Don.

Hi All,
I want to use the new shark in the way that it was intended - as a Grand Touring Machine. Although I was careful to get a well maintained car with full records, I'm wondering what additional preventative maintanence would be prudent for a shark that intends to go on long trips. Right now, I'm fearless withing the 100 mile radius of my AAA plus membership. It would be nice if I was fearless within 1000 miles.

I'm not as worried about failures will allow me to limp home (for example, a leaking master/slave cylinder). But I'm worried about anything failing that will stop me in my tracks until I can tow the car to a Porsche mechanic. So I've read up some and made a list of things that may need to be addressed before a long road trip:

1) Buy a spare LH ECU. I've heard these can suddenly, catastrophically fail. Mostly I've heard of LH failures in the S4's and latter, but I'm wondering if the LH unit in my '86 is also that fragile. Anyone know?

2) Replace hydraulic hose between master/slave cylinder. I believe the master/slave will leak before failure, providing ample time to replace, but I've heard that the hose in between can just pop.

3) Replace the shifter ball cup. This can suddenly come loose.

4) Obviously replace all belts and hoses, including the all important timing belt. The timing belt has 35k miles on it. I may replace it anyway before I go on long trips.

5) Carry an extra fuel pump relay, and a jumper wire.

Anyone have any suggestions to add (or remove)? Am I being to **** with this list? The shark currently has 100k miles and has had all scheduled maintenance. Currently everything is in proper working order.

Should I just not worry too much and just enjoy the car?

Regards,
Don

Mark

Gold Card?

J/K <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" />

Search the archives, as there are a number of posts about the essentials...There was one in a very similar vein to yours just a month or so ago.

Nicole

Make lots of contacts with other 928 owners in the areas you are going to travel to. Start here, and don't forget to check out <a href="http://www.norcal928.org." target="_blank">www.norcal928.org.</a> Get on Bill Ball's email list for upcoming events like tech sessions, fun drives, etc.

Even though you read about the brain deaths and timing belt failures here on the board, in the big scheme of things they are still pretty rare I would say. Don't let these stories stop you from enjoying your beast!

Hope to meet you some day.

ViribusUnits

Don, I carry all sorts of junk.

I posted it a while back, seeing what other guys carry.

I'd get more relays if I was you. I don't know about your S4, but my S has a number of use specific relays. You can't substitue them out with something else, so I carry a spare AND a jumper, just in case. I belive the EFI ECU relay jumper needs two connecters on one end, but I can't rember now. Any of the relays can die, just like the fuel pump one, so it's good to have all the important ones. That included the fuel pump, the EFI ECU, the ignition, etc...

Get some extra fuses. Sometimes they act funny.

If you do your own electric work anyways, it might be possitive to carry a copy of the wireing diagram, and a light checker with you.

I also normaly carry around some of the various fluids, ATF, gear oil, motor oil, water, brake fluid, etc. This is so I can top them off if I get a leak.

Of course, there's the ever present can of fix a flat, as well as the jack, spare, and air compresser.

Carrying around a set of booster cables is a good thing. You'd be suprised how many passing motorests don't have one when you kill your battery in a parking lot.

I'm thinking about winding up a nylon tow rope into the car as well. I've had to use other people twice now, one my fault, one not. It would be good not to depend on the prepardness of strangers. You hopefuly won't need it.

Good luck.

Jessa

There's nation-wide road help list of fellow shark owners willing to lend a hand in an emergency. Its organised by region and handy to keep in the glove box on trips. Contact Greg at 928roadhelp@charter.net.

Don.

Hey, thanks for all the info! I didn't realize 928 owners were such a tight group. I'll check out both organizations mentioned. I guess one of the downsides of any discussion forum is that you're going to be constantly exposed to those rare breakdowns, without any idea how often they happen.

So it the basic message to carry reasonable spares, make a few friends, and live with a little uncertainty, figuring there's nothing I can do to make a 17 year old car 100% reliable?

I'm not worried about being the "Road Warrior" driving one of the last of the "V-8 interceptors" in post-nuclear America, and stocking up accordingly. I figure AAA will get me to the nearest auto parts store, and I could live with the short delay. I'm worried about some rare part breaking that they don't have in Missoula, Montana, and being forced to wait a week.

Hey, hope I get to meet all of you someday.

Best Regards,
Don

Shane

Vendor phone numbers, credit card, basic tool set. Gets me anywhere I need to go.

Old & New

Hey Don,

Even a brand new car isn't 100% reliable; I'm sure everyone has a new car horror story.

When you get connected to your "8", you will have never felt so safe.

VU! stop scaring the newbies! shame on you!

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

ViribusUnits

What Old & New, I'm an Eagle Scout, and act like it...

Be prepered.

Expeacly when you go crashing all the way through the middle of Texas at night at 90.