drnick

how many owners have simply deleted these? are they really usefull or simply over-engineered?

the reason i am asking is that ive noticed mine dont move at all, they are stuck in the open position. so either i repair them or else they could be removed in the pursuit of simplicity.

UKKid35

The later cars don't have them at all, so it would follow that they are not necessary, however it doesn't feel right to me removing something that doesn't work rather than fixing it. They are supposed to lower the drag factor, and I guess they must offer some protection to the aircon condenser too.

The reason your's don't move is almost certainly because the PO has disconnected them. One of the reasons people disconnect them is that they can get caught on the spoiler, the answer is to remove the spoiler and reinstall it properly (you'll probably find half the fixings are missing or broken) and then they will probably work properly once you reconnect them.

Jay Wellwood

Some have just gotten the flaps open, then pulled the brain to disable them.

Garth S

The cooling flaps were disabled (by the PO) on my '88 by removal of the actuating link (~4" bar) and using tie-wraps to secure the flap linkage open- actually, quite well done.
Considering that Porsche had deleted this unique item a year later, the engine bay is already hot enough for a fish fry, and the flap failure mode is possibly closed vs. open.... I did a quick probability and risk analysis vs. the number of 150MPH runs I had planned where the improved Cd of closed flaps would help: Result, I'm happy to leave the system locked open and disabled. 'Over engineered' is a kind term - 'Rube Goldberg' comes to mind.

MikeN

The flaps do help the car warm up quicker on cold days and if working properly have no detriment. So I would say......see what you can to fix them first, and if some $$$ componant has gone bad, then you might want to look into removing them.

Jim bailey - 928 International

The flaps are a problem just waiting to happen ............ unless you are in a really cold climate the risk that they will shut at the wrong time and overheat the engine far far outweighs the advantages ....which is what Porsche concluded probably after replacing engines under "warranty" .....leaving them in place BUT assuring that they are always open seems like the "best" solution to me. Far too many people when confronted with a engine problem "just try to make it home" . ...........some instinctive need to make it back to the cave when reason and logic would say park the car.

Nicole

I would not remove them. If you ever sell the car, a future buyer will curse you when he tries to restore the car to factory original. However, if yours is butchered already, then don't worry...

Chris

Well my 91 does not have them, so when I looked at the flaps on my 87 and they were a mess I decided taking them off was a no brainer.

Chris

Intrinsicate

I had the flaps on my '89 close themselves on the freeway on a July day in Las Vegas. When I saw what the guage was doing, I pulled over, found the problem, and wedged the flaps open with a piece of roadside debris. As soon as I got home, and the engine bay had cooled, I unhooked the arm that operated the flaps, and left them in the open position. On my '88,
I have removed the entire system, and there have been no ill-effects. The loss of aerodynamic efficiency is not noticeable in normal driving.

Robert_H

Come on Nicole... butchered ? That's pretty harsh. Let's face it, there are some things on our cars that are way too engineered and only succeed in giving us poor owners grief a decade or so after the car was built.

athenian

"...restore the car to factory original"......

What for???

I hate to break the news but "Factory original" 928 cars are NOT worth any more $$ nor will they ever become collectables that non-original cars....928s are not limited production models and only the later GTS cars might achieve that status one day (a long time from now)....

VK

BC

I have removed the whole assembly, as I have the bumper and related currently of the car. I am trying to find a way to incorporate a new "air tunnel" as removing the whole assembly affests the air routing a bit. Mine were working and always did perfectly fine.

I'll call it weight savings.

UKKid35

Well Nick it looks like 3 say keep and 6 say chuck - what have you decided?

drnick

i think the air flap mechanism will have to go! it is largely unnecessary, adds weight and if it fails can result in serious overheating. having said that i will give it a more in-depth look to see why it isnt working, but i couldnt justify paying money to repair it. there are far better (numerous!) ways to spend money on this car.

it was too cold and rainy in the weekend to do much with the 88. despite this i did install some new door check-strap/mechanisms and finish off my stereo upgrade, painting speaker surrounds etc. also discovered the reason my passenger side central locking isnt working through a defective motor. i think central locking is more usefull than the air flap mechanism and this will be repaired.

i liked nicoles comment on 'butchering' though, its given me some ideas..