Porsche 911 101 Class
06-14-2011, 01:11 PM
#1
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Porsche 911 101 Class
Porsche 911 101
Okay here we go .. Welcome to Porsche 911 “101”
You are probably here because someone on our forum sent you this link . We sometimes get irritated at guys who keep coming on and asking the most basic of questions. We shouldn’t as we are a welcoming group , but we do ,, so deal with it. The other reason you may be here is because someone has decided you need remedial training. This could be caused by many things not withstanding being hit in the head by a blunt instrument causing complete memory loss. This is usually caused by a significant other who found out you have been spending money on your 911 and reacted accordingly. This guide will hopefully introduce you to your car, the forum , and some basic survival tips. The idea is that others will contribute and we can build a comprehensive thread that will become mandatory reading for newbies to the forum. So Let’s get started. By the way I own an SC so others may correct or provide additional info for other models.
Introduction:
You are the proud owner of a 911 built from 1964 to to 1989, after that they get other weird numbers and aren’t really 911s , guys just say they are . You just brought it home and really don’t have a clue about anything so lets go over a few basics to get you started . Let’s assume you either didn’t get an owners manual for your car or you’re too slack-*** lazy to read it.
The Outside ..
Pretty simple really your looking at a 911 , once you pull open the plunger and the gas filler cover cap opens you’re gonna wanna put gas in it . lesson one . Put the gas nozzle in and rotate it 180 degrees so it is sort of upside down. This will allow you to fill it up without the nozzle cutting off at the pump due to flow restrictions. If your trying to fill up your 911 like the picture of that 911 below you better stop .. coz if you did find a hole to put the nozzle in , your car is now on fire.
The other cap in there just to the left is the washer fluid . It will take a ton of the stuff .. and if you use the headlight washers, they will drink a ton of the stuff too. BTW those do nothing other than make your car dirty. The smart thing is this will run out first and still have enough left over for the windshield washers so if your headlight washers aren’t working , fill up the tank first . You may want to get under and drain that tank from underneath if you just bought the car , we have actually had guys who have found oil in there .. Strange but true .. obviously your P/O never read this post . oh the washer wont work unless you have the lights on and there may be a small push button up by the gauges that activate the washers.
Yeah those windshield wipers are pretty pathetic tiny things on a curved windshield. It is what it is . Something unique about the 911 is they have three wiper speeds. Also there is a turn **** up by the gauges that is your variable. Make sure it is “clicked” off as if it isn’t it could randomly do a wipe and you’re playing with the stalk trying to stop it.
the rear engine cover release is inside the drivers door frame at the back , but if you haven’t found that yet better give your car back .
Color of your car is on the front of the drivers door frame. On a placard with a number. Guys on the forum can help you to decode it.
Front trunk release is where it is on most cars. If the Trunk or decklid don’t stay up on their own you have yourself your first project.
Tires .
I run mine at 29psi front and 36psi rear . Lots of guys run lots of different settings here but that might be a good starting point.
Okay lets get inside.
Gauge on your far left is Gas .. believe the light not the gauge .. if the light comes on get gas fast . The senders on these are getting old .. can come on at quarter tank even , so play it safe and get gas right away
Next over is oil level in the tank. This is only valid when the engine is at operating temperature idling and on level ground, and that is only if the actual gauge is working. Don’t trust it ..and check with the dipstick under the same conditions., until you can trust it. My gauge is dead on accurate but always assume it isn’t. Again check with the dipstick while engine is at operating temp and on level ground with the engine running. It will stumble when you take the cap off but that is normal as you just created a big *** vacuum leak.
Next is oil temp. I have updated mine to show numbers but I think you have big blocks there. Normal operating temp would be the top of the first white block if I remember correctly. The manual says to check the oil at 170 degrees Fahrenheit I think . gotta tell you that’s sorta crap .. means I could never check my oil between October and March here in Canada . But you get the general idea check it when it is as warm as you can get it.
Next is oil pressure, mine pretty well spikes as soon as I start on a cold engine and when I am on the highway doing about 60 I am sitting at 4 bars. Hot engine at idle at about 900RPMS my oil pressure light never comes on but I have some of the older 911s do and it is considered somewhat normal if it flickers while at idle on a hot day.
Next is the tach . if it is rotated to look like an awesome race car rotate it back unless you are a trackie coz your gonna look like a total poseur. Same with the Speedo.
Okay next over is the heater Controls . This is really complex and you have to remember this is Germany’s revenge for WW 2 . Between the seats there should be two levers . pull up on them to provide heat if your car still has heat, the panel on the front directs the air . I have attached a pic to explain this coz I just can’t be bothered on this one. If you have autoheat you have a turn ****. Someone else will have to post coz I don’t have a clue
Driving a 911 :
Ton of great advice from some really good drivers on the forum. Only thing I can think of is don’t speed shift a 911 transmision. It is not a drag racer. Be patient and specific in your shifting and you will be fine , always pause between first and second.
Don’t lift .. enough said ..
Tech Tips :
Firstly you need 2 books minimum to survive your Porsche from a technical standpoint. “101 projects for your Porsche 911” is a great book and will serve as a great beginner book. The times in it to do projects are total BS so double them , but is a good book never the less. The Bentley is another book you are gonna need. Some great reading in there for when you are in the can.
I have a few tech tips I have learned but are totally up to you .
Install headlight relays if your car doesn’t have them. Headlight switches are expensive and the relays are cheap and easy to install. Simple math really.
Use about a 20w50 oil or something close .. these are air cooled cars and need a robust viscosity oil , lots to choose from and don’t wanna start a debate here.
Do a search before you change your oil for the first time. Or there will be tears.
Put door stay re-enforcing kits in your car .. coz doors are even more expensive than switches.
Conduct on the Forum :
Pretty decent bunch of guys overall, almost no foul language is used or tolerated. All opinions are appreciated but if you get out of line someone will tell you so suck it up.
Get a decent Avatar of your ride I can go to other sites to see women and I sure don’t wanna look at your ugly mug. So go take a really cool pic of your car and resize it or ask someone on the forum to help.
Oh in your intro post pics of your ride in an early post. But if you didn’t you would have heard this by now.
Well there is a good start and I am sure others will chime in as we go with different tips and tricks.
So welcome to the Forum and Enjoy.
Okay here we go .. Welcome to Porsche 911 “101”
You are probably here because someone on our forum sent you this link . We sometimes get irritated at guys who keep coming on and asking the most basic of questions. We shouldn’t as we are a welcoming group , but we do ,, so deal with it. The other reason you may be here is because someone has decided you need remedial training. This could be caused by many things not withstanding being hit in the head by a blunt instrument causing complete memory loss. This is usually caused by a significant other who found out you have been spending money on your 911 and reacted accordingly. This guide will hopefully introduce you to your car, the forum , and some basic survival tips. The idea is that others will contribute and we can build a comprehensive thread that will become mandatory reading for newbies to the forum. So Let’s get started. By the way I own an SC so others may correct or provide additional info for other models.
Introduction:
You are the proud owner of a 911 built from 1964 to to 1989, after that they get other weird numbers and aren’t really 911s , guys just say they are . You just brought it home and really don’t have a clue about anything so lets go over a few basics to get you started . Let’s assume you either didn’t get an owners manual for your car or you’re too slack-*** lazy to read it.
The Outside ..
Pretty simple really your looking at a 911 , once you pull open the plunger and the gas filler cover cap opens you’re gonna wanna put gas in it . lesson one . Put the gas nozzle in and rotate it 180 degrees so it is sort of upside down. This will allow you to fill it up without the nozzle cutting off at the pump due to flow restrictions. If your trying to fill up your 911 like the picture of that 911 below you better stop .. coz if you did find a hole to put the nozzle in , your car is now on fire.
The other cap in there just to the left is the washer fluid . It will take a ton of the stuff .. and if you use the headlight washers, they will drink a ton of the stuff too. BTW those do nothing other than make your car dirty. The smart thing is this will run out first and still have enough left over for the windshield washers so if your headlight washers aren’t working , fill up the tank first . You may want to get under and drain that tank from underneath if you just bought the car , we have actually had guys who have found oil in there .. Strange but true .. obviously your P/O never read this post . oh the washer wont work unless you have the lights on and there may be a small push button up by the gauges that activate the washers.
Yeah those windshield wipers are pretty pathetic tiny things on a curved windshield. It is what it is . Something unique about the 911 is they have three wiper speeds. Also there is a turn **** up by the gauges that is your variable. Make sure it is “clicked” off as if it isn’t it could randomly do a wipe and you’re playing with the stalk trying to stop it.
the rear engine cover release is inside the drivers door frame at the back , but if you haven’t found that yet better give your car back .
Color of your car is on the front of the drivers door frame. On a placard with a number. Guys on the forum can help you to decode it.
Front trunk release is where it is on most cars. If the Trunk or decklid don’t stay up on their own you have yourself your first project.
Tires .
I run mine at 29psi front and 36psi rear . Lots of guys run lots of different settings here but that might be a good starting point.
Okay lets get inside.
Gauge on your far left is Gas .. believe the light not the gauge .. if the light comes on get gas fast . The senders on these are getting old .. can come on at quarter tank even , so play it safe and get gas right away
Next over is oil level in the tank. This is only valid when the engine is at operating temperature idling and on level ground, and that is only if the actual gauge is working. Don’t trust it ..and check with the dipstick under the same conditions., until you can trust it. My gauge is dead on accurate but always assume it isn’t. Again check with the dipstick while engine is at operating temp and on level ground with the engine running. It will stumble when you take the cap off but that is normal as you just created a big *** vacuum leak.
Next is oil temp. I have updated mine to show numbers but I think you have big blocks there. Normal operating temp would be the top of the first white block if I remember correctly. The manual says to check the oil at 170 degrees Fahrenheit I think . gotta tell you that’s sorta crap .. means I could never check my oil between October and March here in Canada . But you get the general idea check it when it is as warm as you can get it.
Next is oil pressure, mine pretty well spikes as soon as I start on a cold engine and when I am on the highway doing about 60 I am sitting at 4 bars. Hot engine at idle at about 900RPMS my oil pressure light never comes on but I have some of the older 911s do and it is considered somewhat normal if it flickers while at idle on a hot day.
Next is the tach . if it is rotated to look like an awesome race car rotate it back unless you are a trackie coz your gonna look like a total poseur. Same with the Speedo.
Okay next over is the heater Controls . This is really complex and you have to remember this is Germany’s revenge for WW 2 . Between the seats there should be two levers . pull up on them to provide heat if your car still has heat, the panel on the front directs the air . I have attached a pic to explain this coz I just can’t be bothered on this one. If you have autoheat you have a turn ****. Someone else will have to post coz I don’t have a clue
Driving a 911 :
Ton of great advice from some really good drivers on the forum. Only thing I can think of is don’t speed shift a 911 transmision. It is not a drag racer. Be patient and specific in your shifting and you will be fine , always pause between first and second.
Don’t lift .. enough said ..
Tech Tips :
Firstly you need 2 books minimum to survive your Porsche from a technical standpoint. “101 projects for your Porsche 911” is a great book and will serve as a great beginner book. The times in it to do projects are total BS so double them , but is a good book never the less. The Bentley is another book you are gonna need. Some great reading in there for when you are in the can.
I have a few tech tips I have learned but are totally up to you .
Install headlight relays if your car doesn’t have them. Headlight switches are expensive and the relays are cheap and easy to install. Simple math really.
Use about a 20w50 oil or something close .. these are air cooled cars and need a robust viscosity oil , lots to choose from and don’t wanna start a debate here.
Do a search before you change your oil for the first time. Or there will be tears.
Put door stay re-enforcing kits in your car .. coz doors are even more expensive than switches.
Conduct on the Forum :
Pretty decent bunch of guys overall, almost no foul language is used or tolerated. All opinions are appreciated but if you get out of line someone will tell you so suck it up.
Get a decent Avatar of your ride I can go to other sites to see women and I sure don’t wanna look at your ugly mug. So go take a really cool pic of your car and resize it or ask someone on the forum to help.
Oh in your intro post pics of your ride in an early post. But if you didn’t you would have heard this by now.
Well there is a good start and I am sure others will chime in as we go with different tips and tricks.
So welcome to the Forum and Enjoy.
Last edited by theiceman; 06-23-2021 at 11:25 AM.
The following users liked this post:
tdferrero (01-29-2024)
06-14-2011, 03:10 PM
#4
Parts Specialist
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Frequent items to check: Think Safety
check those aluminum wheel lung nuts - torque to 95 ft lbs
check front wheel bearing by grabbing the top of the tire and trying to pull it off the car in repeated succesion...you should not hear or feel any play or at least vert vert little
Check the battery, make sure it is secured in place 9seriously mine was just sitting there without a clamp at all.
Carry a spare DME relay and know where it goes (under drivers seat) cheap way to get home when it dies on a road trip.
Open the fuse panel and check for any corrosion, clean as required
change that brake fluid....and flush the system
Also check each wheel spins freely (sign of stuck caliper or other issue)
Kills bugs fast, clean them off or they leave stains
here is a nifty little trick that will cost you 2 weeks and $150 if done wrong.... NEVER push the trip reset on the odometer while the car is in motion, in fact unless you just gotta push it, DONT! it will make the odometer gear explode and you will not know when to change your oil
brakes can be swapped in a matter of minutes, figure out how and do them yourself...its one of the easiest do it yourself jobs.
great thread idea....might be a little overwelming....PERFECT!
check those aluminum wheel lung nuts - torque to 95 ft lbs
check front wheel bearing by grabbing the top of the tire and trying to pull it off the car in repeated succesion...you should not hear or feel any play or at least vert vert little
Check the battery, make sure it is secured in place 9seriously mine was just sitting there without a clamp at all.
Carry a spare DME relay and know where it goes (under drivers seat) cheap way to get home when it dies on a road trip.
Open the fuse panel and check for any corrosion, clean as required
change that brake fluid....and flush the system
Also check each wheel spins freely (sign of stuck caliper or other issue)
Kills bugs fast, clean them off or they leave stains
here is a nifty little trick that will cost you 2 weeks and $150 if done wrong.... NEVER push the trip reset on the odometer while the car is in motion, in fact unless you just gotta push it, DONT! it will make the odometer gear explode and you will not know when to change your oil
brakes can be swapped in a matter of minutes, figure out how and do them yourself...its one of the easiest do it yourself jobs.
great thread idea....might be a little overwelming....PERFECT!
06-14-2011, 03:11 PM
#5
06-14-2011, 03:47 PM
#6
Addict
Moving along and building on Clive's post let's get to the woman in your life:
Don't be that guy. Murphy was given the ultimate ultimatum and failed us. He gave in and sold his 911 to Matt. Now, Murphy is left with nothing but his lovely bride. Gone are the days of cruising the Illinois countryside with the top off. Gone are the days of pure bliss. Gone are the days of life as we know it. Don't be that guy.
Don't be that guy. Murphy was given the ultimate ultimatum and failed us. He gave in and sold his 911 to Matt. Now, Murphy is left with nothing but his lovely bride. Gone are the days of cruising the Illinois countryside with the top off. Gone are the days of pure bliss. Gone are the days of life as we know it. Don't be that guy.
Trending Topics
06-14-2011, 08:39 PM
#9
Addict
Sorry about the hijack
06-14-2011, 09:32 PM
#10
Very grateful for the newbie info Iceman and everyone else. Thank you, also, for setting the tone. I've been using the search function pretty religiously lately so as not to ask something that's been answered 1,000 times before and I love reading threads from 2003. This one could definitely be a sticky.
BTW, had fun checking and adding oil (VR1 20W 50!) in the AutoZone parking lot hard by the Gowanus Canal yesterday. It was like an alien had landed in a rear engined spaceship. People from at least 10 countries stopped to gawk or chat. And so as to complete the cycle, here is the first pic of the Blue Demon in it's new hometown of Brooklyn. Note the "Jesus and Mary Overwatch" South Brooklyn Anti-Theft System.
BTW, had fun checking and adding oil (VR1 20W 50!) in the AutoZone parking lot hard by the Gowanus Canal yesterday. It was like an alien had landed in a rear engined spaceship. People from at least 10 countries stopped to gawk or chat. And so as to complete the cycle, here is the first pic of the Blue Demon in it's new hometown of Brooklyn. Note the "Jesus and Mary Overwatch" South Brooklyn Anti-Theft System.
06-14-2011, 10:34 PM
#12
I haddah Google dat
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
What a fantastic first post. I got nuthin'.
Edit: random thought - I wonder if in a past life she carried a whip and trained falcons to hunt?
Edit: random thought - I wonder if in a past life she carried a whip and trained falcons to hunt?
06-14-2011, 10:55 PM
#13
Parts Specialist
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
wow John thanks fr that
things I picked up:
75. I have absolutely NO idea what that subtle “popping/clicking” noise coming from the gauges every now and then is caused by.
87. If anyone comes up with a good way to keep the fuel/oil level gauge from fogging up, please let me know.
things I picked up:
75. I have absolutely NO idea what that subtle “popping/clicking” noise coming from the gauges every now and then is caused by.
87. If anyone comes up with a good way to keep the fuel/oil level gauge from fogging up, please let me know.
06-14-2011, 11:16 PM
#14
I haddah Google dat
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
If you have problems with fogging windows, then you might have a blockage between the peforated headliner and the rear vents above the windows. Seriously.