MaineLandShark

Hi Guys,
I just bought a 1980 Euro 928 and brought it to the so called local Porsche specialist. (Sports Car Workshop, Arundel, Maine) I had the timing belt/pump changed. After that work was completed the shop said the car ran fine for 10 min. and then it died. It was probably the ignition control unit. They said they would get a used one to test it. They didn't and went ahead and put in a MSD ignition, changed the coil and coil wire, yes it runs. All of my gauges don't work, tach, speedo, etc and alternator is not working either. The tach needs a pick up unit they said and that the other problems did not relate to the work they had done...even though they had to figure out how to wire the MSD unit. They said these are new problems though I didn't have them prior to bringing my car to this shop and yet they won't fix them unless I pay. I'm not happy. I think they screwed up my wiring, but how do I prove that? Hmmm. Anyway the car didn't run right away after the MSD unit was installed making me think it was the coil or coil wire (as they said previous to all this work the coil wire looked like it was repaired.) Why not fix that first? Needless to say I want to send my Bosch ignition unit to be tested as I think it's good. Any help here on where a reputable place to send this unit? Much thanks in advance.
Ray

Lizard928

Remove the MSD unit, if they put it in there without you approving that then you have a good foot to stand on as you didnt authorise that and they cannot spend your money without you approving it.

Colin J

Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net

Hi Ray,

Sounds like you need to find another shop. I was suggest Rich Andrade might be able to test the system for you, he rebuilds the computers, so maybe.... I will pm you with Rich's email address

SMTCapeCod

There's a lister in that area that's helped a guy out isn't there? The sliver S4 with the offset racing stripe?

Mine is an '83, but the tach converter unit that MSD (directly) told me that I needed, wasn't required.

I'm wondering whether maybe your pickup wire was shorting a bit, or the coil could as well. Sounds like you've got a bit of a mess to sort out, but I think the prior advice to challenge the un-approved work is sound, probably your best starting point unless you want to get real combative and try a consumer advocacy agency, BBB, etc.

My alternator and other electricals were unaffected. It was only a three wire hookup, I wonder if they interrupted the power circuit from the alternator...I'm afraid I don't have the terminals and wires that I sorted out ocmmitted to memory.

As for the ignition unit, might be easiset to try to find someone nearby that could swap it in to test, unless your problems were intermittent. I think there is a continuity test for it in the workshop manuals too...man that was only last spring and I'm already foggy on it..

Jim bailey - 928 International

You talking about the TSZ switch box ? 928 602 702 02 ? if so send it to me and I will test it on the old very brown 1980 !

MaineLandShark

Hi Jim,
I finally got this mail figured out! I'm not sure, I think it's called the ignition control box,( the computer, the brain - are these all the same with different names?) The part number on the Bosch unit is 0227100008. Thanks,.
Ray

Jim bailey - 928 International

That would be the TSZ ignition box on the inner fender passenger side kinda hidden by the upper radiator hose so dend it to me and I will test it , any other 78-84 USA car uses the same one.

macreel

Maine... what Jim said.

That's what I've got, too. A "CD Unit*", 928.602.702.02
[Bosch # 0 227 100 008 ]


G'luck.

* or TSZ Ignition box.

MaineLandShark

Great, thanks for the help all. Jim I will send it to you, I'll contact you through your site.
Ray

SMTCapeCod

Did a little legwork for ya.
Sending to Jim is a great first step. If you need farther help, there's a forum participant with username Zeus+ that has helped out one or two other fellows. IIRC he's a technician (or owner/manager, I don't know) at a shop in/near Manchester Not exactly smack in your neighborhood...but wanted to provide the info in-case. Even if you can't get a personal consult, he might be able to talk you through some things about the mechanics and dealing with the shop.

MaineLandShark

Thanks for the info. Manchester is OK, it's only an hour. I see that you have the MSD igniyion, do you like it? Reason for changing?
Ray

SMTCapeCod

Glad I saw you're response! Reason for changing was..my personal penchant for pain. I always try to upgrade when I have to replace something (lets not debate whether it is an upgrade or not, the decision was based on my perception). And, I always like to try something new...MSD said they were only aware of one 928 with their ignition, and they installed it at their shop. That's clearly not the last word on the matter, I hear them alluded to every once in a while, but it isn't common on 928s. Seems to be a common install on some of the older 911s though (lots of info on Pelican Parts web boards). Plus, I was miffed because I'd been through a really lengthy tedious and frustrating process trying to diagnose a problem, finally got some great coaching from Dennis Wilson and John Pitman and others (and Jim!) that helped me figure out that it was, in fact, an fault in the original TSZ unit...and then an intermittent fault in the first aftermarket unit (Permatune) that I replaced it with. Which, it turns out, also failed fairly frequently for the turtle car owners.
Come to think of it-- I did post some questions and I think a summary of my final solution on one of the MSD weboards...as well as some threads here when it grenaded my rotor because it blew out the internal resistor! Guess there's something for you to check!
Anyway, I like it. I wasn't anticipating significant power/performance gain, and don't think that I got one. IIRC, I did start to get quicker starts and a smoother sounding engine, across a slightly wider continuum of AFR settings. I went with the top streetable coil at the time too.

LINK: rotor

SMTCapeCod

How ya makin' out?

mj1pate

How has the MSD worked out over time? New Ignition Control Units cost at over $1k. If the MSD worked out as a wash performance wise, did it offer cost advantages?

Thanks

Mike

SMTCapeCod

I don't know that it was a total wash. I don't expect higher output per se, but I do feel that it starts better and is burning a heavy fuel load at idle more completely. Conversion to the MSD introduced full time 12V and allowed/required use of aftermarket coil. It's held up just fine thus far-- but to be fair I haven't put on many miles. Used ignition units can be had for a couple hundred and sometimes less. Don't recall whether anyone is rebuilding them.