't think you got a bad deal on your car. 944's might be a dime a dozne in my neighborhood, but 924S aren't exactly easy to find in anyone's, in any condition. Porsche just didn't make very many of them compared to the 944 series.

It might not have taken "serious cash" for me to get into mine, but it would certainly require serious cash for any prospective future owner of my car to get me out of it!

-JP
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