Mike Frye

JHowell,

I wouldn't say I have a lot of knowledge and I definitely don't have a lot of money. It's taken me almost 2 years to get my car to more or less where I wanted it.

I don't want to get negative about it... It's just a shame.

Oh, they made sure there were no sparks or fire anywhere when they were done...

Are you one of those guys that puts the fire hose through the the car if it's parked in front of a hydrant? (my favorite scene from Backdraft).

dr bob

Of course the big question would be ---drum roll--- Did the block crack? I heard that the blocks crack.


All that aside, this is still a sign that we aren't quite ready to make the transition from 'used cars' to 'interesting cars' and on to 'collector cars'. So long as folks treat them like cheap throwaways, they will be considered cheap throwaways.

Mike's comment on commitment is pretty right on. I'm not sure you need to have the equivalent of a regular car payment budgeted every month for repairs, but the rest is very accurate. I think the third 'rule' blankets that first one anyway.

The S4 is a 20 year old car now, with 20-year-old car problems. In this case an ignition failure on one side causes a cat fire, or a fuel hose breaks or a fuel pressure regulator or damper breaks and floods the intake with extra fuel. Ignoring symotoms and ignoring reasonable diagnoses is a sure way to save today and pay $$$$ tomorrow in any car, more so in a 928. Too often we lose sight of the fact that we are maintaining/supporting/repairing/restoring/etc. cars that sold for over $70k when they were new. One could assign value to things that deteriorate on a car and start subtracting those costs from $70k, maybe end up with some 'value' number to assign to the cars that are left. If I just do this and this and this to the car, it will be perfect, right. Subtract the costs of 'this and this and this' from $70k and you know the residual value. The trouble is that folks find cars for $10k or less and assume that the car is just barely south of new. Disappointed when something fails or shows signs of significant wear. Hey, it's a $10k car, so it isn't worth replacing the burnt hoses and wiring, the failed ignition and/or fuel system stuff, since that will cost over half what the car is 'worth'. Huh???

Well I'm sorry to see a car go this way, but I'm not feeling that remorse for the owner. Multiple symptoms, multiple opinions pointing to the same problems, and tightness/deafness/blindness preventing accurate remedy, That's shame on him.

Mrmerlin

the fact is if you want to play you have to pay.
if thats not in the cards for you then you need to find another sandbox. From a mechanical stand point the 928 is a very overbuilt car . that said when little things start to fail then complete systems sometimes need overhauling, if you only are trying to keep the engine spinning with out restoring the overbuilt capability of the car then your only postponing bigger failures.
Its sad to see a car that was held together with a piece of gum and some bailing wire, have total failure due to a poor owner, But thats what happens when your eyes are bigger than you pocketbook

Keep em flying !

Jadz928

Last year, I needed a TB/WP job. Had been 4 years and had noticed cam sprocket wear upon TB tension check. I was planning to go to SITM '07 but had to shelf it for a year to make time to do the TB/WP.
I was bummed, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

That's too bad about the car fire, seriously. Poor 928, RIP.

Leon Speed

Mike, do you know what the cause was, fuel lines (which?) or ATF lines ?

SeanR

This is a sad story and had a nice, smart ***, remark made up, until I read the entire story. Depressing and I hope that since you posted it that others will take the time to do the work that needs to be done.

With all of the vendors we have out there, the amount of knowledge and advice that is available (as opposed to 10 years ago), maybe this won't happen again.

Now for my smart *** comment. I can't hear what my car is telling me, it's too farking loud.

blown 87

Ok, now which transmission lines do I need to replace, it will be a simple thing to do with my motor out.
to be honest I never thought about them being a fire hazard.

Charley B

Wow. We're getting a little arrogant aren't we? Here's an owner that didn't use the best judgement in taking care of his 928 and he has paid the price, and more than likely learned a valuable lesson. But I'm a little surprised by all the self rightious indignation.

My guess is we all are guilty to some degree of neglecting the proper care and feeding of some aspect of our lives such as marriage, kids, jobs, relatives, souls etc., and most can have more dire results than just the loss of a car.

When someone suffers the divorce, the kid in trouble, the lost job or the dead grandparent we never quite got around to spending some time with, or even the destroyed car, happens, do we really have a right to pile on as if we never neglect anything in our own lives?

It's good we can all learn from someone elses mistake, but how about a little more compassion and a little less harsh judgement.

Mike Frye

I'm pretty sure the first time it was the tranny fluid cooler line that crosses over the heat shield near the cats. Rumor has it that it was the same thing this time.

The pictures I saw showed that the console was ripped out and the hood had been pried up by the first responders. That would be consistent with a fire near the cats coming up through/near the firewall and/or console.

I would review the tranny fluid cooler lines. They go from hard line to rubber in several places.

Bill Ball

I guess that's pointed at me and my comment. OK. No problem. We can disagree. Anyway, it is a good cautionary tale. If you have small car fire, make sure it is fixed properly!

Charley B

Not at all Bill, I thought your comment was pretty appropriate.

My point isn't that the owner wasn't responsible for his mess, just that calling him names and deciding he shouldn't be fortunate enough to own a 928 is a little harsh.

Several non personal, but cautionary posts, were well spoken and well taken.

Adam Geist

I just returned from checking out the car - it was very upsetting to the see it in its current state. The car was at our GTG last Fall when we repaired several wiring issues. At the time it was in good condition but was in dire need of preventative maintenance as Mike mentioned earlier - tune up, sparkplugs wires, hoses, fuel lines, etc.

The fire was up in the transmission tunnel, reached the interior of the car and the engine compartment. The rear A/C is destroyed, the rear hatch and driver's side windows broken, and the center console ripped apart.

The car is a total loss. I made an offer and the owner is mulling it over.

G Man

If this car is going to be parted out I might be in the market for some items. Please keep us up to date of the car's fate. I need front bumper shocks for my 84'. ( PO didn't replace when he had his little bump) Anyone know if S4 shocks will fit my 84'?

Ed Hughes

With cars such as these, a good-sized Halon fire extinguisher, or any extinguisher for that matter, should be on the top of the list. Maybe the fire in the tunnel would've been hard to get to, but it would've been worth trying, at least, and may've stopped it from being a total loss. For $80 or so, you can get a 2 1/2lb Halon extinguisher.

Shane

2.5 lbs is not enough, this I know from hard earned experience. I keep a 2.5 lber in the front of my car and a 5 lber in the back next to the ground strap after one of mine burned up.