Introduction and first question
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 591
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From: Charlotte, NC
Hello Manfred,
I had a bad experience where my brand new VW Jetta 2002 burned to ashes after a small leak develloped at the gas tank pickup line. Eventhough I was driving at highway speed, the vapors managed to ignite in contact with the exhaust system.
My advice: don't mess with that problem. It gets pretty hot under 928 compared to a VW.
Regards.
Michel
1989 S4
I had a bad experience where my brand new VW Jetta 2002 burned to ashes after a small leak develloped at the gas tank pickup line. Eventhough I was driving at highway speed, the vapors managed to ignite in contact with the exhaust system.
My advice: don't mess with that problem. It gets pretty hot under 928 compared to a VW.
Regards.
Michel
1989 S4
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 591
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Well, I'm getting pretty frustrated. I had the car into a Porsche specialist in the area--the mechanic is the person with the most 928 experience in town. Since a previous owner put an amp and a subwoofer on the rear deck they took out the gas tank and found that it checked out OK. They also checked the y-tubing and charcoal filter under the front passenger wheel well and said that checked out OK. They did find leakage at the crush rings of the fuel injectors and replaced those. They said they thought that took care of it but after driving it for one day I took it back because I was making myself nauseated if I didn't change my cloths after being in the car for 15minutes. The next time in they said they found another leak at the fuel pump so I had them replace the fuel pump. Again, they test drove it, said they thought the smell was gone but here I am one day later and after 15minutes in the car my cloths smell like gas.
Any other places we should be looking for leaks?
Thanks for any input.
By-the-by; in the meantime I've had the wiring harness and master and slave clutch systems engine mounts and right rear wheel bearings replaced and the AC has now gone on the fritz (only blows cold when the temperature selector slider is all the way to the left--i.e. if I select 66 degrees instead of 65 degrees it begins to blow hot air--also the vent selector buttons no longer change the air flow--all vents stay open regardless of which button is pushed). All of this I can tolerate because I still love the car and I expect to do maintenance but with the gas smell the way it is I can't really enjoy the car--it makes it hard to drive when I'm getting sick.
Any other places we should be looking for leaks?
Thanks for any input.
By-the-by; in the meantime I've had the wiring harness and master and slave clutch systems engine mounts and right rear wheel bearings replaced and the AC has now gone on the fritz (only blows cold when the temperature selector slider is all the way to the left--i.e. if I select 66 degrees instead of 65 degrees it begins to blow hot air--also the vent selector buttons no longer change the air flow--all vents stay open regardless of which button is pushed). All of this I can tolerate because I still love the car and I expect to do maintenance but with the gas smell the way it is I can't really enjoy the car--it makes it hard to drive when I'm getting sick.
Rest in Peace
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From: Concord, CA
Race Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,663
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From: No where Oklahoma AKA "The Dust Bowl" In The Arm pit Of Hell
I think your being taken for a ride by your local mechanic. I may be wrong but it sounds hoky. Now that it's real hot here I'm smelling fumes in the car. I'll be pulling my wheel wells this weekend to run the problem down.
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Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Lillington, NC
Call Brad Moyer in Durham at 919-384-7070. He is good with 928's (owns 5 or 6).
It may be worth a trip to Durham to have him look at the car and find that gas leak.
His shop is called The Digital Chassis.
It may be worth a trip to Durham to have him look at the car and find that gas leak.
His shop is called The Digital Chassis.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 871
Likes: 8
From: Fremont, CA
Not sure about the fuel smell but your a/c HVAC problem sounds like a vacuum hose was knocked off. Check around the brake master to see if there are any stray vacuum lines. That should fix the air control issue.
If that doesn't fix the A/C and heat problem you can check the sensor in the front left fender it may have been disconnected. Since you said wiring harness work you may want to make sure that sensor is plugged in. You should be able to see the connector if you raise the headlights and then look from below. This will only impact the "A/C only works at 65" The other issue should be vacuum related.
I would guess if you are getting that much fuel smell you might want to check the hoses at the back of the engine as the cabin air intake is right there. I'd hesitate going on any drive with that much of a fuel smell. Someone more knowledgable than myself can chime in now
If that doesn't fix the A/C and heat problem you can check the sensor in the front left fender it may have been disconnected. Since you said wiring harness work you may want to make sure that sensor is plugged in. You should be able to see the connector if you raise the headlights and then look from below. This will only impact the "A/C only works at 65" The other issue should be vacuum related.
I would guess if you are getting that much fuel smell you might want to check the hoses at the back of the engine as the cabin air intake is right there. I'd hesitate going on any drive with that much of a fuel smell. Someone more knowledgable than myself can chime in now
928 OB-Wan
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Zebulon, NC
Dan,
which shop are you using? you can pm me with it if you don't want to post openly
there is a good chance I may be in Charlotte next Sunday for Parade, if you aren't far I could stop in
you can also call Stan at Exclusive Motors and get a recommendation for another wrench
which shop are you using? you can pm me with it if you don't want to post openly
there is a good chance I may be in Charlotte next Sunday for Parade, if you aren't far I could stop in
you can also call Stan at Exclusive Motors and get a recommendation for another wrench
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 591
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Thanks for the advice; I'll definitely consider that--it's not a bad drive to Durham.
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Joe Kucinski
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 12,620
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From: Boulder Creek, CA
Hopefully the fuel tank R&R didn't result in cracked fittings on the tank -- it's easy to do. Also, if the tech used a knife to get the old hoses off he may have scored the plastic fittings, which would essentially rule out ever getting a good seal there again. I have a writeup on fuel tank R&R here. It's an early car so the fuel pump/filter/plumbing is a bit different but the main fittings on the tank should all be the same.
It's possible that some of the hoses around the expansion tank need replacing. Again, this diagram is for the early cars and will differ in the details but should give you a general idea of what's there.
It's possible that some of the hoses around the expansion tank need replacing. Again, this diagram is for the early cars and will differ in the details but should give you a general idea of what's there.
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 591
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Not sure about the fuel smell but your a/c HVAC problem sounds like a vacuum hose was knocked off. Check around the brake master to see if there are any stray vacuum lines. That should fix the air control issue.
If that doesn't fix the A/C and heat problem you can check the sensor in the front left fender it may have been disconnected. Since you said wiring harness work you may want to make sure that sensor is plugged in. You should be able to see the connector if you raise the headlights and then look from below. This will only impact the "A/C only works at 65" The other issue should be vacuum related.
I would guess if you are getting that much fuel smell you might want to check the hoses at the back of the engine as the cabin air intake is right there. I'd hesitate going on any drive with that much of a fuel smell. Someone more knowledgable than myself can chime in now
If that doesn't fix the A/C and heat problem you can check the sensor in the front left fender it may have been disconnected. Since you said wiring harness work you may want to make sure that sensor is plugged in. You should be able to see the connector if you raise the headlights and then look from below. This will only impact the "A/C only works at 65" The other issue should be vacuum related.
I would guess if you are getting that much fuel smell you might want to check the hoses at the back of the engine as the cabin air intake is right there. I'd hesitate going on any drive with that much of a fuel smell. Someone more knowledgable than myself can chime in now
Yeah, it certainly seems like something got displaced during the other work on the car. What exactly am I looking for when I look up from below--sorry to say I'm new at this--can you give me a general description of what the sensor might look like? Also, where (and what does it look like) is the brake master so I can try to find the vacuum hose?
As far as the fuel smell goes (which is still really my main problem), where do I find the hoses? There is a rectangular box at the back of the airintakes for the engine--is that the air filter? Do I pop that off and look underneath?
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 871
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From: Fremont, CA
Alright I spend far too much time here when I can recall the location of the below threads. Maybe I should do some work
The threads below should get you started plus they will give you some key words that you can search against. I'd suggest only going as far as your comfort level allows. The items you list as not working after the repair shop visit sounds like a couple of connectors are not connected. The fuel smell is more difficult to track. If the focuse was on the tank and it did not fix the problem look around the engine bay maybe you'll find the leak.
This thread does a good job discussing replacing the sensor. I am referring to it because it will help you locate it, I would just check to see if it is plugged in.
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/350039-fix-your-hvac-system.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/420349-heater-is-full-hot-or-full-cold-only.html
Fuel Line / Fuel Smell Thread (Under the big black box)
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/425276-help-please-gas-smell-not-y-connector-no-visable-leaks.html
Vacuum (I would bet one of the vacuum connectors in your engine bay is disconnected)
http://members.rennlist.com/pirtle/svc_act.html
The threads below should get you started plus they will give you some key words that you can search against. I'd suggest only going as far as your comfort level allows. The items you list as not working after the repair shop visit sounds like a couple of connectors are not connected. The fuel smell is more difficult to track. If the focuse was on the tank and it did not fix the problem look around the engine bay maybe you'll find the leak.
This thread does a good job discussing replacing the sensor. I am referring to it because it will help you locate it, I would just check to see if it is plugged in.
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/350039-fix-your-hvac-system.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/420349-heater-is-full-hot-or-full-cold-only.html
Fuel Line / Fuel Smell Thread (Under the big black box)
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/425276-help-please-gas-smell-not-y-connector-no-visable-leaks.html
Vacuum (I would bet one of the vacuum connectors in your engine bay is disconnected)
http://members.rennlist.com/pirtle/svc_act.html
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 591
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Thanks to your links I found a good picture of the vacuum lines--I don't see anything loose as far as I can trace them (also have the air filter off the manifold and can see the heater valve--vacuum line appears to be attached normally there). If I find the time I will vacuum test the lines as the article describes.
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 591
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
...but will start with pulling the headlight and checking the sensor--I'm guessing that since it worked fine before the wiring harness was replaced that the connection got disrupted--the sensor itself (again guessing) should be OK.
Along those lines, does anyone know if the vacuum system is purely mechanical or is there an electrical influence on the system at any location?
Along those lines, does anyone know if the vacuum system is purely mechanical or is there an electrical influence on the system at any location?