oilncanvas

Someone...Anyone...Please help! I purchased an old unloved 1982 928 a few weeks ago that has been sitting for over a decade. :dry: My plan was to use it as a daily driver and I hoped it wouldn't have too many issues. The guy who sold it to me told me he'd drained the bad gas from the tank and put some Techron in it and suggested I do the same to finish cleaning out the varnish that the previous gas had become after sitting for so long. When I got the car I noticed there was what appeared to be dirt in the seams of the back seats and on the floor but I didn't worry too much because there was also animal hair throughout the car. I figured the dirt was tracked in by a dog so I vacuumed all of the "dirt" out of it and didn't think about it anymore. When I tried to drive the car, I noticed the hatch window and the two rear side windows were impossible to see out of so I couldn't drive it at night. It wasn't exactly visible dirt on the windows but they were cloudy as if they'd been tinted but they weren't. After trying to clean them with window cleaner several times, it was evident that SOMETHING was caked up on the windows almost as if dirt was trapped inside the car during hot climates and caused it to stick to them. It also seemed somewhat greasy. I will post pictures. Last week I treated the windows with rain x because of this issue. The windows were clear until I decided to do what the guy suggested. I put Techron and gas in the tank and drove the car around. It had been running and starting up without hesitation but the following day it wouldn't start. Also, when I glanced in the back seat, the DIRT stuff was back! It dawned on me that this stuff wasn't dirt at all...it was rust...coming from the gas tank..oozing through the seats. I don't know anything about cars but this is the conclusion I came up with and this also explains the problem with the windows. I believe the gasses are fogging up the windows in the back of the car. Who would think the car would have a problem so extreme? Yesterday I just let the car sit without attempting to start it but today it started without hesitation. However, the windows are even foggier. Inside of the car smells like leather and I don't smell any gas at all but something is not right. I'm afraid to drive the car at this point...just doesn't seem healthy. When I spoke to different people about this, they brushed me off and said they'd never heard of such a thing. I'm going to take it to a mechanic and look into getting a new gas tank and gauge (the gauge doesn't work). I'm attaching pics of the foggy weird brown tinted windows that were clear just days ago and the ooze coming through the back seats along with what appeared to be dirt on the carpets when I got the car. If anyone knows anything about this or what I should do, I welcome all advice. Thanks in advance.

rnixon

Isn't the fuel tank plastic? If it's fuel, I would expect that you could smell it, although I don't know what would fog the rear window other then condensation, which you would be able to clean off. Given that you can't, I'm stumped. Mould?

AirtekHVAC

Can't get rust from the gas tank, it's plastic.

You need to do a lot of reading here....start with the new members section.....be prepared, deferred maintenance by the previous owner means necessary maintenance now.

Speedtoys

mold, mildew...

Not rust, not fuel.

Landseer

The gas tank is plastic. Gas smells. Isn't that.

Car sat how long? Decade? I'd honestly start by taking out the battery, fusebox, front seats, rear seats and console side covers and make sure its not a huge mousehouse. Like most of them become when sitting unloved so long.

I'd also bet its taking on some water from the hatch seal. Or that's mouse ****. Or combo.

oilncanvas

Thanks for the replies. I will do some reading. I don't know anything about cars but I have a feeling I'm going to learn first hand with this one.

Landseer

Put a mousetrap somewhere in the car overnight. See what happens. Probably the best place to start. Car looks great otherwise. Where are you located?

oilncanvas

Okay...will do. I'm in Portland, OR and the car came from Seattle so mold and mildew makes sense. The car also has white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe upon starting in the morning. It smokes for 4-5 minutes and then stops. It managed to pass emissions but a local shop said one of the cylinders is missing...they ran a compression test on it. They said it needs a new engine but I'm taking it to a shop familiar with these cars this week.

Ducman82

Find a specialized shop if you don't plan on doing any of the heavy work on the car.

soontobered84

I'm thinking that the heater core has gone bad and the windows are fogging from leaking hot coolant into the passenger cabin

Fox_

Oh deer....

That... doesn't sound healthy.

It'd probably be pertinent to check the coolant level.


Anyone have the heart to tell the OP what they've gotten themselves into?

oilncanvas

I know this isnt going to be a stroll in the park from the issues I've discovered thus far. I haven't mentioned them all, only the ones I want to address first. Luckily this isn't my only vehicle so I can take my time addressing its ailments.

oilncanvas

I was told the coolant wasnt leaking by the first shop that supposedly did a full inspection. They were supposed to tell me everything wrong with the car but they missed some things and misdiagnosed others. Ie. They said the blower only works on high but that's because they didnt turn the **** before pushing the slider over. When I turn the **** first, the blower works on all levels. After inspecting the car, this is all they said... "Hood lift supports no good. Coolant reservoir neck has corrosion. Radiator cap is either missing rubber or is different style. Washer reservoir empty. Passenger side front marker light out. Blower seems to only operate on high. Dead miss on at least 1 cylinder."

oilncanvas

After calling around & being told "We dont work on those cars" several times, I finally found someone who specializes in them. He pointed me in the right direction & I'll be taking the car to the shop this week.

AO

I hope it works out for you, but be prepared to take out a small loan... These cars are not cheap to have someone else work on them.