ca_chandler

So after a year of owning my '85 Toyota MR2 (bodymans special) and scouting Craigslist for more cars that just need a little love... I came across one '79 928 in "good mechanical condition that needs paint."

The seller was, and remains (in my book) a great guy that helped me a lot more than he should have. But my first purchase for the car was from a towing company, after 10 minutes of driving. I stood in the rain for 2 hours and called the guy and begged him to take the car back for half of what I paid for it. He gave me money for the tow and told me to wait a couple weeks. I think he regrets selling the car to a girl, lol.

Well, my second purchase was a radiator hose, and the third was a couple fuses. Things are looking better. The only thing was, and I read this in the "Forum Introduction Page" that a mod had the same problem (as I'm sure many of you have) we had to switch the cooling fan fuse to an unused one because the connector was really, really damaged. (We moved it to position '13' I believe). So now the fan stays on all the time but it's supposed to, right..?

After that we tried to start the car and it wouldn't start. Then I saw we were almost out of gas. We got 5 gallons, came back, filled up, and the car still wouldn't start. Flooded maybe? I don't know, I called it a day at that point.

Now, I don't know a lot about 928s, or even cars in general, but I'm hoping it's something simple like the oxygen sensor was blocked. Input? Also, I'd appreciate you guys helping me out with a list of things that I should probably do, that I wouldn't think to do. I'm stupid when it comes to German cars -_- and American cars too, for that matter.

This is what the PO did for the car, while it was sitting in his garage for 3 years:

Changed the timing belt & water pump, new radiator, rebuilt the altenator, and put in a new clutch master cylinder.

I've checked the fluids, filters, fuses, exterior lights. Shopping list so far is brake pads & fluid, spark plugs, air filter. The interior is pretty trashed, but I'm not worried about that right now. Body restoration/detailing is my area, electrical and mechanical is not.

Thanks to everyone who read through this whole post and thanks SO much in advance to anyone replying. Feel free to PM/e-mail me, I would really appreciate ANY help/advice. My name's Catherine ^_^

Stephencs601

Well, first congrats on purchase and sorry for the headaches.

The thing that comes to mind is the fuel pump. Are you getting fuel to the motor. Fuel pumps are in rear on passenger side. Remove cover and check for power then operation. Maybe a clogged filter just above pump. Easy check and cost effective.

If pump is OK, check for ignition at spark plug.

Good luck and try 928 intl they helped me prior.

Shane

Yep start with the basics, Fuel, Spark and Air. Although I've not seen one not start from lack of air I suppose anything is possible.

Congrats on your purchase and on finding this forum. You came to the right place!

Although I'm not real familiar with the early models there are a lot of guys and girls here that are.

Good Luck and Welcome!

rixter

welcome Catherine... sounds like you have your hands full, see if you can get one of the Ohio guys to help you sort thru it.. may make things a lot easier having someone familiar with 928s point you in the right direction..
and oh yeah.. we need pics!

on a side note... that's 2 new female owners in a week here.. very cool

6mil928

I was wondering if it wasn't the alarm?? She didn't say how it wasn't starting? Jason

Marine Blue

Welcome to 928 ownership!

Please post a few shots of the car as is obligatory. Hopefully you can get the issues ironed out quickly.

DANdeMAN

And hopefuly you should not be sitting on the hood!

Slantnose!

Hello!

LUCKe27

Pics of the car or Catherine? I know, I know .... BOTH .

Big Dave

Congratulations, and welcome to Rennlist

nosnow

Congrats, on the purchase. Rennlist has saved my '82 from the scrap yard more than once.

I'm surprised no one mentioned the fuel pump relay. I suggest checking that first. Do a search there are MANY threads on the topic.

Angel84-928

Welcome to the List......

docmirror

Welcome, and congrats on buying a 928.

Let's start with the fan. It should NOT stay on all the time, it is tcontrolled by the AC on that model IIRC. I don't know a lot about the 79 models, so I'll have to look some things up. You have a mechanically fitted fan behind the radiator to cool the engine, and the electric fan is for the AC.

first, and most important, you will require a decent small volt/ohm/ammeter. The 928 cannot be diagnosed without one.

Relays play a large role in the 928, and it's a good place to start. Relay XVII (17) goes through fuse 22 and energizes the fuel pumps. It also powers the warm up regulator and the alternate air solenoid so it's really, really important that it be working. To test, locate the fuel tank cover at the very back bottom of the car. Stick your ear up close to the cover, and have someone try to start the car(carefully). Listen for a high pitched buzz at that area, and if you don't hear it, you have a problem with the fuel pump relay. Warning, it is not the same as all the rest of the relays!

Another way to test, is to remove the relay which is difficult, but can be done with a pair of hotdog tongs, and put a jumper wire in between pins 30 and 87. Look at the bottom of the relay for pin locations, but don't forget it's upside down. There should be a bit of a spark jump when you connect 30 and 87. At that point you should hear the pumps running in back. If not this is bad, you'll need to investigate the fuel pumps.

If you do hear them, while it's running go to the front of the car, locate the fuel distributor head by following any one of the injector lines back from the intake manifold. On the side of the injector head, you will find two larger fuel lines, one of them is going to the warm up regulator(small aluminum box with fuel lines, and a bosch wire connector). Using a wrench, crack that line and expect fuel to squirt out. If it does, that's good, tighten things, clean up the fuel first! and remove the jumper. Investigate the fuel pump relay.

Let us know what you find, and we'll go from there.

bronto

On the '79 the aux AC fan is also controlled by a temp switch on the radiator. Sounds like one of the switches is bad, or that someone did some shade-tree rewiring...

docmirror

Right, I see that now, duh, it's right next to the AC freon switch. I was going to say thermostatically controlled too, but had to look it up. Once we get fuel moving we can check on spark.