Introduction
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Introduction
morning good fellows of the 928 forum.
i've been around rennlist for a few years now-mostly over on the 996 forum. but have finally purchased (one of) the car(s) of my boyhood dreams. i still have the 996 by the way.
last month i picked up this Red 1989 S4 with 5-speed, from a private seller. perhaps you noticed it on ebay in the july-august timeframe. well, i was the lucky one whose bid/offer was accepted. not sure if the car itself has history on this forum, but i believe it spent its prior years in new york state and in north carolina.
i've been waiting to post this intro until i had some decent photos, which i knew you would all be clamoring for.
so... in my first month of ownership, one comments and three questions, i have that im not sure are answered in one of the many informative threads here.
the travel on the clutch pedal sure is long. i'll admit an nba career was never in my future, but in most three-pedal cars i can get to the end of the pedal without much effort. for this car, while trying to keep the steering wheel at a comfortable distance, i think i've given myself tendinitis in my achilles.
1. is there no light that illuminates the hvac controls? i feel like a highschool boy in the proverbial backseat fumbling around with the controls in the dark.
2. warmup. now that september is upon us, this is of somewhat more importance. the owners manual says that engine warm-up at idle is unnecessary. but it is vague with regard to limits. for my 996, i do not let the engine warm-up, i just keep it below 4k rpm until the engine has reached temp. what do you gents consider as the "high rpm" to be avoided during warmup?
3. what are those little triangle things up in the top corners of the windows?
PS: no i dont plan on driving exclusively on dirt roads.
i've been around rennlist for a few years now-mostly over on the 996 forum. but have finally purchased (one of) the car(s) of my boyhood dreams. i still have the 996 by the way.
last month i picked up this Red 1989 S4 with 5-speed, from a private seller. perhaps you noticed it on ebay in the july-august timeframe. well, i was the lucky one whose bid/offer was accepted. not sure if the car itself has history on this forum, but i believe it spent its prior years in new york state and in north carolina.
i've been waiting to post this intro until i had some decent photos, which i knew you would all be clamoring for.
so... in my first month of ownership, one comments and three questions, i have that im not sure are answered in one of the many informative threads here.
the travel on the clutch pedal sure is long. i'll admit an nba career was never in my future, but in most three-pedal cars i can get to the end of the pedal without much effort. for this car, while trying to keep the steering wheel at a comfortable distance, i think i've given myself tendinitis in my achilles.
1. is there no light that illuminates the hvac controls? i feel like a highschool boy in the proverbial backseat fumbling around with the controls in the dark.
2. warmup. now that september is upon us, this is of somewhat more importance. the owners manual says that engine warm-up at idle is unnecessary. but it is vague with regard to limits. for my 996, i do not let the engine warm-up, i just keep it below 4k rpm until the engine has reached temp. what do you gents consider as the "high rpm" to be avoided during warmup?
3. what are those little triangle things up in the top corners of the windows?
PS: no i dont plan on driving exclusively on dirt roads.
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1. There was a light. In fact, the HVAC control uses a central light, and a collection of those new fangled 'light pipes' or optical cable to illuminate various parts of the control. It can be fixed with a bulb, or maybe a bit of wiring. Sadly, getting the thing out and back in is a bit of a job.
2. Warm up was for air cooled cars back when multi-vis oil was a thing of the future. Of course, you could be in Finland in Feb, which would require a bit of careful operation for the first few minutes, but in most parts of the lower 48, if the car is garaged, there's no warm up. However, I guess it would be prudent to keep it under 3500 for the first 5 min.
3. Those little triangles in the window FRAME? I assume you meant. They are a guide for the window as it's raised at high speed. There is a tendency for the window to bow inward at speeds over 110MPH, and if they struck the window frame as it's raised it might shatter inward. That would be - bad.
Nicely bought. Right color, well done and welcome.
2. Warm up was for air cooled cars back when multi-vis oil was a thing of the future. Of course, you could be in Finland in Feb, which would require a bit of careful operation for the first few minutes, but in most parts of the lower 48, if the car is garaged, there's no warm up. However, I guess it would be prudent to keep it under 3500 for the first 5 min.
3. Those little triangles in the window FRAME? I assume you meant. They are a guide for the window as it's raised at high speed. There is a tendency for the window to bow inward at speeds over 110MPH, and if they struck the window frame as it's raised it might shatter inward. That would be - bad.
Nicely bought. Right color, well done and welcome.
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From: Shawnee, KS, USA
Ditto those comments. 
Assuming you don't have an overall problem with instrumentation lighting (often traceable to a dimmer rheostat that's corroded and needs cleaning), you probably just need to replace the bulb.
A couple of posts that might be useful: #1, #2.
HVAC control head viewed from above:
See the brown and red wires near the top of that photo? Well, those lead to a socket holding the backlighting bulb. Removing it yields this (and I had also disconnected one of the spade connectors at the socket):
That bulb peeks through the bigger of the three holes shown in this photo:
and looks like this (well, this is after replacing the incandescent bulb with an LED bulb) when inserted (and the two smaller holes to the left hold a couple of fiber-optic strands that pipe some light to the sliding controls and the fan speed labels):
When illuminated, it will look something like this (although this photo is after replacing incandescent bulb with an LED and also adding backlighting to the fan speed rotary switch, which is not a standard feature):
1. There was a light. In fact, the HVAC control uses a central light, and a collection of those new fangled 'light pipes' or optical cable to illuminate various parts of the control. It can be fixed with a bulb, or maybe a bit of wiring. Sadly, getting the thing out and back in is a bit of a job.
A couple of posts that might be useful: #1, #2.
HVAC control head viewed from above:
See the brown and red wires near the top of that photo? Well, those lead to a socket holding the backlighting bulb. Removing it yields this (and I had also disconnected one of the spade connectors at the socket):
That bulb peeks through the bigger of the three holes shown in this photo:
and looks like this (well, this is after replacing the incandescent bulb with an LED bulb) when inserted (and the two smaller holes to the left hold a couple of fiber-optic strands that pipe some light to the sliding controls and the fan speed labels):
When illuminated, it will look something like this (although this photo is after replacing incandescent bulb with an LED and also adding backlighting to the fan speed rotary switch, which is not a standard feature):
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 5,945
Likes: 322
From: Kaukauna Wisconsin
Welcome. Gorgeous car.
89 S4 5 speeds are pretty rare. (most manual 89s are GTs).
But hey, any 5 speed is pretty rare.
And yes, the clutch travel is pretty long. Just the way it is.
If you want really long, try a semi. Heavy too.
The other questions you asked got answered pretty quickly (and correctly AFAIK). Typical for this board. Lots of folks who know these cars and are willing to offer help.
Smart man. I did the same thing. How can you make a post about a really cool car that you just got without pictures. Some people do.
As was asked, what part of PA are you in? There's a fella named Stan in the Philly area who is an amazing wrench. There's another fella named Matt who has created the ultimate lightweight 928. SO if you are anywhere in the eastern half of the state, you have people you need to meet.
89 S4 5 speeds are pretty rare. (most manual 89s are GTs).
But hey, any 5 speed is pretty rare.
And yes, the clutch travel is pretty long. Just the way it is.
If you want really long, try a semi. Heavy too.
The other questions you asked got answered pretty quickly (and correctly AFAIK). Typical for this board. Lots of folks who know these cars and are willing to offer help.
i've been waiting to post this intro until i had some decent photos, which i knew you would all be clamoring for.
As was asked, what part of PA are you in? There's a fella named Stan in the Philly area who is an amazing wrench. There's another fella named Matt who has created the ultimate lightweight 928. SO if you are anywhere in the eastern half of the state, you have people you need to meet.
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Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,297
Likes: 63
From: ɹəpun uʍop 'ʎəupʎs
Excellent, 89 5-spd S4 is a great 928 (of course I'm biased).
If you haven't done it yet, replace the shifter bushings (front ball cup and rear shift coupler are the things to search for).
Clutch travel is something I haven't figured out - its been very different in my three 5-spd S4's, despite adjusting preload on each car to the factory spec.
My 89 has an all-new GTS clutch setup (I replaced all parts as it was slipping badly in 3rd gear driving up slight inclines around town). It only releases at the very end of travel.
My current 87 releases after only about 3 inches of pedal travel.
I suspect it comes down to the slave rod length in the later 5-speeds, and my problem might just be that when I replaced the slave on my '89, I didn't measure the rod (I should dig the original out of the cupboard and measure it against the other brand-new one I have on the shelf).
If you haven't done it yet, replace the shifter bushings (front ball cup and rear shift coupler are the things to search for).
Clutch travel is something I haven't figured out - its been very different in my three 5-spd S4's, despite adjusting preload on each car to the factory spec.
My 89 has an all-new GTS clutch setup (I replaced all parts as it was slipping badly in 3rd gear driving up slight inclines around town). It only releases at the very end of travel.
My current 87 releases after only about 3 inches of pedal travel.
I suspect it comes down to the slave rod length in the later 5-speeds, and my problem might just be that when I replaced the slave on my '89, I didn't measure the rod (I should dig the original out of the cupboard and measure it against the other brand-new one I have on the shelf).
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,177
Likes: 4
From: Michigan
Nice looking ride. Congratulation.
Those triangled shaped things on the windows are actually wings that create downward pressure at cruising speeds. Without them the car would go airborne. If you remember, George Jetson's car did not have these and see what happen there.
Enjoy your new 928!
Brian.
Those triangled shaped things on the windows are actually wings that create downward pressure at cruising speeds. Without them the car would go airborne. If you remember, George Jetson's car did not have these and see what happen there.
Enjoy your new 928!
Brian.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 82
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hi guys.
thanks for all the responses. and the answers to the questions. and great pics ed. not sure if i'm ready to start tearing into the console yet though, as i just got the thing, and want to enjoy it a little bit.
the car is an S4, the previous owner put on an aftermarket muffler, which he offered to return to stock. but i liked the sound it makes, so i asked him to leave as is.
i spend most of my time in new york city. but am back and forth between ny and cc philadelphia for work. i bought the car mostly to make that trip 1-2x/week. ("nj turnpike stomper" doesnt have the same ring as "autobahn stomper," but same idea).
the car is registered in PA, and i do most of my wrenching at my family's home in west chester (more garage space there, garage space period, actually), so if you happen to see me around that area, wave me down.
thanks for all the responses. and the answers to the questions. and great pics ed. not sure if i'm ready to start tearing into the console yet though, as i just got the thing, and want to enjoy it a little bit.
the car is an S4, the previous owner put on an aftermarket muffler, which he offered to return to stock. but i liked the sound it makes, so i asked him to leave as is.
i spend most of my time in new york city. but am back and forth between ny and cc philadelphia for work. i bought the car mostly to make that trip 1-2x/week. ("nj turnpike stomper" doesnt have the same ring as "autobahn stomper," but same idea).
the car is registered in PA, and i do most of my wrenching at my family's home in west chester (more garage space there, garage space period, actually), so if you happen to see me around that area, wave me down.
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Joined: Jan 2015
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From: Near Mushroom Capital of the World
DrScientist,
I was driving north on 202 today after my new born baby's doctor visit with my wife ~10 AM, and I happen to see a red 928 driving south on 202 between 926 and Route 1, near West Chester. Was it you? I love seeing 928s on the road.
I was driving north on 202 today after my new born baby's doctor visit with my wife ~10 AM, and I happen to see a red 928 driving south on 202 between 926 and Route 1, near West Chester. Was it you? I love seeing 928s on the road.
