fiftyfive

I test drove my first 928 today, '87 S4 auto, 43K miles. I'd read the Read First sticky here and used the purchase checklist from 928.org.uk. I also read recent Excellence and 911 & PW 928 articles.

Against this info, the car checked out well; appears to be in excellent cosmetic condition. Timing belt etc. work done 2K miles ago; attention paid to AC paid in the last year--blew cold on a 90 degree day.

A few things came up that I hadn't seen in any of the materials, and I'd appreciate any comments:

1) Engine tick: The car had been setting for about a month at the consigning dealer (not a lot of traffic there). It started fine, but there was a distinct ticking that seemed to come from the right side of the engine--couldn't tell if it was under the valve cover or in front. After several minutes, it disappeared and didn't return; oil level and pressure good. Lifter/tappet, a pump, something else?

2) Brakes: Pads have about 1/2 life remaining, rotors good. The car stopped fine, but I couldn't get it to engage ABS with hard slow speed stops nor would the brakes grab hard at slow speeds; stopped fine from 50-60. Pedal travel seemed a bit soft and long. Normal, abnormal?

3) Transmission: Shifted and kicked down fine, no torque tube noise. First<->Reverse shift took about 1 sec, but reverse would occasionally engage very hard. Normal, abnormal?

4) Paint around fender openings: Paint appeared Porsche-excellent, no sign of repaint. However, around the inside-face of each fender opening, the texture was that of some type of stone/guard undercoating that had been painted. Paint was very thick around fender openings. Was very consistent wheel-wheel. Is that a factory finish?

5) Window/sunroof switches: Both window switches and the sunroof switch worked very intermittently. Is there a common circuit feeding them that could have an oxidized or loose contact?

I've never been in a car that had such a vault-like feeling.

Thanks,
John

Alan

John,

2) Did the brakles not lock up? These cars brakes are good but the tires have a lot of grip too. If the wheels did lock up and slide seems something is amiss...

5) Probably just the switches: likely you can clean them up or worst case just replace them. These circuits are very simple on this model year - not too much else to be intermittent..

Alan

chaadster

4) yeah, it almost looks like a respray on the inner fender lip, but that's factory finish.

Kaz

I'll comment on the brakes. I don't think you'll get the ABS to engage at hard low speed stops. The only times I've ever engaged ABS is in true emergency braking from 80+mph an hour speeds.

pmotts

I bought a GT with 138k on the odo. It hadn't been driven in awhile and when we started it there was a lifter ticking and after a few minutes it went away. As a weekly driver it has never made the ticking again.

Fogey1

If you want to test ABS at a low speed look for gravel or hit the brakes while turning. Or both.

928Quest

My 91S4 ticked more when cold than warm, more when accerlerating than when idling, more when having sat for a few weeks than when freshly run, but always a little ticking.

My 91GT has much less ticking.

I sometimes thought that the ticking on the S4 might have been a small exhaust leak.

fiftyfive

Thanks for the great information. Good point that ABS might not engage under less than extreme situations.

Regarding brake pedal feel, my points of reference are BMW 330 and '86 930, both with fairly quick, strong engagement. Does the 928 typically have a longer, slightly softer pedal? More like a 996 or an S2000. The 928 did pull down fast from 60 mph.

AO

The brakes may need flushing. Usually they have a very firm pedal. Other possibilities could be the master cylider seals are going.

Egine tick is very common if a car has been sitting. After a good flogging often the tick is greatly reduced or gone.

Good luck.

John Pirtle

1. I'd recommend fresh oil, especially synthetic.

2. Probably needs fresh brake fluid. I'm sure the car needs all new fluid and rubber. However I've had my abs engage during stop-n-go rush hour panic at 30-40 mph. But if the ABS warning light was not on then you are probably fine.

3. These cars are somewhat slow moving into gear, especially reverse. 1-2 seconds is normal. Forward gears engage faster but it's not immediate.

4. Paint is like that in the fenders.

5. Common switch issue. Fortunately my PO replaced all four. I think they can be taken apart and cleaned. Each switch is a separate piece with a 2+ foot cable that connects under the radio area.

If these were the worst problems then it certainly sounds like a nice car! With only 43k the interior should be very nice!! Just be ready to replace anything made of rubber, particularly all the vacuum hoses under the hood, ball joint boots, vacuum actuators, etc.

John Pirtle
87 a/t 196k
http://members.rennlist.com/pirtle

david928

55,

Sounds like the car is in pretty good shape.

I've got the same model/year. My four rocker switches have to be pushed twice to get them to work.

Crisis

Related question to #5: I can only operate one window or the sunroof at one time (pressing a second rocker switch has no effect until you release the first one). This can't be normal, is it?

Alan

Laird,
For a 90+ it is normal - if you'd like all together swap with someone with an earlier car!

The newer window controller does have a memory though so you can open the windows/sunroof in any order you choose with three quick clicks.

If you hold the door or hatch keys in the lock position the windows & sunroof will close in sequence also (just like in the 10 year later VW TV ad).

They also-have an express-open (single click) feature on all these that didn't exist before. You can also modify to have an express close on the drivers side (just unplug 1 connector @ thew controller for the ROW configuration). See previous posts on this feature...

Alan

fiftyfive

I really appreciate all the replies above.

With apologies in advance for their elementary nature, I thought of a few more:

1) On an '87 S4, the fundamental injection system is good old CIS, not pulsed Motronic? Does a Motronic brain control some of the engine functions? While not a purchase factor, gas consumption of my CIS 930 was an eye watering discovery. What highway and around-suburb mileage should I expect, fairly normal easy driving?

2) Every time I started the car it took a few seconds for it to fire; seems like the 930 in this regard. Normal?

3) Once or twice, idle speed oscillated between 600 and 1200 rpm. Pressing and slowly releasing the gas pedal would stop it. Sign of impending problem?

Thanks again,
John

fiftyfive

Oops, forgot a couple (Gimme an inch, I'll take a mile):

4) How do these cars do with cold weather starting, assuming a well-tuned car? Winter's are pretty mild here, usually above 15-20F.

5) Probably a "Who Shouldn't Buy a 928" question, but what is the approx 0-60 time of a stock automatic S4? Sorry, just had to ask.