924Board.org

[TonyBray]

I just bought this car last night. It will be towed to my house today. I am reasonably familiar with 931's but I may need some help with the Seimens ignition system. The PO said it was running fine and then got real hard to start. He claims he ran all the CIS checks and everything checks out fine. He thinks it was ignition related. I searched the forums and read all I could find on the ignition system. My gameplan is to check the hall sensor at the bellhousing and then to check the connections on some unit on the left fender? This is where I need help. What am I looking for on the left fender? Where is the Seimens control unit so I can check the connections there? Is the hall sensor in the same location as it is on the 944?

I know this is a little vague. I will have a better idea of what I need help with once I get home and get my hands on it. Wish me luck!

--Tony
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67 912 2.0 Type 4
94 968 Cabriolet
82 924 Turbo

[924RACR]

I wouldn't count on his diagnosis being correct. Do your own, especially if you're already familiar with 931's. He may have overlooked something, or simply not checked something.
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Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

[Lizard]

The DITC unit is under the center console inside the car, this is the one you want to unplug and reconnect,

I would leave the hall effect sensor alone and check everything else first, as alot of the ones that get taken out seem to break. but yes it is in the same area as the 944.

I would use a digital timing light and check for spark and what it is set at first.
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3 928s,

[gohim]

Remember the Physician's Creed, "Do No Harm".

The first thing that you need to do when you get the car home is... NOTHING ! ! !

Take a breath, and look at things before you do anything. Very often the answer to a problem is visible, and obvious, and simple.

I would personally start by checking the maintenance stuff. Like coolant level and motor oil level and condition.

AND the condition of the timing belt. Since the 931 is an interference engine, it is entirely possible that the timing belt got old, or stretched, and slipped timing, or stripped some teeth, which would first show up as hard starting. Later, the car would come impossible to start after the camshaft timing slipped further and the valves got bent.

[TonyBray]

Ok, I got the 81 931 home today. I washed it off before I pulled it into my shop to see what I had.

Here's the deal:

81 931 Turbo, 63,760 miles, 2 owner (now 3). It's a gunmetal gray with tan and brown interior. It hasn't run since the last owner bought it 4 years ago. The 1st owner put the mileage on the pink when he sold it to second owner. Mileage is still the same!

Now, what I found under the hood: First off, this car stinks! Yep, I said STINKS! You could smell the stale gas a mile away! I checked the oil and the fluid was way up on the dipstick and smelled like the rest of the car (stale stinky gas!). Ok, a quick trip to the parts store for a filter and 5 quarts of the cheapest 10-w30 I could find to flush this engine out with. When I pulled the drain plug, gallons of fuel and oil sprayed out the drain hole, completely missing my oil pan and soaking everything in it's path. Another 45 minutes to get the #$#*^((!!# oil filter off that Hercules must have installed. Nice location for the filter btw.

I then came back to this site and found the fuse and relay info. I pulled the top relay 2nd from the left, supposed to be fuel pump right? The page says #1 on top and bottom row are unused. I have something in #1 spot of top row (small and silver). Anyway, I think I have the right one so decide to crank her over without the fuel pump to see if I have oil pressure. About 4-5 revs in, the engine fired up! I wasn't expecting that but it started anyway. It didn't last long as the fuel in the lines was burned up. You couldn't see behind it at all. The tank gauge is showing empty and the fuel light is on. I am hoping to fill the tank with 10-15 gals of premium fuel to dilute what's left of the old stuff and run it out.

I need to know: where to get fuel filter and air filters. Where to get a driver's side window switch housing (not the switches, the brown plastic piece they fit into..). Also, while I was under the dash, I saw what looks like a factory amplifier. There's no stereo in the car though. Is this amp useable? Oh, where to get the rear hatch struts, and a plastic clip to hold the hood prop rod up?

Sorry, I know it's a lot of information but I'm really excited about this car. Other than the radio missing, it's full stock. The toolkit is even still in the rear, along with the sunroof bag, and a working cargo cover! I can't wait to get it on the road...

--Tony
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67 912 2.0 Type 4
94 968 Cabriolet
82 924 Turbo

[924RACR]

LOL! We've all been there, with the gas in the pan. Obviously the idiot PO had flooded the hell outta it. Surely the only reason it ran is because there was so much fuel in the cylinders and intake already.

Parts - I recommend Paragon Products, great service and prices:
http://www.paragon-products.com/

Oh, yeah - so obviously the ignition system was working, eh? I wouldn't be surprised if there's some mistuning or the like that you'll find once you run the fuel pump, that was keeping it from starting properly before.

Switch housing - have to get a used one. Prop rod clip - I think Performance Products sells those, if Paragon doesn't have them. Hatch struts, Paragon.

I wouldn't bother with the amp, if it is a stereo amp - any identifying marks on it? What makes you think it's an amp? Will the car run with it unplugged? Anyway, if it is an amp, it'll likely be so old it's not worth messing with. A good head unit and speakers will be more valuable IMO. Time to check out Crutchfield! Also be advised that KLA makes a killer sub enclosure to go behind the rear wheel. I made a custom box, but the next car will likely get a KLA box. Can't live without a little sub, now that I have one...
_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

[TonyBray]

Well, it looks like an amp. It also has the wierd Porsche style speaker connectors on it. If it's stock and from back in '81, it's probably 10 or 20 watts or something like it. With the speaker connections on it, I'm betting it's speaker level input as well. I will pop it out and get pics of it. There's already enough stuff under the dash!

Oh, I did win a DITC for an 81 931 on E-bay for $50. The auction ended before I got the car started so better safe than sorry.

--Tony
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67 912 2.0 Type 4
94 968 Cabriolet
82 924 Turbo

[porsche.racer]

hi an welcome back to the 931 group. Your story sounds so familure !! When i bought my first car not 2 years ago my experiences were the same. Poor running if at all, smelly smelly and wet wet wet interior. But, what made me laugh was the oild change story!! That happened to me exactly as you told it. The oil shot out three feet before hitting the ground all over my shop floor!!! What a pain in the ass!!! From my experience - I found that the car after sitting was in need of complete tune up. The regular stuff and timing belt. I have also noticed that when previous owners cant get there car running they tend to start turning the co2 adjusting screw in out in out and certainly dont leave it in a good position. Checking fuel mixture is a good idea. Just me two cents.
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1987 911 3.6L Carrera with LSD
1986 944 Turbo (Track)
1972 911 3.0L Turbo Look
1988 944
100's of good used parts MUST GO

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