nsantolick

It's here. It's GREAT! It's gran prix white. Can it be called a "Great White Shark"???

Anyway, first off; Thanks to all of you. I was impressed to see three pages of responses in just a day. There are some excellent people here and I appreciate all of the comments/offers to help, etc which were left, so quickly by so many...

Until it arrived, I had NEVER even been in one. Sure, there was that "Oh Crap" moment when I first got in, and found my head jammed into the roof, but when the seat height was lowered, I just barely made it comfortably. Fits me nicely...

I can't imagine what words can express FINALLY getting one, that dream car of mine since even BEFORE Risky Business... WOW... AWESOME... SCHWING???

The car is far more than I had ever expected it to be, and I didn't even really drive it yet. I drove a few blocks around town, slowly - to the car wash actually. Then it started to rain, of course...

I DID drive it, very gently, just a few miles around town. I don't think I even got out of 2nd gear. (autobox) It felt great. I LOVE it's aesthetics. The condition is remarkable.

I added some gas, and, unfortunately had people around me asking a lot of questions about what it was, etc. Cool, and I was cordial, but honestly, I didn't expect that and kind of don't like that sort of stuff usually. I HOPED the car would "blend in" a bit more.

I even had three teenagers with soup cans installed as exhaust pipes on their stickered up Hondas try to pull some fast and furious cultural tribespeak maneuvers, egging me into racing. It was actually a bit surreal. They must have had walkie talkies or something...

I haven't had time for the big PPI (Post Purchase Inspection, in my case) but there's not much that I've noticed thusfar. Fluids look/smell good. There was some seepage under the engine that I noticed while it was still on the truck. Will research that more soon. Wasn't major at all, I think. Light dent in the front drivers rim, dash lights are on when lights are down but go out when lights pop up. No cover over the smog pump air filter. Door lock switch works - unlock switch doesn't. No lighting on the automatic transmission shifter lettering. Hood is a little tight upon first opening - found old struts in trunk, along with two NEW mystery belts - NOT timing belt. Jack is hiding or gone. Retains manual, tools, spare tire. Missing engine compartment lightbulb. Mildly cracked rear right turn signal lens. Cracked washer fluid lid. Oil pressure gauge pegged at max under power - I assume it's just the "sender" unit. Disconnected actuator for the flaps in the front. (worried about why it could have been disconnected and what that could cost to correct... they are stuck open) That's about it, thusfar... Overall, very clean car, inside and out. STUNNING interior, by my tastes... Even has a K&N air filter. Can't remember but there was a club affiliation sticker on it and I don't think it was PCA. Perhaps I can track it down there and find out more? Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

I'm going to assume that the engine bay must have been exposed to some heat, at some point, so there it will sit until I do a through timing belt project... The belt is AT LEAST 4 1/2 years old, and possibly a year or two older still... (~2000 miles put on it since '04)

I'll do a detailed inspection ASAP and get some parts on their way for Monday. Regarding the dash lights not working when the pods are up, but being on when they are down; sounds like a relay. I'll remove/reinstall ALL relays and clean up all fuses and ground points first.

With the timing belt project, should I change ALL bearings? I saw a "create your kit" parts site and it mentioned a few options - lower something or other arm & such. With 77,000 miles on an 1989, should I change/rebuild it all???

I believe that I need to remove the same cover plate to install the locking tool as I would to check/loosen & tighten the flex plate. The brakes look good, but I'll do a closer examination when I flush the brake fluids, etc.

The air conditioning was claimed to be cold by the seller, but it didn't seem to work well. On the other hand, it was 97 degrees F that day unfortunately, and I certainly didn't exceed 2500-3000 RPMS, so perhaps the pump just didn't get much of a chance to do its job???

BTW - the "rubber" in the engine all looks pristine. I'm not sure if Porsche does something special with their cooling hoses, but these look newer than most other "new car" hoses. I have a pressure checker thingie for the cooling system. Does anyone know the correct PSI to pressurize it up to to check for leaks, etc?


__________________________________________________________

Code Option Description
018 Sport steering wheel with elevated hub
302 Type designated on rear end
418 Protective side mouldings
570 High output air conditioner
586 Lumbar support - left seat
650 Sunroof
691 CD-Player "CD-1" with Radio
C03 California type car

__________________________________________________________


I knew from carfax that it was in California until around 50,000 miles. Does that last option code indicate that it has extra irritating emission control devices???

One last thing. It has the roof rubbery antenna. It ALSO has a wire antenna, I assume, in the front windshield, coming up from bottom center and turning towards the passenger side ONLY. Can this be correct? Original???? Maybe replacement glass??? (1989 S4)

I'm going to join rennlist in a day or two and put a site up documenting it all. Many more photos to come soon...

Thanks again to everyone. Lots of nice people here. I'm thrilled to have this car. It's so dam perfect design-wise. I can't wait to open it up and see what it can do. Any advice will is particularly hoped for. Thanks in advance...






Nick

funkyboogalooo

Very very nice, I have always loved white and now its coming back in popularity. Enjoy

nsantolick

Most of my cars have been white. There's a lot of 928 colors I think are awesome, but I really hoped for white so I'm psyched.

I also hoped for a manual gearbox, but I heard that there are some advantages to an auto with supercharger conversions.

Come to think of it, I looked at this car as more of a luxury car than a "sports car." I'm not sure which way I'll go, and as tempting as a RMB is, and even considering the mild increase in power and weight reduction it may provide, something has me thinking I'll keep it stock, and quieter, to keep the stereo sounding better and maybe reduce the "attention" it gets, particularly from the local fast & furious crowd. "Sleeper..." I think that's the word...

Normally I'm a manual or nothing kind of guy, and I do appreciate noises, but for me, thusfar, it's strange, but I really am thinking I may prefer it that way. Anyone else feel the same?

So psyched!!!





Nick

jon928se

Jeez, I wish my 928s looked that clean and pristine.

You first two jobs are Timing Belt/Water Pump and all the TB rollers etc. Lots of how to's around if you havent already dialled them up.

Then WYAIT release the clamp on the forwards end of the flexplate and measure crankshaft fore and aft play - again search for TBF.

Once you've done the above with a full fluids change anything else likely to go worng will advertise it's presence before it gets expensive (the above two don't advertise their presence 'til it's too late)

Congrats - nice lloking 928.

Mike Frye

So what you're saying is that you're psyched?

Heh heh.

Get used to it. I've had mine almost 2 years now and I still look back at it when I park it somewhere and I'm walking away.

Have you done that goofy thing where you just sit in the driver's seat in the driveway with your hands on the wheel looking all around like a teenager in his first car?

Enjoy and keep us posted, she's a BEAUTY!


BTW- never seen a sub enclosure like that. It's not bad, but not exactly stock. Maybe the reason the ricers wanted to play is because you were rattling their windows with your tunes?

nsantolick

The sub enclosure is a neat unit. There's a large **** that lets you secure it in position or remove it easily. Looks like a single down firing speaker. Must be a custom box. The stereo does sound decent, but I think it's a bit underpowered and I'm not sure where the amps, if any, are to be found.

I bought a new Alpine deck unit for it already - no cd or tape, just usb cables and connectors for other components. What made me get it, way before I found a car was that it directly works with and controls an iPhone, and has a bluetooth option that turns the cars stereo into a speaker phone. I'm starting to think maybe switching to one of those pop up screen things instead, eventually, that has gps. I know it's a keeper for me and believe it or not, I'm STILL without gps. And I suck with directions... lol

I wonder if you "route optimize" a gps system to find the routes with the most curves or at least the fewest number of patrol cars? ; )




I've been doing the teenager in the driveway bit every few hours since it arrived. lol Can't walk past a house window that has a view of it without stopping and staring too.

I find myself taking the garbage out every time there's ANY in the can. lol

I've been looking for months now and never thought I'd find one that's so clean overall, at least one I could afford.

I even am watching youtube videos about 928's all the time too.

This is going to be one fun car... : )






Nick

Bill Ball

Same here.

That's not good for it. I hope you learn to drive it properly. Row the autobox and push the gas pedal down hard. Otherwise it won't last another 25K miles. ...Just kiddn' you, but there is truth in it - these cars do much better with regular vigorous excercise.


Welcome to 928 electrical oddities. Further on you made a pretty good guess at a likely cause. Have you gazed at the central electric panel yet? More jumper wires than the Univac had.

That's the way it came. You can add some lighting underneath. Some of us have even lit up the door sill lettering with electroluminescent tape.

Normal. Should be pegged during cold idle and anywhere over 2K RPM or so when hot, although the minimum spec is 4K RPM hot. If it is pegged all the time, even during hot idle, then the sender is suspect.

Common. They were eliminated in 91. Many people disable them hoping to improve cooling, although if they are working properly they should have no effect except during warm-up or real cold weather.

I wouldn't brag about the K&N. Buy a stock filter sometime and compare the apparent surface area of it to that of the K&N.

Perhaps the 928 Owners Club.

I'm not sure what you mean by being exposed to heat. The timing belt has no specific age limit, and the change interval is 60K miles. But if there is any question about it, it should be replaced. It's a crying shame the car has only seen 2K miles in 4 years. That can ruin one of these cars. It may explain some of the fluid drips you saw. You may be in for some engine seals, although I hope it something else.

What I would do is buy all the parts so you are prepared. You can decide whether to replace the bearings based on condition. If they were changed when the belt was done at the usual 60K mile point and if they are still firm and quiet, you could save the new ones for later. It's up to you. Some parts, like the idlers, aren't subject to much wear. The plastic bushings on tensioner arm are and are rather critical to the tracking of the belt. I would do them regardless (careful - they crack easily - use a vice or C-clamp to push them in).

No, not the same cover plate.

Maybe, but a system in good order practically blows icicles. Compare the front and rear air temps. If the front works but is warmer than the rear, you may have a leaky/non-working heater valve, particularly if you notice the front vents are warmer than ambient air with the AC off.

The system runs at one bar.

Not sure. AFAIK, All the US cars have the same emissions equipment.

89 should not have antenna-in-windshield. Probably replaced with what was on-hand at one time.

Excellent.

Couldn't agree more!

nsantolick

Glad to hear that the automatic lever lettering lighting isn't broken. : ) I've got to see the mods you mentioned. Never came across info about that. Sounds interesting...

I'm REALLY surprised to hear about the flaps being dropped in 91. That was one of the many things that really blew me away. I read that the CD drops from .36 to .34 with them closed. Not huge, but still neat.

Is it normal for the washer fluid cap to split down the middle?

Oh, another question. I just was reading the owners manual and found that the button to the left of the lock button is actually the "zero" key for the computer, resetting trip timers and whatnot. Should hitting the lock button lock AND unlock as well? I thought mine just locked, so maybe that's another little electrical issue.

I didn't personally see the fuse box, but I've seen pictures. It's another one of the quirks that made me like the car so much. It's complex, but everything is so isolated. Even has a relay to test fuses, I read. That's a cool idea...

Actually, the "intensive cleaning function" seemed neat too, but friends told me that it's been used on some other cars too - Audi's I believe and maybe more.

And HEATED washer fluids? So many choices for electric defrosting? Is it true that the glove box is air-conditioned too?

I have a Citroen SM, and see some similarities. Has anyone ever compared to two cars? The SM came out just as the 928 was being first penned. I'm not sure which is more complex, challenging or "fun" depending how you look at it service-wise. The SM has chains, but it's tensioner is as big of a deal as the timing belts on 928's... Same general size, shape and weight. Aluminum on both. Small rear seats, etc. Massive brakes... Advanced suspensions. Cramped engine compartments. Prone to problems if they sit. Love being exercised... I'm fascinated by both, but the 928 is way more practical, powerful & fixable it seems. Internet has helped with the Citroens, but there's much more information, discussions & parts vendors about Porsche's, of course.

I plan on setting up a site here showing the cars "story" and might throw in some SM stuff too. Any other SM/928 people here???






Nick


P.s. I'm going to need a bigger garage... lol

JHowell37

White never lost its popularity, at least not here, and not according to DuPont.

ew928

I'm going to call my fuse/relay panel the Univac.


I've got a K&N air filter. It's sitting in a box.
The stock filter fits the airbox much better. Open up the airbox.
Many have found grit/muck underneath the 928 K&N filters.
Probably works for other cars. Just not well on the stock 928 setup.


And if nobody has mentioned it, might want to invest in some fresh fuel hoses. It buys peace of mind. High pressure fuel spray in a hot engine compartment is not a happy thing.


Congratulations on your purchase. She looks mighty fine.

The_Remora

Hi, nice car, welcome to the 9-2-8 club

Regarding the K&N filter, DON'T over lubricate it with K&N filter spray when maintaining. Be very conservative with the filter lube. That can kill the MAF sensor wire right below the filter housing. MAF's are expen$ive. New filters are relatively cheap.

Better yet, ditch the K&N and get a stock filter; it fits the 928 airbox better, has more surface area and has a domed shape, which has been shown to improve airflow. K&N may be worth it in some other applications, but not on the 928.

VehiGAZ

No! I beat you to it...
<---------------

Congrats on your purchase, Nick! It's a beauty!

I agree with the anti-K&N contingent - it probably doesn't help the engine, and it can easily hurt your MAF (>$350 for a rebuilt one).

Regarding your instrument lights - IIRC, there is a separate lighting circuit for daytime and night-time lighting. During the daytime (no headlights or running lights), the instrument lighting is fixed. When the running lights or headlights are turned on, the illumination level is variable. There is an dimmer wheel under the instrument panel on the left side of the steering wheel (and one to adjust intermittent wiper interval on the right). Sometimes this controller can get corroded and work poorly, or yours might be set to run-dark mode. Try adjusting the wheel to see if the dash lights come on. If it has a jumpy effect on the lighting, clean or replace the mechanism. If nothing happens, disconnect the wires from the wheel mechanism and jump them together. If you still don't have instrument lighting, your problems are a little deeper.

FWIW, the washer fluid is not heated - the washer nozzles are.

Make sure you read through the manual when you go to sort out your A/C - I found that some it worked differently than I would have assumed. A common problem is that the valve for the rear a/c doesn't get used much and will get seize up closed. That should not affect the operation of the main a/c though.

Brace yourself - you are in for a lot of discovering hidden problems and much learning!!!

Dwayne

Congratulations, Nick! Your new shark looks GREAT! This forum is an awesome place to get advice and help for your new addition - I love it here - GREAT people!!

I like your enthusiasm about the car - look at it, admire it, drive it, take good care of it, and ENJOY!

SharkSkin

VERY nice looking car. Congrats -- sounds like you need to set yourself up with a "drool towel".

Is your oil gauge always pegged with the engine off? Strange.

Some minor items you can set right with minimal effort/$:

-Missing plugs on hatch sill
-Missing cover on airpump filter/intake(top center of radiator)

Lots of good advice above. Once you settle your mind about the TB, don't baby the car -- they like to be driven hard!

P.S. the engine bay looks like it has been detailed. Don't go by looks, check all hoses to see if they seem to be pliable. A little WD-40 will make a hose that's on its last legs appear to be relatively new.

nsantolick

Oh, no worries. I can't normally help but to push cars, with a modicum of prudence regarding the authorities proximity. So if 928's are thought of as "sharks", could those teenagers using old Hondas to display their sticker collections cars be thought of as "seals?" lol




Nick



P.s. - Engine oil pressure gauge is pegged whenever car is powered, running or otherwise.