Electrical problems are so EASY to fix!
05-14-2005, 04:17 PM
#1
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Electrical problems are so EASY to fix!
I bought my first 928 last weekend, an 86.5 5-speed, Prussian blue with blue interior. 46,500 miles and the condition is almost concours. Both independent shops said "Best one we've seen in 10 years. If you really want a 928, this is the one." However, it did have a few electrical gremlins and a loose outside mirror. No interior lights, no clock, no radio constant hot, no power to rear hatch release, and intermittent outside mirror operation.
The condition was so incredible and the recommendations so good that I took the plunge. But, I've been worried about the electrical glitches and figured I might be in for a long, expensive up-fixin.
First thing I did is fix the radio hot by studying the wiring diagrams and playing with a voltmeter at the amp connections by the passenger seat. Presto!
The plan for today was to attempt to fix the loose side mirror by threading the hollow bolt back into the flag bottom. I had read the procedures on the informational sites, but I wasn't feeling too confident that I could do it myself. Wrong! It was a snap! In 15 minutes the mirror was good as new! That spring wasn't difficult to compress. The shop told me it would be a "big job". HA! If that was all I could accomplish today, I would have been happy. But it was only 10 am, so....
Next up was tackling the interior lights (and, hopefully, the clock at the same time). First thing I did was check fuse #24 which protects the relay. Sure enough, it was blown. But before I got excited, I told myself "Dave, there's a reason why it blew. You probably have a short somewhere that you'll pull your hair out trying to find." Maybe, but I replaced the fuse and all the lights work perfectly now. And the clock too! Yeehaw, we're having a banner day.
OK, let's see if I can figure out what's wrong with the hatch release. HEY! What the....?! Both hatch release switches work now and the hatch works great! Did I really fix all this stuff with one simple fuse???
The only thing left is the side mirror controls, which I'll pull out and clean up after lunch. No doubt it will be easily fixed within minutes!
Man, you guys do a lot of complaining about electrical problems but you must be girlie-men! If you ever need something fixed, just call me over and...I shall effect repair. Voila!
The condition was so incredible and the recommendations so good that I took the plunge. But, I've been worried about the electrical glitches and figured I might be in for a long, expensive up-fixin.
First thing I did is fix the radio hot by studying the wiring diagrams and playing with a voltmeter at the amp connections by the passenger seat. Presto!
The plan for today was to attempt to fix the loose side mirror by threading the hollow bolt back into the flag bottom. I had read the procedures on the informational sites, but I wasn't feeling too confident that I could do it myself. Wrong! It was a snap! In 15 minutes the mirror was good as new! That spring wasn't difficult to compress. The shop told me it would be a "big job". HA! If that was all I could accomplish today, I would have been happy. But it was only 10 am, so....
Next up was tackling the interior lights (and, hopefully, the clock at the same time). First thing I did was check fuse #24 which protects the relay. Sure enough, it was blown. But before I got excited, I told myself "Dave, there's a reason why it blew. You probably have a short somewhere that you'll pull your hair out trying to find." Maybe, but I replaced the fuse and all the lights work perfectly now. And the clock too! Yeehaw, we're having a banner day.
OK, let's see if I can figure out what's wrong with the hatch release. HEY! What the....?! Both hatch release switches work now and the hatch works great! Did I really fix all this stuff with one simple fuse???
The only thing left is the side mirror controls, which I'll pull out and clean up after lunch. No doubt it will be easily fixed within minutes!
Man, you guys do a lot of complaining about electrical problems but you must be girlie-men! If you ever need something fixed, just call me over and...I shall effect repair. Voila!
Last edited by 911Dave; 05-14-2005 at 10:00 PM.
05-14-2005, 05:34 PM
#5
Three Wheelin'
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911Dave. Good that things worked out for you. But that is only this time. With luck it will remail. Does sound like an awesome car man. BOL with it.
Dave A, Face it man you did it for the fun of it
Dave A, Face it man you did it for the fun of it
05-14-2005, 06:32 PM
#6
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Thread Starter
Update: I fixed the mirror problem too. Total time: 3 minutes!
Last week only the right hand mirror would work. As of yesterday, only the left one. So, obviously the motors and joystick work fine. Must be the rocker switch....a squirt of contact cleaner in the switch mechanism and schwing! All done!
I am "Porsche Repairman" today. (A reference to Bicycle Repairman from Monty Python). Bring your cars over quick before the magic leaves my fingers!
Last week only the right hand mirror would work. As of yesterday, only the left one. So, obviously the motors and joystick work fine. Must be the rocker switch....a squirt of contact cleaner in the switch mechanism and schwing! All done!
I am "Porsche Repairman" today. (A reference to Bicycle Repairman from Monty Python). Bring your cars over quick before the magic leaves my fingers!
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05-15-2005, 02:38 AM
#10
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by 911Dave
...and blind to my good fortune. 
05-16-2005, 06:41 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
Originally Posted by 911Dave
I am "Porsche Repairman" today. (A reference to Bicycle Repairman from Monty Python). Bring your cars over quick before the magic leaves my fingers!
05-16-2005, 11:01 PM
#13
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Originally Posted by 911Dave
Man, you guys do a lot of complaining about electrical problems but you must be girlie-men! If you ever need something fixed, just call me over and...I shall effect repair. Voila!
cheers!
05-17-2005, 01:36 AM
#14
928 Barrister
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And after relaxing in Florida and soaking up the rays, come on over to Kalifornia and set Dave and I straight about electrical gremlin fixes. I have one I (and some reputedly very experienced other 928ers) have been unable to kill for 1 1/2 years. We'll kill it. But it may take some time. Chased it all over the fuse panel already a few times. But with your obvious talent and humility you could certainly teach us a few things.
When I first bought my '86.5, the guy that did the PPI told me I needed mucho work and many items were listed on the to do list as I drove off. I didn't care for his "estimate", particularly for the electrical items. On the way back up to Northern California in the motel parking lots, I fixed them one by one. One was " no interior lights work". Hey, this goon never moved the light switch to the "on" position, (or put them all there in the middle to fool me). I laughed for awhile about that one. Sheesh! Even I could figure that out !! He had positioned the rear window wiper in the middle of the rear window so I looked through it as I drove. Give me a break. And on and on as I worked my way back up here.
The clown even tried to talk me into rebuilding the transmission, claiming it didn't shift as a Porsche should: he said it should lay a patch in 2nd and 3rd every time and hop without even trying. He advised that I could pay him $3000 and he would have it chirping all the way home by adding extra clutches beyond stock. That one cracked my face abit.
My point is that I had the same attitude right after I got my car, but it lasted about as long as it took to get back here and really check it over. And as the miles build up, more and more things will go wrong. Don't expect to sit idle and celebrate the indestructible P car for long, You should invest in a WSM and PET catalog and some wrenches 'cause it is a used car and a performance machine that someone else has explored before you got your hands on it. As Arnold said: "You"ll be back!" (here). We'll be here waiting.
For some strange reason, I also think you made an excellent choice in model years.
When I first bought my '86.5, the guy that did the PPI told me I needed mucho work and many items were listed on the to do list as I drove off. I didn't care for his "estimate", particularly for the electrical items. On the way back up to Northern California in the motel parking lots, I fixed them one by one. One was " no interior lights work". Hey, this goon never moved the light switch to the "on" position, (or put them all there in the middle to fool me). I laughed for awhile about that one. Sheesh! Even I could figure that out !! He had positioned the rear window wiper in the middle of the rear window so I looked through it as I drove. Give me a break. And on and on as I worked my way back up here.
The clown even tried to talk me into rebuilding the transmission, claiming it didn't shift as a Porsche should: he said it should lay a patch in 2nd and 3rd every time and hop without even trying. He advised that I could pay him $3000 and he would have it chirping all the way home by adding extra clutches beyond stock. That one cracked my face abit.
My point is that I had the same attitude right after I got my car, but it lasted about as long as it took to get back here and really check it over. And as the miles build up, more and more things will go wrong. Don't expect to sit idle and celebrate the indestructible P car for long, You should invest in a WSM and PET catalog and some wrenches 'cause it is a used car and a performance machine that someone else has explored before you got your hands on it. As Arnold said: "You"ll be back!" (here). We'll be here waiting.
For some strange reason, I also think you made an excellent choice in model years.
Last edited by Ron_H; 05-17-2005 at 04:33 AM.
05-17-2005, 10:56 AM
#15
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Thread Starter
Yes I know. My posts were filled with sarcasm. I was just so surprised that my fixes were so easy that I thought I'd tease you a bit. I've checked out every item on the car and everything works, for the moment. I also just had all the fluids and filters replaced, TB/WP, etc. So I hope I'm good for a while at least. I have the WSM and PET6 from Jim Morehouse and ready to do battle as soon as the need arises.