Hi Folks, I was just enjoying the car today and ran an errand, coming on to the freeway I put my foot down and all of a sudden I got limited slip diff failure, ABS failure and noticed the battery was not charging and power steering is no longer powered. I made it back to work in the parking lot and had a look and I see a loose belt. I have a bad back right now to bending over to poke around is painful so I can't look too much but am now trying to figure out if I will make it the 11 miles home where my mechanic shop is, or do I need to get it towed?

Advice please.

Thx
Ashley
Oh, its a 1991 GT

 

2? Yikes, you think? Yeah its probably the safest bet to tow. Dang I just spent $$$ on a new steering rack and shocks . Fun, fun On the bright side I was planning a trip to Julian in the mountains this weekend so am glad it happened close to home rather than way out there.

 

Ashley,

Grab a 27mm socket (or 1 1/16" socket) and a ratchet an TIGHTEN up you crank pulley bolt... IF, and that is a BIG IF it is still there...

If not and you do not have your belly pans installed...you will need a new one. If you have your belly pans installed look around for it rolling around in there.

You can confirm this in seconds by starting the engine and watch all 4 belts stay perfectly still as the engine runs. Due to the "cross pull" of the 4 belts it will hold the crank pulley perfectly in place making it look as if it is bolted on.

BTW, I have the T-shirt for this... it happened to me late in the night in SOUTH Atlanta. I made it to an exit and a 7-11 store..luckily a nice gentleman there getting gas offered to go to his house and bring me a socket so I could reinstall the crank bolt rolling around in my belly pan. Finished the 60 mile drive home at night after tightening it the best I could.

Kind of spooky the first time you see it, I only saw it once..ironically it happened 6 hours or so after the only time I ever let a Porsche Dealer work on one of my 928s.

I think they were in a hurry to get it out of the shop when I confronted them trying to rip me off telling me I needed a $3500 Timing Belt, Waterpump, pulley job. The suckers had no clue that everything under the T-belt covers was brand NEW installed that morning, and I had bought the parts from their own Parts department.

Sure did empty the waiting room at the Dealer when I loudly made the Service Writer, Service Manager and their 928 "Tech" look like petty theives in front of all the customers waiting for service.

They we all in cahoots...pretty sure I saw all 3 at McDonalds the next day....filling out apps for new jobs.

It was my very first Tbelt WP job on my first 32V 928 (had a few 16v before that). I had just taken it there to let them tension the NEW Belt because I hadn't bought the mega buck Tensioning tool yet.

Got the Tool the next day and never looked back, or let anyone touch ANY of my 928s ever again.

Ironically the same dealer was my first Porsche Rep when I started 928 Specialists shortly after that, what a small world.

 

I'd drive it till it dies, but that's just me. A car can run off a battery for a pretty long time without any other electical system like the hvac blower going. Running without a belt isn't going to hurt anything if that's what it is, but a loose belt can smoke, shred, and possibly tear up other stuff.

 

Just look in there and see if you lost the alternator belt. If the thick belt to the alt is missing, you will be on battery power, and it will most likely get you there. Not sure what DR is smoking.

 

Been driving my 82 without belts since July 3rd, over a hundred miles. Will drive it that way again tonight. Probably put new belt on tomorrow.

 

Let's not get nasty. DR says if engine is running and belts are on and not moving, don't drive (I agree).

What Sean and I are saying is car will run just fine without the belt, so if the cassette that holds the PS and alternator is loose and the belts came off, just get the belts out of the way and drive it 11 miles.

Heck, cutting/replacing two belts is porabably cheaper than an tow bill.

Puff, Puff, Pass

 

I've got your mailing address.

 

and that ****'s legal there too.

No trying to offend Dave, just stalking him.

 

Hi Kurt,

Be carefull with that...LH computers get angry when the voltage gets down too low..and those fancy "electric" 928 Power Steering systems that some newbs think are run by the alternator belt can be a safely hazard if caught off guard in an emergency.

To the OP, charge the battery fully, turn off the AC, Fan(s), Radio and everything you can.. and drive it 11 miles to your mechanic.

 

That's a good point Dave, about low voltage... and he said he noticed his battery was not charging.... presume he was looking at his gauge.

Ironically, I've only had to be towed twice in my life. Once about 20 years ago for an alternator dying when I was sleeping with Mary driving. The other time was to your house.

I don't think I ever let Mary drive since... oh wait, yeah then there’s that night in KY after Hans’ crazy strong beer and somebody’s moonshine!

 

I just took another look with some work colleagues and DR you hit the nail on the head, that is exactly the problem, the whole assembly is loose.
Unfortunately I got the car this year without front spoiler and belly pan, its on my to do list but have not got to it yet due to focus on the steering rack, shocks and some other more urgent items. But now I know what rattled and bounced its way under my car on the freeway off ramp oh well

Thanks for all the input, it puts my mind at rest. AAA to Art's shop in Torrance it is and a call to 928 International for the bolt since they are closest to me.

 

Have you considered using 928 Motorwerks in Anaheim as your mechanic?

Greg Brown is an expert 928 wrencher and partners with 928 International on parts expediting.

 

He also said he lost Power steering too. I can still see all the EXACT same lights he mentioned flashing/scrolling and being caught off guard on an I-285 Exit ramp at 45..cough cough..when the steering went out at the same time that all those RED scrolling messages started.... wasn't sure if I was having a flashback or not when that chit happened....will never forget it (I hope, madcow bad).

Funny, the only time I recall ever getting towed in a 928 was 1998 when Jeannie and I drove our 2 89s (GT and S4 5 speed) to the Frenzy the first time as 928 Specialists.... the AAA Tow was 101 miles from where the S4 died for good to Autothority who hosted it that year.

Turned out to be the first confirmed LH failure anyone I know had heard of at the time..and was when the guys at Autothority and myself spotted the fractured tile under a microscope in the LH computer that began the now common LH rebuilds.

As usual a fellow 928er, Brian Robinson showed how all 928ers should support each other... He drove his 928 S4 a few hours back home early Sunday morning, removed his LH , brought it back to me at Autothority in his other car so I could drive my S4 back to Atlanta totally uneventful.


"Oh wait"...uh huh... almost busted yourself didn't cha.....remember you aren't talking to Moonshine Jeannie...and I didn't fall off a turnip truck... come on , you can tell you bud YOU drove that night...I won't rat you out to J....this time... LOL!

 

Hi Ashley,

Glad to help, and very happy my reply maybe reduced a little stress in your life. This is a perfect example of exactly what John D had in mind when he created these Forums.

Mark will take great are of you, he is for sure one of the good guys! Tell him I said "Hi".

Have a GREAT 928 Weekend,

Dave