Porsche 928 s4

[fullpint]

The joys of having a classic car mate... Stick with it pal 

[bluehornetrider]

Got a replacement through for the central warning light and whilst fitting it managed to snap the circuit board in the exact same place as the other one!  After a few expletives I brought both into the house and soldered both broken boards and made a the best from the two units, once fitted and tested all working and I now have a spare, happy days.  Tick one more jobs off the to do list. 

[bluehornetrider]

I'm looking to replace my strut brace on the 928 as the one I have looks tatty and has a slight bow in it, this is a common fault so getting a second hand item doesn't gain me anything.  All the aftermarket items I've seen either look aftermarket or are really expensive and have to be shipped from USA with those costs as well. Speaking with Pete it seems cheaper to make one up from thicker ally tube with brackets welded on. Something ally wizard would be able to do, should look more stock but better. Just need to get the bits together.

[bluehornetrider]

After not running the car for a few weeks, mostly down to wet weather, I decided that I'd go for a drive on New Years day.  The alarm had gone off very early in the morning for the first time, I think it was trying to tell me the battery was run down.  I tried starting the car but no go.  After trying the jump leads from the van the beast started and I went for a run out with the kids in tow.

I seem to have a leak somewhere as I need wipers inside, so I need to change a few rubber seals.  I give the car a good blest to charge the battery and after stopping checked the car started up again, which it did, all well with the world. 
I tried the car again this week but the battery was flat again, I think I might have a short that's running the battery down as it was fine until I started messing with the electrics.  I have now bought a battery charger/conditioner to at least check the condition of the battery.  Then I need to hunt out the short.  Dag nabbit thought I had a reliable runner.

['The Gaffer']

Could be that the battery has just failed, same thing happened to my van battery. Charged overnight - started next morning. Drove all day - did not start next morning. Took battery for testing (Fancy electronic thing) said battery ok, even my own conditioner said battery strong. In the end I just replaced battery and it has started every day for the last week, even when very cold.

I think the really cold weather is a battery killer.

[bluehornetrider]

Changed the rear boot seal today hopefully it'll slow the ingress of water and save me from having to buy door seals as they cost £100 each.  Also had to take one of the rear mats out as it couldn't take any more water.  When I picked it up water ran out of it for 5 min's solid, it's now on the radiator drying out.

[bluehornetrider]

Visited Paul Anderson at Porsche 928 spares in Stroud to have a look over my car. He was quite happy with it and had done quite a bit of work to it over the years with the previous owner.  I got a few little bit fixed whilst I was there and booked the car in for a suspension and bush upgrade in March.

I've never seen so many Porsche's all in 1 place in various states of repair, from a rebuild that will finish a long refurb to create an almost 0 miles 928GTS with a 5.6 overbore engine.  to an early '78 racecar.  Very helpful place to go

[Moleman]

Sounds like somewhere I'd like to have a quick nose around. 

[Iancider]

Just thinking I could make some useful contributions. 

You could check for current leakage from the battery by disconnecting the battery lead and putting an ammeter in series with it.  I had a previous car that I could not park at an airport for two weeks due to the current the alarm used to draw.  In the end I had to pull the alarm fuse if I wanted to leave it for two weeks.  Corrosion in fuse boxes can also be a pathway - look for blue-green crusty verdigris around the terminals.  It takes time but leaks can be found simply.  An old battery is also a possibility - the Lead falls off the plates and shorts them together - dischargingg soon after charging-up.  In the days before sealed cells you could empty them and refill with clean acid - no more sadly.

Take all of the wet stuff out and use a dehumidifier in the car over a couple of days to keep it really dry and keep it out of the rain. Look for obvious seal damage and tired or lazy door seals that have lost their resilience. If you suspect boot water entry then put dry paper in the boot floor and hose the closed boot-lid.  Do similar experiments with the doors.  If this does not work, strip the interior - seats and carpets out.  Look at the felt back of the carpet to see where water puddles.  Trace back on the vertical bodywork where there might be signs of water-trails and under the dash where it may drip invisibly from the windscreen.  Do the same with the rear window.  Bonded windows can loose their seals after high mileage and can be difficult to see.  When the carpet is out look foor missing floor-pan and bulkhead grommets.  Use lots of light outsde of the car with a dark interior to look for any body perforations.  Swing you doors and listen fro slopping water.  The exit drains can block and the bottom of the door become a reservoir that will male you car humid and of course rot the doors over time.

Finally I had Previa once and it had an inherent weakness.  Often filled with soggy kids, the moisture level was always high but with no actual leak.  Parked outside, the moisture condensed on the rear window and dripped onto the floor and then into the spare wheel well.  I found a small lake in there and resolved by simply leaving the drain stopper out of the well and de-humidifiying - it worked.  You can also slit a grommet so that water will drip out but none comes in.  Hope that helps in your quest.

Regards
Ian

[benchmark51]

Sounds like somewhere I'd like to have a quick nose around. 

Sounds like it's the place to go when the '7,s' want feeding!

[bluehornetrider]

After speaking with Paul at 928 spares, the only seals worth getting are the genuine Porsche items at only £100 each and I need at least 3 plus the window scapers.

[bluehornetrider]

Changed the front and side repeaters for clear items, look much nicer, also changed the lamps for LEDs and Cree items just need to change the relay to a higher resistance.

[bluehornetrider]

Managed to replace my front wheel for a new Pirelli p6000 and jammed the spacesaver back in its hole, replaced the rear indicators for LEDs which sorted the overspeed flashing, happy days, just hope the weather is on its way to more sunny days!

[bluehornetrider]

Took the car out for a run today and the coolant light came on and steam was coming out of the bonnet, after opening the bonnet it seems to be coming from the rear of the engine.  The car is booked into the garage in Stroud on weds but I was planning to drive it up. I don't think it will make it now so need a trailer or low loader to get it there any ideas?

[Moleman]

Sorry mate I have a trailer but your car is too heavy for it. 

[bluehornetrider]

Thanks anyway, the car only weighs 1500kg but it's more than the tow car. Sorted transport company but it'll be a day late.

[Moleman]

Mine is only for kits mate. 750kg is the max. 

[bluehornetrider]

Car got taken to 928 specialist today for adjustable suspension, bit of welding on chassis, figment of door seal, coolant leak, service, mot and sort a few other little bits and pieces. Hope to get the car back in a few weeks but will be a few pounds lighter.

[bluehornetrider]

Spoke to my mechanic today I found I'll have to have a lot more doing than I hoped for. Apparently the knock sensors are faulty and losing 30bhp, should be fun when I get the car back even more power!

[bluehornetrider]

Finally got the car back after 6 weeks, 2 pages of work and a lot of money but it now has a years mot and good to go for the summer. It now has new bushes, front suspension, front exhaust, flex brake pipes, door seal and oil leaks are sorted.

[Bulldog Bri]

Will be good to see it out on the road.

[Moleman]

That's good to hear mate. 

[bluehornetrider]

Tok the car out for a blast into Bristol on quiet Sunday roads in the sun, loved it, just me and my dog.



What a load of gagging about to get he picture to load up correctly!

[fletch_306]

Wow so quick it drives on the ceiling. 

[Moleman]

You kept that quite. What fuel is it running on? Aircraft or jet? 

[bluehornetrider]

Saw three kit car yesterday, lotus 7 type near castle Coombe, a yellow jester and one of our members acid green cobra in Chippenham, looked really good!

Hope next Sundays weathers as good!

[Quarrycars]

Just wanted to say that it is great to see someone taking care of one of these cars, I've never driven a 928 but always admired the engineering.  It was the first 'real' Porsche - i.e. the first car designed from the ground up to be a Porsche rather than a development of and earlier vehicle.  It incorporated a number of engineering firsts, first hydraulic tappets on an overhead engine, first plastic fuel tank on a fuel injected car and others.
Keep up the good work!

[Pilgrim Anna]

Look forward to seeing some more pics. wouldn't mind a drive in that? Lol

[Bulldog Bri]

Tok the car out for a blast into Bristol on quiet Sunday roads in the sun, loved it, just me and my dog.



What a load of gagging about to get he picture to load up correctly!

Did Colin give you the wrong date again for Queens Square,

[Moleman]

Wasn't me this time. 

[bluehornetrider]

I knew it's the second Sunday but the weather was good and I fancied a run out and thought there might be someone about, but it didn't matter.

[bluehornetrider]

Took the car out to top gear track at for the supercar day. It's all for children's charity and there were several kit cars there. Think as a club we could put a few cars together for next year.
Chris Evans turned up in his new LaFerrari auctioning off rides.

I've tried to post images but they keep posting upside down, don't know why as I took the pictures using the same phone as I'm posting with.

[Bulldog Bri]

Took the car out to top gear track at for the supercar day. It's all for children's charity and there were several kit cars there. Think as a club we could put a few cars together for next year.
Chris Evans turned up in his new LaFerrari auctioning off rides.

I've tried to post images but they keep posting upside down, don't know why as I took the pictures using the same phone as I'm posting with.

Download them on your computer then rotate them
A friend of mine who son is disabled was up there as well, had a great time, he loves Supercars

[Moleman]

I didn't hear about that mate. It sounds like it would have been great to go there. I'm glad it was a good day. 
If you here of anything like this in the future either put it up on here or PM me what you know & I would be happy to look into it. 

That goes to anyone else if they would like me to look into anything I'm happy to help. 

[bluehornetrider]

I only saw it advertised quite late and booked tickets. They do ask for car club support for the charity rides though, organised by www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/supercar.

[Moleman]

I would have been happy to give passenger rides for charity on the day. I do it a lot anyway.