jsabatini

Well I did make it to Sebring last weekend for my maiden voyage in the 911 during the Suncoast PCA Instructor weekend.

As advised on here, went with PFC 97 pads and the Motul 600 fluid and had no problems with the brakes. Everything felt good in the early going, obviously the 911 handled quite a bit different than my '90 BMW 325is, but made the transition without any problems. Got more comfortable with the *** heavy 911 and did pick up speed throughout the day.

Of course the weekend was not without problems.

A few times on Saturday as I was going into turn 10 as I was braking, downshifting, and blipping the throttle the throttle would get stuck and rev pretty high. Kept the clutch in and blipped it again and it would return to normal and I would keep going. Did it I think once each of the first 2 sessions I drove on Saturday. Open track session Saturday afternoon, second lap, going into turn 10 again, brake, clutch in and I notice the revs are staying up, blip throttle again and it goes wide open throttle. Keep foot on clutch coast through 10 and 11 blipping throttle trying to get it to return and it stays wide open. Coast off the track before 12 and turn the car off. Try to start it again and it is wide open. Get a tow back to the pits, get my father-in-law, who owned the car previously, and we try to start it up and everything is fine. He remembers a few times in the past that the cruise control cable would get loose in the bracket by the throttle and mess with the throttle.

Sunday we tie wrap the cruise control cable to the bracket and I am thinking I am good to go. Run the problem by Suncoast Porsche tech guy Carlos and he does not think it was the cruise control cable but possibly one of several throttle cable bushings or linkages under the car. Father-in-law insists it was the cruise control cable so I went out for the first 2 solo sessions on Sunday without any problems with the throttle. Will definitely check out the bushings under the car next time she is up in the air.

Only other problem was the reported puff of white smoke from the muffler when I would get off the gas going into turn 17. Reported by one of my friends on Saturday. Father-in-law did follow me around the first couple of laps on the Sunday sessions to confirm and I could smell the burning oil through turn 17.

sig_a

It's been known to happen that 911 throttles stick open when the lower hose clamp screw securing the 90 degree rubber elbow running between mass air flow and the throttle body jams throttle wide open. Check the correct alignment of the lower hose clamp below.

Cruise control electronic box under dash can also go on/off unexpectedly, which is why mine is long gone.

VERBOTN

John this is really odd timing I pulled the CC out last week as part of the refresh.......Wish T a happy B-day

g-50cab

Hey John - I wondered how you got along. Yes - cruise control cable - when I instruct on anybody with an older 911 - it's one of the things that I check before going out on the track. The plastic piece next to the throttle body cracks with all the extra exercise and gets stuck. Sometimes it dislodges itself - sometimes it doesn't. Mine went (on the 1987) wide open the 2nd time I got on the track after an engine rebuild. I coasted around the track in 3rd gear pushing on the brake every so often to bleed of speed. Good times!

Usually - if it's one of the bushings - like at the pedal cluster the gas pedal will stick down. If it's at the transmission housing it will hang - and if you get under the car and try and message it - you can feel the resistance.

My first track weekend in my car - and I ended up loosing a headlight (H4) thankfully just to the dangling phase, and ended up ripping one of my sway bar mounts - and other than running out of engine on the straights - had a grand old time.

I saw you puff a couple of puffs of smoke coming out of 7 - but nothing too major. They are fun to drive fast - although the best reference I have heard that driving a 911 fast at speed is sort of like throwing a hammer backwards...

KILRWAIL

Your throttle cable could be catching on the clutch cable at the bell crank under the throttle pedal if it's become bent towards the left.

jsabatini

Thanks Jeremy

The "puffs of smoke" is now my main concern. Talking to my father-in-law yesterday he said it was happening on the track when I would let off the gas. Guess I just need to keep my foot on the gas the whole time. Did not happen at all on the way home from the track.

Guess the higher oil pressure during track use is causing this? Thoughts from the board would be appreciated.

turbo911cm

We run 1 qt down from top fill on our 85. This will stay within the acceptable range of oil (according to dipstick) as well as remove the smoke issue as the oil pressure is lower. Try it next time, see if you have the same issues.

ivangene

our season is over - I already miss the track

nice that you got out ini your heavy a$$ car ( I assume ony the a$$ is heavy though as these cars are fairly light and nimble)

jsabatini

Heavy *** compared to my front engined Bimmer, but yes, overall the car is lighter. Was a strange feeling accelerating down the straights feeling like the front of the car was "floating", totally different than the Bimmer.

jsabatini

Explain "acceptable range"? I did check the oil after one of my runs and the oil was between the marks on the dipstick but closer to the lower end of the range so I added half a quart.

g-50cab

More has to do with mileage John - A puff of smoke at upshifts - and off the gas usually indicates valve guides.

On my 1987 - For the longest time I averaged the 1200-1000 miles per qt of oil range. During track usage it might drop to 700 miles per qt - but would come back up. And the occasional puff of smoke.

The year before I rebuilt the engine I was doing around 10-12 events and it was during the last three that oil consumption went from around 900 miles per QT to 500 miles per QT. That's when I decided to take the motor apart.

whalebird

Valve guides are my first thought, but that needs to be confirmed. I don't want to throw any scare-tactics around.

surveyor54

had the same problem with my 88 and yes the wire rap securing the cruise control is a fix and much cheaper that a new cable. Ran it for 2 years after fiix.

jsabatini

Please explain more about the valve guides? Father-in-law made the same comment. How do I confirm valve guides and what's the fix? If not the valve guides then what? Not afraid of scare tactics.

As a FYI - Just had the car serviced by Vortex at 125,000 miles. Before the service she was leaking oil pretty good, they replaced spark plugs, ignition wire set, adjusted timing and replaced valve cover gaskets, R&R oil thermostat o ring, breather plate gasket, air and fuel filters, R&R camshaft (left and right) oil lines, oil pressure sender, oil and filter service, etc.

Even with the minor problems I had last weekend I really enjoyed driving the 911 and really would like to do more DE's with the 911. However, I am paranoid about blowing up the engine and unless I get these things sorted out, it will be back to my little Bimmer for track duty.

g-50cab

They r and r camshafts and they didn't notice any play in the valves? Usually a trained eye-feel will show excessive play.