924Board.org

fwish21 · Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Posts: 4 Location: Western New York

Well...I bought a 1980 924 NA for my son and I to work on. The body and under carriage are in great shape. Has 125K on it. One issue that I have is that the car does not accelerate smoothly. Starts up fine whether it is hot or cold. I do plan on replacing the inexpensive things first (plugs, wires, cap, rotor and air cleaner system). After doing some research the two things that stick out out are the Bosch Ignition Module and the Cold / Warm regulator. Again, it does not have a problem starting when it is cold or hot so I am kinda ruling out the regulator. My guess is the ignition module might be an issue. Does this sound right and is there an alternative to spending $400 on a new Bosch unit? Thanks for listening.

1980 924 NA
5-speed

nickthompson · Joined: 26 Mar 2013 Posts: 873 Location: Central Georgia

Check for vacuum leaks. MSD igition works great .

fwish21 · Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Posts: 4 Location: Western New York

Thanks! the MSD ignition was one of the options i came across. Thinking of it. vac leaks is one of the first things I will go after. Thanks again.

fiat22turbo · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 4040 Location: Portland, OR

Don't forget to check the throttle body shafts for leaks as well. Luckily you can adapt similar throttle bodies from Audi's and VW's of similar timeframe, but they aren't rebuild able unfortunately.
_________________
Stefan
1979 924 Carrera GTS (clone-ish)
1988 944 Turbo S (Silver Rose)

Rasta Monsta · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11733 Location: PacNW

Ignition unit is very unlikely to be bad. Will repeat advice I gave another newb today:

1. Smoke intake
2. Repair all vacuum leaks
3. Check system and control pressures, hot and cold
4. If needed, correct system pressure via shim adjustment to primary relief valve, correct control pressure via WUR refresh
5. Set mixture
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Toofah King Bad

WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3

Ian89C4 · Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 561 Location: North Carolina

do you have the lambda system on your '80? Look for an O2 sensor on the exhaust and an injector looking thing hanging off the side of the air plenum (thing with the fuel distributor on it).

If you have this system you may have other issues of too much fuel being let back into the return to the tank, you may also have the issue of not enough fuel being returned to the tank.

Checking the fuel system pressures will allow you rule that out a fuel dizzy issue, the lambda issues are harder to diagnose.

Do you have a haynes manual?

Like the advice says above, check the easy stuff: plugs, vacuum leaks, old tired coil, old plug wires....etc....

Don't rule out the ignition module, I had one go out on me a little while ago, but the car will just not start, not run rough...but it could be a symptom.

Keep us updated.

Cheers,
Ian
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Ian Edgerly
North Carolina

Current:
1981 924 SCCA/ChampCar Weissach Race Car ("Serenity")
1987 924S ChampCar Endurance Car ("Der Weg")
1980 924 Euro ("Wahala")

fwish21 · Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Posts: 4 Location: Western New York

Thanks for the comments. I just put the car away for the Winter (Live outside of Buffalo, NY) and will tackle this in the Spring. Bought this as a project for me and my son to take on. He is 13 and autistic so I am trying to find something he may like to do. I come from the world of Alfa Romeos and loved the 924 since it came out, but could never afford one when I was a kid. Well...enough of that. Have already bought plugs, wires, Lindsey Racing vacuum hose kit, radiator hoses, cap and rotor and other cheap goodies. Going to tackle this in the Spring. Will keep you up to date. Just a little update. While driving it to its place of storage it just stutters during acceleration. Cruises okay, but acceleration is the issue. No over-heating issues either. Everything seems to work. I'm still thinking it's a vacuum leak, but you never know. I will keep in touch. Thanks!