marinesniper0318

So I am torn, I live in Miami and have a 88, S4...she is one of my 2 hot girlfriends...other a Ducati... : )

Situation:

Problems:
1) my A/C is out, most likely the compressor/clutch. I am fine with the windows down except for those days where I have to wear a suit. The issue here is there could be more wrong than just the compressor and I hate taking to a shop to be told 5 other things needs fixing.

2) my car idles strangely (sometimes at cold start it goes to 2k and slowly comes down to 1k after time, other times just chugs at 600 or so), the intake needs an R&R, I have no WOT so performance kinda sucks, but just fine for cruising the city or the highway.. also I cannot get first gear to rev past 4200 RPM, 2nd and 3rd will but not 1st,...?

So , should I fix the idle, intake issues first for better performance and smoother driving or get the A/C fixed...?

Or take it to the German shop have them fix the A/C and tune the motor while there...then do the intake R&R later...

This thread is probably pointless but I guess I needed to vent a bit...

finally!

1. what makes you think it is the AC clutch as compared to the HVAC head unit resistor gone South?

2. Need to get in there and look for vacuum leaks, loose or dirty grounds and such, including the ground strap at the battery

Speedtoys

I think many moons ago...we suggested doing the intake R&R, and get the car to a safe consistent running state.

A LOT of things get a lot easier, once you're there...and you're now there.

marinesniper0318

Before the A/C went I saw a alot of smoke come from underneath the car, I mentioned it here and someone said they had the same issue and it was the compressor/clutch... could be the HVAC, I dont know, I dont want to screw with the A/C unit so I though I would take it to someone who has equipment and knows about it...

I agree wholeheartedly regarding cleaning all the grounds and strap, I checked for vacuum leaks and could not find any. I will clean all grounds tomorrow and see if the car runs better. Should I replace the LZ and EZK (think I am right here) just as preventive maintenance ...?

What I have done so far:
new plugs, I put new injectors in myself, changed the driver power motor/trans out...oil change and replaced the fuel filter.

James Bailey

You might want to reread this ...Landseer posted it on your intro thread on 3-18 as you decided to buy an S-4 ............................................"No comparison to a newer car.
You will spend muchos money and encounter lots of downtime, so a second car is needed until the Porsche is fully sorted. At about $8K purchase, add $6 to $10K parts and about 300 hours labor.

__________________
84 Euro 5spd 928
85 & 86 automatic 928
84 w/ 89 automatic 928
84 USA 5spd 928
86 944 ............................"
Do you believe him NOW ??

One of the big reasons why 928s sell for little money (except for a few lo miles collector cars) was and is the cost of repairs. Many new buyers do one big service which costs far more than they ever imagined and never fix anything else on the car...then dump it because it is unreliable , A/C does not work or blows hot all the time, windows are not working, engine does not run right , trans shifts poorly , front tires are wearing out the insides, torque tube whines....... paint on the bumper covers is cracking, dash is cracked, odometer stopped (helps with low miles).
The car is 23 years old with many many parts of the car designed and built to last maybe 10 years which is why comparing a 4-5 year old car of any kind to a 23 year old 928 is unfair since the newer car is still in the honeymoon Phase....not much is going to fail.

Alan

You don't preventativley swap the LH & EZK - unless you have lots and lots of money - stop worring about the wrong things. Fix what is obviously broken...

I'd start with the AC if I lived in Florida and wore a suit... it would make me feel so much better about the car. Then I'd get the intake refresh done.

Alan

James Bailey

Correct deal with what is, not what might fail.....enough must dos will popup to keep you entertained.

marinesniper0318

cool thanks...I have a Lexus as my main business car and a motorcycle as well, I just enjoy driving the 928...regarding the money, 8k is not the issue, I want to do as much work myself as I can. I guess I will have them fix the A/C first then I will dive into the intake RR....

James Bailey

Perfect, bit by bit you will get it done.

S4ordie

Alan speaks much wisdom here for those of us that live in warm climes.

James Bailey

It is hard to look cool when you are not !

tveltman

You can do the AC yourself if you want. I haven't yet rebuilt a compressor, though I have a spare waiting, but the rest of the system is easy. It is certainly a weekend job, but Roger has all the parts you will need. If it is the HvAC head, then I think things may get a little more complicated, but one of my favorite things on the 928 of that vintage is that there is enough technology to make it modern and luxurious, but not so much that you need a PhD in electrical engineering to fix things. If you have other modes of transport and the 928 is just for fun, then try working the AC yourself. You will learn a lot and enjoy the sense of satisfaction. Well, at least I did, and I got to learn about AC systems, where before I had 0 experience. I came out way ahead as far as I am concerned, which is good, since I had a schraeder valve fail and lost my refrigerant, and now have to do it again, but this time I know what I'm doing.

Best of luck!

Podguy

** Laughs ** - No it won't. By the time you finish fixing one thing something else will go wrong.

BTW A/C is not that complicated. I think many avoid learning about A/C because it seems technical. Arizona A/C has the correct rebuild kits for the compressor and the o-rings for the connections. They sell a crimp kit and barrier hose so you can make your own hoses. They sell a blue bubble solution that is very good for finding leaks.

While it is necessary to trouble shoot the A/C to see what is wrong - the rest is almost predicable. The clutch has a bearing that is replaceable and sourced from other than Porsche for very little money. Harbor freight sells a set of gauges and a vacuum pump. The gauges can be adapted to the R12 system with a small adapter that can be had on the Internet for a couple of bucks. R12 can be found on Craig's list for a reasonable amount. If smoke was coming off the compressor it is probably from a belt slipping suggesting it is more than the clutch and the compressor has frozen. Then again you do not know until you look at the whole system.

In many ways it is just a matter of going through a 20+ year old system and reubuilding it. For the price of a shop doing the job one time you can buy the tools to do the job. Get a good book on A/C first. I went to a local shop and talked the guy into letting me watch him working on a few systems. Cost - a bag of Butter Fingers candy bars.

WallyP

Step 1:
Reach deep into the bowels of the engine compartment, grasp the center part of the A/C compressor clutch, and see if you can turn it. If not, you need a new compressor.

EspritS4s

Dan, which of the HF vacuum pumps do you use (single or dual stage)? I've been considering buying one, and the reviews on both are generally very good.