john bono

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsbYx6hevoQ

Leon Speed

So uh, enlighten us.

VehiGAZ

Oh, I don't think we're heading to OT. The thread is clearly inspired by some sort of technical malfeasance by the OP's PO. Many of us can relate...

So John, what discovery inspired this thread and the eternal damnation and all?

dcrasta

Hahah my thoughts exactly. My PO must have used a the discount electrical tape . What a gummy mess I removed from behind the center console, and my doorlocking, clock light, shift indicator lights still dont work consistently. Sad

intrepidjohnson

Please remember, PO's like me, paid Porsche $80,000 so there would be units available for $10,000.

john bono

Well, it starts this way:

I knew there was a short somewhere in the car. So I go through the fuses, pulling each one until the current leak goes away. I started from right to left on the fuse panel. I get to the first fuse that isn't an 8A fuse, and low and behold, as soon as I remove that fuse, the leak drops to zero. I look at the diagram, and the first fuse that isn't 8A is the fuel pump.

So I figure the first thing I'll do is try disconnecting the harness, see if that fixes anything. I discover that the female connector in the harness is broken, and I can't reassemble the wires. Ok, fine. So I order a new connector, which I'm waiting for. I figure while I'm waiting for that, I'll pull the panel and try and trace down the connection by hand, looking at the mass of squid ink linguine that is the back of the 928 fuse panel.

So I start to unbolt the panel, but I can't get a good look, so I start pulling the connections on the panel, so I can take it off the car. I'm having a tough time pulling the connections, so I try pulling a relay so I can get a better grab on the connector underneath. "Crack" goes the first relay. And "Crack" goes the second relay. So I've trashed two relays in the process.

Then I start pulling the connectors, which seemed superglued to the box. I get all the connectors off, and count from right to left, looking for the first non 8A fuse, so I can look on the other side. I have the chart right next to me. I count 12 from the right most fuse.

Inside lights.

That's supposed to be 8A, but it has a 25A fuse.

Effing inside lights.

I just spent two nights, wrecked two relays, had to order a female connector, and a lost a good portion of a sunday morning because the PO placed the wrong fuse on the car.

(Yes, I should have checked it myself, but I'd rather damn the PO instead )

Landseer

First thing I always do is pull the panel, replace all fuses, all 53 relays and clean all contacts.
You will be better off now.

I hope you saw the sliders and hooks that retain the 85 panel plugs.

john bono

Oh, and I am certainly looking forward to going under the center console. He told me "the stereo doesn't work". I'm certain it has nothing to do with reversing speaker polarity, whatever other electrical nightmares await me.

john bono

One too many zeros there, partner.

SeanR

Does that mean we can blame people like you for not doing proper maint on the cars?

VehiGAZ

Ooooh... that's a good one!! I feel for you! I and my mech spent a lot of time trying to figure out why my windows worked without the key in the ignition (killing the battery when the sticky passenger window switch stuck in the UP position), only to find that two adjacent relays were reversed, so the window power never shut off.

Mrmerlin

first thing to do to a new car is pull the relays and the fuses and make sure they are all in the correct locations, also clean the battery and the hot post connections.
if you do this you may find everything works as it should,
dont forget that some relay and fuse positions are empty so don add parts to the CE panel

Hold On

[I] would like to thank the two PO`s of my car for keeping all the records, original paperwork, tools, misc things, (like cargo cover) all keys, etc. AND... not letting anyone bugger up the electrics. Now all the screwing around with car is up to me !!! BEWARE next owner...buahhh !

SQLGuy

If you only paid $1000, then I really don't feel a whole lot of empathy for you in dealing with any little easter eggs left by POs.

They can be fun to share and discuss, though.

cold_beer839

The PO of my '87 S4 is the bouncer for Club Hell.