rhys

Well, scratches don't quite describe it: I drove to NYC a couple of weeks ago (my 928 is my daily driver), a trip I don't usually make by car, but I had to carry some artwork to the city, so a drive was in order. After delivering the artwork, I parked in the self-park garage on 42nd and met some friends for dinner. Between that time and when I returned, some &%^$@#* tried to park next to me, obviously didn't know how to drive and left a 4-6 inch wide scrape the entire length of my driver-side door and into the front fender. The last foot or so was all the way down to the aluminum with a hand-sized dent right under the side mirror. This is on a 1982 that heretofore had not one single scratch or dent; a few stone dings, of course, but the body was basically pristine. That alone is enough to ruin one's entire summer, but wait...!

This occurred just a week or so after having just had my A/C recharged; as I was pulling out of my porche guy's driveway, the A/C blower decided to burn out which, I understand, is a megabuck replacement job, so, money being tight this summer, I am forced to use the old 2-50 airconditioning (2 windows down at 50 mph). And if this weren't bad enough...

This is all taking place just a few weeks after having read the many posts on using synthetic oil, I made the changeover. In the past, I was one of the oil-change-at-5000-miles guys, and my shark never used a drop of oil between changes and, obviously, had no perceptible oil leaks. No more! In the last 3000 miles, I have used more than 2 quarts of oil and the entire right (passenger) side of the engine is bathed in oil. Yes, I'm about to surrender.

heinrich

Rhys, the door can be easily repaired, if it's all that is dented it may be possible to buff the fender out. Replace the door with a good cheap used one is what I would do. And, the ac -- I have owned what, 20 928's? I think 3 had working ac. As to the oil, I have never had issues with synth, so I think you have a different failure BUT just go back to dinosaur. Easy fix, if that is the problem. Relax, just enjoy the car. Who cares, a little dent here and there

Imo000

AC blower, you mean the fan that blows the air into the cabin? You can easily get them used. I don't have a goo dused one but I'm sure others, or one of the wendors has them for not a lot fo $$$.

F451

x2.

And I know its easy for us to say, but hang in there, its only a car (although it looks and sounds like a beauty).

And if time and $ can fix something, then it must not be that big a deal (think someone's health going south - sometimes all the money and time in the world will not fix that).

And for driving the shark in NYC. Ouch! Almost like asking for trouble (I know you don't what to hear that Monday morning quarterbacking).

I used to cringe just driving my Honda CRX there. My first brand new car, my pride and joy. I managed to avoid any problems, but I was always paranoid when in NYC in it (as a matter of fact, I am always a bit paranoid in NYC - its a good survival mechanism in the Big Apple, no?).

Anyway, give yourself some time to be totally pissed and mourning about it, then put that behind you and decide what you want to do about it.

In the end its all good as long as you don't let it drag you down for too long.

Keep us posted and good luck with it. -Ed

Mike Frye

rhys,

Dude, I'm really sorry to hear that. I know the worst part probably isn't even the dent, it's the fact that the a$$hole that did it just took off like it was nothing. I can't stand that. Accidents happen, stand up like a man (or woman) and admit it and take responsibility. That stuff really burns me.

Sometimes these things pile up and it seems like you're pushing a boulder uphill. Take a breather, walk away from it and try not to focus on it too much for a week. I don't know where you are in Jersey, but there are some good body shops around that might be able to match up the paint if you replace the door, and the AC blower (as mentioned above) can be had used for about $100 IIRC. If that's the only part of the AC not working, you're golden. It might even be something electrical that can be fixed without replacing it, no?

Hang in there man, soon the fall will be here with lots of O2 in the air for some nice autumn cruising.

rhys

Good friends nd good comments, all. Sadly, since I am both mechanically and, at the moment, somewhat physically challenged (several herniated discs in spine, leading to some severely pinched nerves... the doctor keeps looking at my neck, looking at the Porsche and looking back at me in a way I really don't like. I'm afraid I may end up in the position Nicole seems to be in, with the doctor proscribing drving the car. I do know it cause lots of pain, but that's another story), I can't do my own mechanical work, so I must pay someone to replace the blower motor, etc... which, according to my Porsche guy, is about 10-11 hours of work, plus the cost of the motor, which new is about $200, and at his hourly rate, the whole enchilada is going to run somewhere north of a grand, the paint job at least that much even if I, gasp, went to Maaco... the oil leak, who knows? As a wise man once observed, it's not whether you have a budget for a 928, it's whether you can eat and pay rent afterwards.

However, as the guy says, it's just a car (I had to whisper that in case she heard me)

Mike Frye

rhys,

Sorry to hear about the back. I can't think of a more comfortable, more supporting seat than the one in my car, but I'm no doctor.

I don't think replacing the blower is that big a deal. I would be willing to have a shot at it in my driveway one day if you want to come over for a tech session. I'll work for beer and pizza (Guinness please) and I would be willing to bet that Adam G. from Freehold would give me a hand. If it's the hvac blower I've read about (under the hood, above the glove box?) it's just a matter of removing the hood (or just raising that side, as Bill Ball recently did) and R&Ring it. New vs. used is your preference, but if you bring the part, I'll do the work.

There's also a body shop down the street that I've dealt with (not for my 928 though) who I trust if you want to get an estimate.

Oil leak, well, that could be anything, but I'll see if I can isolate it if you like.

Let me know.

Erling G-P

Rhys, sorry to hear about your car and back problems.

Just wanted to chime in that I had my A/C blower fan replaced a couple of weeks ago, by my regular non-Porsche workshop. I handed in the car in the morning and picked it up in the afternoon, after work, so they clearly did it in less than 10-12 hours - and I'm pretty sure the mechanic had never changed a 928 blower before.

Best of luck with getting it all fixed; not least the back !!

Cheers,
Erling

ckabee1

Wow, take NJshark up on his offer, if you can. I had my blower motor out a month ago changing the recirc bladder and the whole affair didn't take 4 hrs. This is including disassembling the blower and cleaning it out. Lot of good write-ups out there, no big deal.

Sorry about your back problems... I'm sure there is nothing more miserable.

Take care.

Ed Hughes

That sucks, how stereotypical of the "big city". I hope you get it all sorted.

And I feel for your back. I've got several hot spots on my spine as well, and did a big surgery 5 years ago, which took care of the worst portion. It seems that my back feels best when driving the Shark, so I prescribe that as therapy for you. Like Mike, I'm no Dr., but I could be, when it comes to backs-I know all too well the suffering and what works/doesn't work. So listen to me: DRIVE the car!!

And, take him up on the Tech Session offer....

85fortheDrive

Rhys, sorry about the triple bummer here. If you have not replaced the oil pan gasket to a silicone-based one, then you will likely have dripping when using a full synthetic. I had this happen when I switched to Mobil 1 and had to subsequently switch to Quaker State high mileage. Upon doing so, the dripping did not cease completely, but did diminish alot.

I will not tell you that replacing the oil pan gasket is easy, but could you start by checking the tightness on the bolts? If we lived closer, I'd be happy to take a look for you. I know, some help that is.

Imo000

Here's a time saving tip when replacing the blower motor. Instead of removing hte hood from the hinges, just remove the hood WITH the hinges. It might take a little more time to get to the bolts but since they are not slotted (unlike the ones at the hood) the hood will prefectly line up upon re-intall.

ckabee1

^^ exactly the appoach I used. Sure was a PITA getting the rear bolt off and back on... but not as bad as messing with the hood.

I also lossened the valance on the PS.