mpesik

Have a slight problem. Little fire in the fuse panel. Area around starter relay and above has melted.

Least expensive way to go about repairing.
Can a panel be purchased with all wires attached?

Bill Ball

You might give our friendly 928 dismantler, 928 Intl, a call. I heard that a local Porsche dismantler, Parts Heaven, in Hayward, CA, has a bunch of panels, if 928 Intl doesn't.

The individual relay sockets can be replaced. You could probably use a seriously trashed panel from a wrong year as a source for those parts, which should be cheaper than getting the correct intact panel, as long as the wire can be repaired.

mpesik

Thankyou Bill.
Any good write ups?

Bill Ball

Dave Anderson describes panel refurbishing here.

http://members.rennlist.com/sharkski...04-Bzzzzzt.htm

mpesik

The plugs are very difficult to remove. I can see the little tangs with the holes for removal and of course I lifted up the catch. I'm using 2 needlenose pliers for removal. The plugs are in there quite tight. No luck yet. I don't want to break anything.

Bill Ball

Dave???

SharkSkin

Mike, on the later cars, there is more to it than the metal tang. BTW, I have a bit more info on my AC page(after the second wiring diagram) that should be somewhat useful.

It sounds like the problem that you were having is due to the fact that later panels have three tangs that have to be released to get the connector out of the relay socket. There is the one metal tang that you access from the front, and there are two plastic tangs on the back that have to be released. A heavy-duty pair of tweezers was what I used to release the two tangs on the back. I didn't know about these when I did my writeups, only learned about them when I helped Ron_H replace a socket in his 86.5 fuse panel. I probably should put a note on my page to that effect.

Alan

Mike,
Are you talking about the relay terminals or just the plugs on the bottom of the panel... I thought the latter...

The plugs on the panel shouldn't be that hard (unlock with the tab) pull top & bottom alternately... unless your panel had some water damage... still it should come loose - identify the plugs with the least wires - start there - they need less force... get a feel for it...

Panels are different by year - so get the right year... not too hard from there - you have all the relays & fuses so get a bare but wired panel - quite a bit cheaper. As Bill says - relay sockets and fuse blocks can be swapped but its likely you melted some wires back there pretty seriously and if the panel's frame is melted there is not much you can do...

Good luck in finding a new one - if thats what it takes...

PS I will be happy to take the remnants of your old panel and recycle the remaining good parts for others in need...
Its tricky to get them apart without damage - unless you've done it a few times...

Alan

Alan

Mike,
Can you post some pictures at least of the front of the panel and maybe the back too if you get that far - then we can advise you on what to do next..

Alan

Mongo

I almost wonder if refurbishing the fuse/relay panel would completely remove many gremlins in the 928's electrics. Interesting project to undertake here. My hat goes off to you Mike when you get this fixed

the flyin' scotsman

Mike...........with all the issues you've had electrically recently is it now perhaps time to park her for a while and fix all problems? I'll come and help!

SharkSkin

Ah, I think I may have misread. The plugs on the bottom of the panel are what you're having difficulty with? I thought you meant the plugs/terminals on the relay sockets. For the row of plugs along the bottom, I find it's usually easier to get to them if you have the lower row of relays out. Be sure you mark them or otherwise know what location they go back in! If you remove the lower wood piece in front of the panel and the lower row of relays you can get a good grip on each connector to pull them out.

Andy, I've had zero gremlins from the panel since I refurbed it. Refurbing the pod seems to have killed the last of the gremlins, and the last electrical related "issue" is the new alternator belt that is due for re-tensioning.

SteveG

This weekend 3 miles out, car dies. It gave me two warnings, coming off the winter in the garage, it had been driven a couple times, but basically sat all winter in a heated garage, being started twice in the last 6 weeks, both times it started hard, died once after starting. I should have changed the fuel pump relay (XX) right then. I struggled with the b*(^^ard for at least 15 minutes; I got the relay below it out for a better grip, no joy. I put a pair pliers on it and muscling it out broke one of the prongs off in the panel. The remains came right out and my spare in the glove box went in. She started right up. I wanted to dance on the old one, but I had to get moving. I'm buying the removal tool this week.

SharkSkin

The relay tool also will pull the cover off in cases like that... what you need is something to get under the relay. Here is what I use, after disconnecting the battery, of course...

TopDownL79

For those that are interested, I use a similar tool, only in non-conductive nylon, available from Eastwood. The 7 piece set is part number 43459, $29.95. They're expensive, but save time quite frequently - Especially when working with electrical parts.