WHAMspeed

Hey guys, thanks in advance for taking a look at this.

About two weeks ago when the heat of a Houston summer finally arrived in record numbers my 951 started overheating. I didn't notice until it was pretty hot...the red exclamation light came on and I instantly shut it down and cycled some cool water through it at a convenient station.

I managed to get it cooled down but the pressure from the car being hot made the radiator hose start a small leak on the top driver side of the radiator.

I was going to take it to the my local pcar shop but a $500-$1000 repair bill just isn't in the budget this month...is it ever? I know how to turn a wrench just haven't needed to so far with this car but remember the days of my 80 924 turbo and am reminded of the "joys" of owning a pcar. The old saying "there's no such thing as an inexpensive Porsche" is oh so true. So, I started doing my homework at Clarks Garage and found the following:

8. Turn the ignition ON and place the air conditioning switch in the ON position. Both cooling fans should run in slow speed.

I tested this and it failed, only the passenger side fan was running. I checked the fuses which are good so I am assuming this is the relay although I have not tested the thermoswitch.

I don't think it is the thermostat because on the way home after I got the car cooled down it would only start getting warm when at stop signs, lights, or slow speeds.

Do you think my prognosis is correct?
Where can I pick up a relay?

Next month rear hatch re-seal...

dillon410021

see if the driver side fan is harder to move than the passenger
the driver side fan could be blown
this happened to mine and since I replaced it, the temp went down a lot

I also had to replace the thermoswitch since my was also blown, the fan wouldn't shut off no matter how cold the motor was

After I replaced the fan and the thermoswitch, the fans turned on and off normally and the car ran cooler!

bearone

what year, the older ones had a 2nd set of fuses.

make sure the fan not running is plugged in.

are these 3bl or 6bl fans?

make sure the one fan is pulling thru the rad rather than pushing, use a piece of paper on the front of the rad.

87951
95sl320 dd

WHAMspeed

It's an 86

I didn't count but am about 99.9% sure the fans are 6 blades from looking at them...

Is the thermoswitch nearer the bottom of the radiator, driver's side?

bearone

top

i replaced it on an n/a on ramps with a deep 1 1/8 socket.

87951
95sl320 dd

WHAMspeed

"top

i replaced it on an n/a on ramps with a deep 1 1/8 socket."

I have been reviewing some of the other threads and several others say to raise the front end of the car...

What is the reason for this?

dillon410021

raise the front, so you can get the fans out from under to reach the thermoswitch with a wrench

bearone

i did not remove the fans or shroud on the n/a mentioned above.

87951
95sl320 dd

WHAMspeed

Which one do I need to run...I'm thinking of going with the 75 degrees as I am in Houston. Are their any long term affects I should be weary of running a cooler switch?

951-606-481-00-75-M2

Thermo-fan Switch, For Radiator Cooling Fan, 75 degrees C, 944 (02/85-88), 944S2 (1989-91), 944 Turbo (1986-89), 968 (1992-95), Each
Brand: Wahler [Photo]

$12.25

951-606-481-00-85-M2

Thermo-fan Switch, For Radiator Cooling Fan, 85/93 degrees C, 944 (02/85-88), 944S2 (1989-91), 944 Turbo (1986-89), 968 (1992-95), Each
Brand: Wahler [Photo]

$11.25

dillon410021

go with the 75

DarylJ

Yeah...your fans will be on low (almost) all the time unless you have a lower temp thermostat. Now sure any harm will necessarily come from it, but the next time you're in your water pump to change it, I'd also match the thermostat.