Beth

I had a defective distributor cap and the car rattled something terrible - like the car was going to self destruct. I swore it had to be the transmission that was shot. Took the car to Devek cause Rich and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. Took a while, but they eventually traced the problem to the distributor cap - weirdest fricken thing that's ever happened to my car. Not all cyliners were firing and the ones that were were all out of order.

tommytomaso

well...i thank you all for your imput.. i called NASHUA PORSCHE (they JUST did the aligniment) BOB the service manager said to bring it back and they would go through it and see if they can find the problem. THANKS BOB!!

Jim your reply sounds like it might be it...wasnt at full trottle but it was close and it shifts hard..and the problem was right at the shift point. and came on right with the shift.. here is a question , i manualy shift this car (i can keep it from shifting hard this way) but if im into the throttle and shift from 2nd to 3rd and added to much gas at the wrong point would it shift down? even if i just shifted up? im thinking (reliving the moment)that i thought it shifted up,,but if it down shifted then thats a whole lot more torque abuse then the upshift and can explain ALOT...but the vibration was all i could hear or think about at the time. to get onto the highway from the dealership it went threw 2-3 full shifts no problem. i was trying to see how the aighniment came out, not see how fast i could go, but i did get onto the gas getting on the highway! Iv checked Jims idea and i dont like how much work that is to fix eather...yikes!!! is it beter or worse then the TQ tube?

Gretch, i talked to my nephue, and he realy THANKs you for your invite...posts like yours makes him Proud to be part of this Porsche community!. And i would like personly thank you too. Your invite is most apprciated and thoughtfull.

Jim_H

Thanks, Gretch! Watching this thread and not having any knowledge of the problem was hard enough. But having one of our guys come back from Iraq and not be able to enjoy his 2 weeks leave was killing me. You da man!

animal8526

I cannot thank you enough for your generous offer. I got back from a mission I was on at 4am this morning and saw your post, I almost cried. to echo what my uncle said, its support like this that makes me proud to be a part of this community. looks like I will be owing one first born son to you gretch... and gladly so. to everyone that has put in a kind word or any thoughts, I thank you with all my Porsche loving heart. you guys (and gals) are the best. beers on me when I get home.

animal8526

thank you for the support Jim. sincerely.

animal8526

thanks Jim. fast Q... if the flex plate... [called something else on the website (928intl) isnt it?]... went, what else might have been damaged? next, does anyone have any drivetrain components for the year and model in Q they would be willing to part with?

money here is and isnt an issue... the less money I have to spend on getting this car roadworthy again, the more money I can put into the gas tank, enjoying my new suspension... until 928intl or any other supplier decides to offer military discounts (lol, milking it here) I am forced to find the lowest cost alternative to work with on my soldiers budget.

at first I was worried my car would be cooked, and not drivable when I am home. now, with the support of you fine people, I see a light. at least it went now, with a little over a week to fix it, and not the first day I got home to drive it.

in anycase, I am sure you will all be seeing more of me. thank you again everyone for all the help.

SharkSkin

If the flexplate cracked and the car is still driveable, chances are good there is no other damage. You should be able to swap that out in a couple hours.

animal8526

I suppose "drivable" is relative... yes, it runs and rolls. according to my uncle, there is a sweet spot around 1800 RPM that it doesnt shake so bad. from what he is telling me, all other engine speeds are like worse than drving on a rumble strip. severe balance issues it seems. well, in anycase, the Porsche Mechanics are looking it over free of cost, so I should know by monday what the damage is (thank you BOB of Porsche Nashua) everyone join me in a Porsche prayer ... we pray to you , great Ferry Porsche, that your will may shine down favoribly on my humble pilgrim. and to you, rennlist gurus. faster this is done, the faster I can return to what I really like... *improving* on the original.

Bill Ball

The flexplate and clamp are a matched pair, balanced at the factory. You'll see scallops cut out of the flexplate arms that are different from one flexplate to the next. So, although you can remove the flexplate from the clamp and get it out of the car easily, you need to remove and replace the clamp too.

On early cars, the ring gear on the flywheel is removable, which allows the flywheel to be removed and the flexplate and clamp replaced. That would work for you. On later model AT cars, the ring gear cannot come off the flywheel. Removing the flywheel with the ring gear on it is much harder to accomplish and you can replace the flexplate and clamp by dropping the front of the TT way down below the edge of the flywheel, so the clamp can slide off and be replaced. Also, not entirely easy but doable. If you unbolt the clamp from the plate, mark the position.

George Suennen had two of three arms broken on his flexplate and the car only rattled on shutdown. There was no vibration as I recall.

blau928

If it has a cat, it could be that the cat's innards have come apart. That could explain the power loss. The vibration at 2000 rpm is common fromthe resonance frequency.. No,not a major vibration, just that at 2000 rpm the vibration is amplified due to harmonics. In addition, you just stiffened the car significantly, and will feel much more vibration than before.

If you check the MM and they are fine, and the TT is fine, I would check the cat....

You could jack the car up, and tap the cat to see if it rattles. The loose parts insiude would block the exhaust and cause power loss, and the rattling would be amplified as well at 2000 rpm..

HTH,

animal8526

Bill Ball. the exhaulted. thank you for the help... I will let everyone know when I know. actually, my uncle will prob get to it first. when I am at the position I am trying to figure out if I can do the work, or how much help I need, I will be heading back to all of you for more advice.

Jim bailey - 928 International

OK guys let me know what the Porsche mechanics find ... and what you need

SharkSkin

Thanks for the clarification, Bill!

animal8526

thanks jim, we will be in touch.

tommytomaso

well here is the latest, Porsche of Nashua called, Bob had the car looked over nothing looks out of place, they checked all thier work, and nothing to help the dileima. Was hoping that they would look a bit deeper than just what work they did but it is a slipper slope on thier side. But anyways the mec, said it dosnt seem to be firing on all cyl, Not my take on it but ill make a check list and monday start crossing all your suggestions of the "what could it be list" and ill start with belts then fan -distribator-waterpump-sparkwires-sparkplugs, then ill have to jack it up and start the "under the car list"
ill use a stethscope with a tube on the end, will alow me to pin point were the problem is .....IM HOPEING!!! Well thats the plan and as i remember '' FOR EVERY CONPLEX PROBLEM, THIER IS AN ANSWER THAT IS BOTH SIMPLE, QUICK, AND WRONG!!!!