Dug

Having driven around in rusty heaps for twenty years I realised an ambition and purchased a 951 last year. Needless to say I'm over the moon. However, I've never been mechanically inclined in my life until now and I'm desperate to learn / be taught about basic Porsche maintanance. Does anyone know if anyone does a work shop lecture type of thing and if so, where.
Thanks in advance

Thaddeus

Dug,

Is it that you need to learn how to work on any car at all, or are you looking for Porsche-specific?

Thaddeus

Perry 951

What I would do is grab a Haynes manual (or the factory ones) and read, read, read. Then, when you are done reading, follow the book when you make repairs. Get some good tools and take your time. It is very satisfying to do your own work.

As far as a clinic, the only ones that I know of are engine building classes. The other option is go to any GTG and shoot the **** with the folks there about anything you need to repair, and get their tips and tricks.

elf89

Dug,

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. I've never really worked on my own cars, but I bought the 944 planning to do some of the work myself.

My advice is to start small, take your time and just do it. Oil change and other basic maintenance. Get a manual and take your time. Use a torque wrench and use the factory specs so you get things tight enough, but don't strip anything.

The most important thing is being safe. Make sure you know how to use jacks and jackstands/ramps. Don't ever get under a car that's supported only by a jack.

The hardest part for me is working in such an enclosed space. I've learned a lot about my car and cars in general just by surfing this forum, but I would never tackle some of the projects guys here can do in an afternoon. Good luck!

Z-man

Dug:
Get involved with PCA: depending on your region, they have tech sessions throughout the year. Here at NNJR they do all sorts of stuff like:
-Performance enhancements
-Boxster tech
-What to look for when buying a used Porsche
-Brakes

They even have a 'do-it-yourself' session where you show up with your car and supplies (oil filter, oil, brake pads, new shocks...etc), and they assist you while you fix your own car!

I'm big on hands-on stuff, and while the books do help you understand the concepts, nothing beats doing it yourself, or having someone point out what makes these things work.

Also: if you are into the Driver's Ed program, sign up to be a tech inspector: finding what's wrong with other people's cars will help you with yours!

Hope this helps!
-Zoltan.

Tremelune

Good stuff.

Elf is dead on about safety. It helps a lot to have a garage, but it's not imperative. If you don't have any tools, drop some cash on a good starter kit (GOOD sockets, GOOD crescents). It really is easier when your screwdriver isn't that extra long/rusty one with the transparent yellow plastic handle. Four good jackstands and a descent hydraulic jack are miracle workers. Save old cardboard boxes great for lying on and catching stray fluids/tools. Old carpets are great, too.

Get involved. PCA events, go to the track, look around, ask questions ask questions. These Porsche peope are crazies. If your car has a problem, someone else has had and solved it and can recognize the sound from the sidewalk.

I've been on this forum for a couple of months and I've learned a lot. Ask what seems like routine questions, because there's always someone else who will learn from the answer, too (usually me). A digital camera would not be unwise, and you can find them for <$100. If you've done something with your car, share it! If you've come up with a "creative" fix for something and it's still going, let us know. I hate to admit it, but my lovely Porsche has it's share of duct tape...

When I change my oil, I stuff almost a full roll of paper towels in all the little nooks underneath the filter. It seems like overkill, but it stops the stuff from dripping on that stingray-looking metal plate under the car.

Good luck.

Thaddeus

You might want to pick up some general guides like "Auto Repair for Dummies" or some such. It will give you some generalized (non-Porsche specific) knowledge about how cars work, tools to buy, etc. and then you can elaborate and drill down into the specifics of your car.

cheers

Thaddeus

jim968

Aside from tools (lots & lots of 'em, of good quality) & skills (even cubic dollars won't buy these), the two nicest items are A) a second car, so you don't have to finish all in one go (or so you can return the parts that didn't fit after you got the car apart), and B) a secure place to work, so you can lock it up part-way thru the job without having to fill the car's interior with greasy parts & tools.

The nicest automotive gift I ever gave myself was a house with four garage bays. Nevermind that one is for my wood shop, one is for lawn tools & Mom's walking area... the other two work fine for parking & auto tinkering.

Also remember, "Lefty, loosie; righty, tighty..."

Jim, "...most of the time..."

jgk62

I too bought my 951 with the idea I would do as much work on it that I can. I've only had mine a little over a month now so I havent even learned how to jack it up yet. I am by no means a mechanic, I get nervous about the thought of taking apart my engine but give me a computer and I can have it apart and back together in minutes!

Anyway, get a Haynes manual and keep reading these posts. I've learned so much just lurking.
I also ordered this video off of Ebay <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1820467770&ed=1018490842&ssPageName=ADME:B:E OA:US:2" target="_blank">Porsche maintenance video</a>
I havent received it yet so I have no idea what its like.

Good luck and have fun!
John

Thaddeus

"Lefty loosie, righty tighty.."

You talking wrenching or politics there, Jim?



Thaddeus

Danno

I like the 'right-hand rule' from electro-magnetism for threads because you're not always facing a fastener dead-on. Wrap your right hand around the axis of the fastener with your thumb pointing in the direction you want the fastener to move. Then your fingers indicate the direction of rotation.

Use your left hand for left-handed threads...

Hans

Hi Dug
Welcome, join the club.

[quote] "Lefty, loosie; righty, tighty..." <hr></blockquote>
I like this one: tap open is bolt out/ tap closed is bolt tight.
Unfortunately beer taps work different...

The toolkit you need is METRIC.
So forget all these cheapy stuf you can get from Sears/local Indian store/...

The starter kit should contain as minimum:
8mm/ 10mm/13mm/17mm wrenches & sockets.
Suggestion: ring/open end combination spanners (one size per tool) and 6 sided socket with 1/2"square drive
These are the main tool sizes for the hex bolts used in the car.
The remaining sizes can be picked up as required
High quality screw drivers are a must: it will save your hands from severe puncturing.
(I have mine to prove it...)
Philips No 2 is the most used for self tapping screws.

Nice to have: Universal muli meter for tracking down electrical problems (sooner or later you need one anyway)
Be carefull with the ramps: the lower bumper/spoiler (valance?) is so low that an normal ramp will damage this.
I plan to make my own some time, am currently using two 2 inch thick 14 inch wide boards with an pile of 4 x 4 inch wooden blocks on the end.
TakeCare

jim968

"Lefty loosie, righty tighty.."

You talking wrenching or politics there, Jim?

Both, either, neither, or all three....take your pick!

Jim, living in the land of the best government money can buy.... "buy" being the operative word here... <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> <img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" /> <img src="graemlins/offtopic.gif" border="0" alt="[offtopic]" /> <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

IceShark

On getting the car up off the ground, the 944 is different from other cars because it is so low. Standard ramps don't work and/or are too narrow if you are running wide rubber. Many hydraulic jacks won't drop low enough to get under the car so just don't buy any old one.

And make damn sure you have a backup safety support under the car before you get under it. I have a couple logs I stick under the car, don't use concrete building blocks as they can split if the car comes crashing down on them. As noted, these cars are so low that if they ever fell off the jack stands you are pretty sure to be crushed like a bug.

rutger

Be careful, you may unlease a latent gearhead/engineer gene, like I did. I started knowing nothing about cars, doing routine maintanence to save money (poor college student), but I couldn't control my habit....12 years later, I have a 2.5 car garage, a 9000lb lift, a removeable paint booth, 60 gal. compressor, mig welder, gas welder,5 ton press, drill press, engine hoist, and an embarrassingly large assortment of tools. The sad truth is...I find myself wanting more: I'm thinking of going back to school and getting a degree in Mechanical Engineering. And it all started with just changing the oil...
rutger