1st Porsche owner and 1st cry for HELP!
01-31-2012, 11:34 AM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
1st Porsche owner and 1st cry for HELP!
Hi,
I feel like an idiot so feel free to tell me I'm one.
I bought a 1984 911 Targa from a guy in CA. Full payment is pending through escrow.com. Car was trucked in on tractor-trailer transporter and dropped off last night at the Acura dealership 2 miles from my house: I use this dealership for my Acura RSX so they said it was OK. I meet truck driver there this morning at 6am, give the car a quick check, pay him, he leaves, and I go to crank the car.
I can't get either one of the doors open. The keys turn the locks, I think, but the doors are jammed shut. I call the driver to make sure he gave me the right keys; yep. He says doors were hard to shut last night when he dropped off car.
It's 30*F with frost this morning. I'm thinking the Targa has flexed and the doors are jammed.
How do I get the doors open and what do I need to do to prevent this in the future?
Thanks.
I feel like an idiot so feel free to tell me I'm one.
I bought a 1984 911 Targa from a guy in CA. Full payment is pending through escrow.com. Car was trucked in on tractor-trailer transporter and dropped off last night at the Acura dealership 2 miles from my house: I use this dealership for my Acura RSX so they said it was OK. I meet truck driver there this morning at 6am, give the car a quick check, pay him, he leaves, and I go to crank the car.
I can't get either one of the doors open. The keys turn the locks, I think, but the doors are jammed shut. I call the driver to make sure he gave me the right keys; yep. He says doors were hard to shut last night when he dropped off car.
It's 30*F with frost this morning. I'm thinking the Targa has flexed and the doors are jammed.
How do I get the doors open and what do I need to do to prevent this in the future?
Thanks.
01-31-2012, 12:22 PM
#2
I haddah Google dat
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
It's possible that they froze shut, but you should be able to open the car. Try pulling on the handle. If that doesnt work, then maybe you can borrow a 911 spare jack to lift the car in the middle, flexing the frame enough to free the door? Accident damage does come to mind.
01-31-2012, 12:38 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Thanks.
I just got a call from the service manager at Acura where I left my RSX this morning. He said they got the 911's driver's side door open after it thawed out. Whew.
Unfortunately, I am now at work, so I won't be able to check on it until after 5pm today.
First of many problems. I'm sure.
I just got a call from the service manager at Acura where I left my RSX this morning. He said they got the 911's driver's side door open after it thawed out. Whew.
Unfortunately, I am now at work, so I won't be able to check on it until after 5pm today.
First of many problems. I'm sure.
01-31-2012, 12:45 PM
#5
Drifting
01-31-2012, 12:50 PM
#6
Drifting
Thanks.
I just got a call from the service manager at Acura where I left my RSX this morning. He said they got the 911's driver's side door open after it thawed out. Whew.
Unfortunately, I am now at work, so I won't be able to check on it until after 5pm today.
First of many problems. I'm sure.
I just got a call from the service manager at Acura where I left my RSX this morning. He said they got the 911's driver's side door open after it thawed out. Whew.
Unfortunately, I am now at work, so I won't be able to check on it until after 5pm today.
First of many problems. I'm sure.
Welcome to the community and great choice of vehicle, I am a little biased. lol
Your problem doesn't really sound right. Did you pull a carfax or know of any past accident history?
01-31-2012, 01:25 PM
#7
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Love the Pug. 
Great dogs.
The CarFax was clean, but I bought a 2008 BMW 335xi with a clean CarFax, and I just spent a small fortune having the front suspension repaired, so I'm not sure how much that means anymore.
I'm sure I'm going to find some "stuff". The car was too cheap to be perfect.
I'll let y'all know how it goes.
Great dogs.The CarFax was clean, but I bought a 2008 BMW 335xi with a clean CarFax, and I just spent a small fortune having the front suspension repaired, so I'm not sure how much that means anymore.
I'm sure I'm going to find some "stuff". The car was too cheap to be perfect.
I'll let y'all know how it goes.
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01-31-2012, 03:01 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
Welcome to the madness and post pics as soon as you can.
02-01-2012, 09:14 AM
#10
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Just an update: after I got off work yesterday, I went my the DMV & got the car registered and ordered a tag. Clerk asked me if I wanted the "antique" tag. I declined, as I did not want to confuse people as to whether the tag referred to the car or the driver. Ordered the dog/cat sterilization tag instead, as usual.
Next stop was the Acura dealership, where my RSX Type S was getting new oil and some new shoes all around. I couldn't justify Bridgestones seeing as I just blew all my money on a Porsche, so it had to settle for Goodyear Eagles.
Apparently, the Porsche just had frozen door locks. After the temp went up, they both opened easily. It fired up on the first try, and to my uneducated ears, sounded fine. I drove it the 2 miles to my house, and it drove OK. Good power and sound, I thought, but the suspension feels a little rattly. Mechanic following me in the RSX said the 911 did not emit smoke.
Exterior looks very good for a 28 year old car. Surely it has been repainted at some point, I don't know. Top of engine is very clean, haven't looked underneath yet, as it was dark about this time. Interior smells a bit musty and needs some TLC.
I know I took a big chance buying this car without a PPI or even a test drive, and it may come back to haunt me. Time will tell. I'm looking forward to the weekend when I can give it a good look and test drive.
Next question: I checked the Haynes repair manual out of the library yesterday. A quick look, and I thought this manual was poor. Any better ones that won't cost too much?
Next stop was the Acura dealership, where my RSX Type S was getting new oil and some new shoes all around. I couldn't justify Bridgestones seeing as I just blew all my money on a Porsche, so it had to settle for Goodyear Eagles.
Apparently, the Porsche just had frozen door locks. After the temp went up, they both opened easily. It fired up on the first try, and to my uneducated ears, sounded fine. I drove it the 2 miles to my house, and it drove OK. Good power and sound, I thought, but the suspension feels a little rattly. Mechanic following me in the RSX said the 911 did not emit smoke.
Exterior looks very good for a 28 year old car. Surely it has been repainted at some point, I don't know. Top of engine is very clean, haven't looked underneath yet, as it was dark about this time. Interior smells a bit musty and needs some TLC.
I know I took a big chance buying this car without a PPI or even a test drive, and it may come back to haunt me. Time will tell. I'm looking forward to the weekend when I can give it a good look and test drive.
Next question: I checked the Haynes repair manual out of the library yesterday. A quick look, and I thought this manual was poor. Any better ones that won't cost too much?
02-01-2012, 09:27 AM
#11
Drifting
Just an update: after I got off work yesterday, I went my the DMV & got the car registered and ordered a tag. Clerk asked me if I wanted the "antique" tag. I declined, as I did not want to confuse people as to whether the tag referred to the car or the driver. Ordered the dog/cat sterilization tag instead, as usual.
Next stop was the Acura dealership, where my RSX Type S was getting new oil and some new shoes all around. I couldn't justify Bridgestones seeing as I just blew all my money on a Porsche, so it had to settle for Goodyear Eagles.
Apparently, the Porsche just had frozen door locks. After the temp went up, they both opened easily. It fired up on the first try, and to my uneducated ears, sounded fine. I drove it the 2 miles to my house, and it drove OK. Good power and sound, I thought, but the suspension feels a little rattly. Mechanic following me in the RSX said the 911 did not emit smoke.
Exterior looks very good for a 28 year old car. Surely it has been repainted at some point, I don't know. Top of engine is very clean, haven't looked underneath yet, as it was dark about this time. Interior smells a bit musty and needs some TLC.
I know I took a big chance buying this car without a PPI or even a test drive, and it may come back to haunt me. Time will tell. I'm looking forward to the weekend when I can give it a good look and test drive.
Next question: I checked the Haynes repair manual out of the library yesterday. A quick look, and I thought this manual was poor. Any better ones that won't cost too much?
Next stop was the Acura dealership, where my RSX Type S was getting new oil and some new shoes all around. I couldn't justify Bridgestones seeing as I just blew all my money on a Porsche, so it had to settle for Goodyear Eagles.
Apparently, the Porsche just had frozen door locks. After the temp went up, they both opened easily. It fired up on the first try, and to my uneducated ears, sounded fine. I drove it the 2 miles to my house, and it drove OK. Good power and sound, I thought, but the suspension feels a little rattly. Mechanic following me in the RSX said the 911 did not emit smoke.
Exterior looks very good for a 28 year old car. Surely it has been repainted at some point, I don't know. Top of engine is very clean, haven't looked underneath yet, as it was dark about this time. Interior smells a bit musty and needs some TLC.
I know I took a big chance buying this car without a PPI or even a test drive, and it may come back to haunt me. Time will tell. I'm looking forward to the weekend when I can give it a good look and test drive.
Next question: I checked the Haynes repair manual out of the library yesterday. A quick look, and I thought this manual was poor. Any better ones that won't cost too much?
02-01-2012, 09:28 AM
#12
Drifting
02-01-2012, 09:33 AM
#13
Three Wheelin'
Just an update: after I got off work yesterday, I went my the DMV & got the car registered and ordered a tag. Clerk asked me if I wanted the "antique" tag. I declined, as I did not want to confuse people as to whether the tag referred to the car or the driver. Ordered the dog/cat sterilization tag instead, as usual.
Next stop was the Acura dealership, where my RSX Type S was getting new oil and some new shoes all around. I couldn't justify Bridgestones seeing as I just blew all my money on a Porsche, so it had to settle for Goodyear Eagles.
Apparently, the Porsche just had frozen door locks. After the temp went up, they both opened easily. It fired up on the first try, and to my uneducated ears, sounded fine. I drove it the 2 miles to my house, and it drove OK. Good power and sound, I thought, but the suspension feels a little rattly. Mechanic following me in the RSX said the 911 did not emit smoke.
Exterior looks very good for a 28 year old car. Surely it has been repainted at some point, I don't know. Top of engine is very clean, haven't looked underneath yet, as it was dark about this time. Interior smells a bit musty and needs some TLC.
I know I took a big chance buying this car without a PPI or even a test drive, and it may come back to haunt me. Time will tell. I'm looking forward to the weekend when I can give it a good look and test drive.
Next question: I checked the Haynes repair manual out of the library yesterday. A quick look, and I thought this manual was poor. Any better ones that won't cost too much?
Next stop was the Acura dealership, where my RSX Type S was getting new oil and some new shoes all around. I couldn't justify Bridgestones seeing as I just blew all my money on a Porsche, so it had to settle for Goodyear Eagles.
Apparently, the Porsche just had frozen door locks. After the temp went up, they both opened easily. It fired up on the first try, and to my uneducated ears, sounded fine. I drove it the 2 miles to my house, and it drove OK. Good power and sound, I thought, but the suspension feels a little rattly. Mechanic following me in the RSX said the 911 did not emit smoke.
Exterior looks very good for a 28 year old car. Surely it has been repainted at some point, I don't know. Top of engine is very clean, haven't looked underneath yet, as it was dark about this time. Interior smells a bit musty and needs some TLC.
I know I took a big chance buying this car without a PPI or even a test drive, and it may come back to haunt me. Time will tell. I'm looking forward to the weekend when I can give it a good look and test drive.
Next question: I checked the Haynes repair manual out of the library yesterday. A quick look, and I thought this manual was poor. Any better ones that won't cost too much?
The mustiness is probably from a leak due to the targa top (they don't seal 100%). My 85 cab had that musty smell and I kept deodorizing it and threw dryer sheets under the seats to make it better.
02-01-2012, 02:00 PM
#14
Burning Brakes
I've heard the same comments regarding the Haynes. You can't go wrong with the Bentley and the 101 Projects for your 911.