924Board.org

Latka · Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Kaneohe, Hawai'i

Well, I finally made the jump to Porsche owner. Growing up I had a buddy who's family had several of everything, so I was lucky enough to ride in everything from a 914 to a '71 911 with a (I think) 2.7L RS motor in it. Crazy stuff... anyway...

Recently I was looking for a car and ran across an '87 924S listed in the paper with 39,000 miles. I thought it was a typo, but I called anyway. This older gal answered and verified the mileage. Then she goes on to tell me how she bought the car when she was in her 50s... apparently she had an advertising agency and did some work for Porsche out here in Hawaii. So, she buys the car and now she's 70 and doesn't need it anymore. When I picked it up, it had 39,300 miles on it. She handed me a big stack of receipts and such that accounted for every piece of work that had been done on the car from when she bought it new. New motor mounts earlier this year, AC work last year, etc, etc. The body is in pretty good shape. The interior is in great shape except for the infamous cracked dash up by the defroster vents in the center. The only down side to the car was that she was a smoker...and smoked in the car. Blech. My fiance and I spent an afternoon last weekend with some "scrubby" carpet cleaner and went over every bit of carpet and seat we could get our hands on. It still smells, but nowhere near as bad as it did when we got it. I went to a doctor's appointment and the nurse didn't believe me when I told her that I didn't smoke.

The guy I told you about earlier from my High School days had a black '87 924S, so this was kinda strange seeing "his" car out here in Hawaii. No dent in the hood from where he hit a deer though, so that's a plus! Of course there are the usual stone chips here and there, but overall it's in really nice condition.

There is one thing I want to get checked out on the car - there's a high pitched whine (almost supercharger-like) that rises with the RPMs. I spoke with my buddy and he suggested checking out the water pump. The receipts I have show that the water pump was changed in '89, so I guess after 15 years of service I can't complain too much about having to buy a new one (if that turns out to be the problem). The motor mounts were changed earlier this year, so I don't think that'll have anything to do with it... if that's not it, maybe the balance shaft(s)?

This is my first Porsche, and I'm coming out of several years of ownership of 3 original Minis. I'm actually lookin' to get rid of 2 or all of 'em to help pay for the Porsche as well as clear out the garage. I'm already trying to figure out what my next P-car will be... 944 Turbo S? Wait until 2006 and import an '81 924 Carrera GT? 911? Who knows.

The 924 is a lot of fun though. I had forgotten how well balanced a car it really is. I just need to get some stiffer springs and some good shocks and then I'll be set. ...oh, and an exhaust, and probably an ECU upgrade, but that's it.

So - I'm glad I stumbled across 924.org. Looks like a good resource for us owners of the non air cooled Porsches!

-Andy K.
Kaneohe, Hawai'i

Latka · Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Kaneohe, Hawai'i

Oh - one more thing... does anyone know the paint code for the silver color used on the wheels? Mine are all faded and worn out. If I don't get bigger wheels / tires for the car I want to at least rework the finish and repaint them.

Thanks
Andy

Sleykin · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 10:37 am Post subject:

That high pitched whine is probably the timing belt telling you the rollers are about to let go and toast the valves if you don't get it serviced ASAP.
When were the belts and rollers done last? They have a 3yr/3K mile service life and it is an interference engine so if it goes $$$$
Sounds like you got a great ride though. The 944/924S engines are wonderful except for the pesky timing belt service.
_________________
Glenn Neff
Medford, OR
87' 924S

Paul · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 10:41 am Post subject:

Please do not start the car again, that whine is probably a timing belt tensioner or roller. If the belt breaks you could destroy the motor.

Have it towed to a Porsche tech that's very familar with 944s.

Latka · Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Kaneohe, Hawai'i

Thanks for the heads up. I'm going to check through the receipts and find out when the last belt service was... is that the "front of engine" service I read about earlier?

I will take it to the shop that was reccomended by several P-car friends.

(edit)

Just looked through the receipts.

Sleykin · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 11:35 am Post subject:

The service is within the time for the belts but it looks like they did not replace the idlers or waterpump. There are many things that could be making the noise so you really need to nail it down. It could simply be a dry alternator bearing or such but you need to be sure. Get a piece of hose and put one end to your ear and probe with the other end to identify the source. If it is coming from the timing cover shut it down and fix it quick!
_________________
Glenn Neff
Medford, OR
87' 924S

Joes924Racer · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 11:36 am Post subject:

You know what I bet you could find a replacement interior pretty cheap too from here in the northwest ...all that smoke smell has got to suck a little at least.
_________________
1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

Sleykin · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 11:42 am Post subject:

One more note...These motors actually make a noise not unlike a gear drive cam setup on a small block chebby. Or so I have been told. I am preatty deaf and had some people comment on it but I had a friend who owns a 924S and a 944 listen to it and he said it sounds the same as his.
You still need to identify the source. But it may be normal.

Febreeze(sp) makes an odor killer for cars that may help. You may have to clean the A/C evaporator core to get the worst of it out.
_________________
Glenn Neff
Medford, OR
87' 924S

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

get a box of partylite candles and light them carefully in the car with the windows up, I have been meaning to do this, for some reason porsches smell funny to me
_________________
1987 924S Guards Red
1997 Suzuki Tl1000 Supersport

Latka · Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Kaneohe, Hawai'i

I suppose I could just drive around with incense burning too

Sorry, bein a wiseass. What are "partylite" candles?

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

A belt inspection and retension is required 2K miles after a new belt is installed. The belts stretch, and will rub on the inside of the belt cover and self-destruct, or could skip a tooth and destroy the cylinder head.

The engine has 39K miles on it now, right?

And two years on it. So at the very least, it is overdue for the 2K belt adjustment.

These engines whine a little when new belts are installed. So, maybe the new belts were installed too tight, and one or more of the old pulleys or rollers that were not replaced is getting ready to die.

If it were my car, I would find a competent shop, and have the complete front of engine service completed.

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

its a brand of really nice candles, they are like the mary kay of candles
_________________
1987 924S Guards Red
1997 Suzuki Tl1000 Supersport

Latka · Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Kaneohe, Hawai'i

So...sounds like I need to take it in and get a service done - at least the front of engine. But - to get that there, either I have it towed (not fun), or I can replace that fuel line and drive it in.

The Fife · Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 241 Location: San Antonio, Texas

Latka · Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Kaneohe, Hawai'i

Along those same lines, when I finally got all 3 of our Minis (soon to be gone) parked in the carport all I got was, "Why does it always smell like gas in the living room?"