Engine Backfiring. + amateur/newbie pics.
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From: Brunei
Engine Backfiring. + amateur/newbie pics.
Hey all,
Newbie with an engine back-fire in a 964.
I spoke to a couple of people to find out what causes this.
Local dealer says Distributor needs changing and are charging ($2713 OUCH)
but is sure that after the car will run fine.
Do you guys know if that'll solve the problem?
If yes, where can I find:
Part number is 930 602 015 AX (not paying them 2k+)
also Tachometer is broken. (their quote $1004)
964 641 801 00.
What's a good site to order?
I'm not in the US btw, in South-East Asia.
Newbie with an engine back-fire in a 964.
I spoke to a couple of people to find out what causes this.
Local dealer says Distributor needs changing and are charging ($2713 OUCH)
but is sure that after the car will run fine.
Do you guys know if that'll solve the problem?
If yes, where can I find:
Part number is 930 602 015 AX (not paying them 2k+)
also Tachometer is broken. (their quote $1004)
964 641 801 00.
What's a good site to order?
I'm not in the US btw, in South-East Asia.
Last edited by wolv; Mar 27, 2009 at 01:13 PM.
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From: Bologna, Italy
I'm not a mechanic, but I don't see how changing the distributor would stop a backfire? Sounds more like a timing issue to me? Plenty of people on here know a lot more than I do so I'm sure you'll get more replies!
A new tach is a couple of hundred dollars max and easy to swap out if that's all they're gonna do, although you do need to remove the steering wheel.
A new tach is a couple of hundred dollars max and easy to swap out if that's all they're gonna do, although you do need to remove the steering wheel.
Agent Orange
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From: South of Heaven
Further on the tach issue, I would test the gauge with a 9V battery and see if the needle moves. There is a wiring schematic on the back of the tach and you can see which leads you need to connect to the battery. If the needle moves, then it's not a faulty gauge, you'll need to look for the problem elsewhere. If the problem is with the tach, you can get a used 964 or a 993 tach for a fraction of what you've been quoted by the dealer.
Regarding backfiring, did the dealer scan the car with the Bosch Hammer and pinpoint the issue to the distributor? The distributor is a purely mechanical item with a number of parts inside that are relatively cheap to replace - belt, caps, rotors, etc.
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From: Portland, Oregon
But it could be backfiring due to a distributor belt break? That could be really bad. I wouldn't run the engine until you can determine if that is the case. Search here for "distributor belt" to do some reading on the subject. If it is broken, you could damage the engine pretty seriously... so please be careful.
If you are into working on it yourself, pull off the distributor caps, and check that the lower (left) distributor rotor does not spin freely. If so, the belt is broken and needs a fix before you do anything.
BTW, I have a used standard tach that works if you want to talk.
If you are into working on it yourself, pull off the distributor caps, and check that the lower (left) distributor rotor does not spin freely. If so, the belt is broken and needs a fix before you do anything.
BTW, I have a used standard tach that works if you want to talk.
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From: Portland, Oregon
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Brunei
Hey Andy, thanks for the reply.
It's actually the ignition distributor, but yea im skeptical about that fix for the backfire.
Alternator and timing belt has already been changed.
I've also found a tach on LA Porsche Dismantler for around $200.
It's actually the ignition distributor, but yea im skeptical about that fix for the backfire.
Alternator and timing belt has already been changed.
I've also found a tach on LA Porsche Dismantler for around $200.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Brunei
Hey, all thanks for the swift/helpful replies.
tbennet, I'll send you a PM reg your used tach.
Ilko - i'm not sure what they did to check tbh, I'm quite new at this and i've found the caps/rotos/sparks etc on eBay but I also found a Bosch ignition distributor for around US$800. I think that's what the dealer is asking me to replace.
tbennet - no I'm not working on it myself, but I am quite sure the belt is fine tho.
Btw this is what I found with the part number: http://www.partsgeek.com/search/?pro...015+AX&x=0&y=0
tbennet, I'll send you a PM reg your used tach.
Ilko - i'm not sure what they did to check tbh, I'm quite new at this and i've found the caps/rotos/sparks etc on eBay but I also found a Bosch ignition distributor for around US$800. I think that's what the dealer is asking me to replace.
tbennet - no I'm not working on it myself, but I am quite sure the belt is fine tho.
Btw this is what I found with the part number: http://www.partsgeek.com/search/?pro...015+AX&x=0&y=0
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From: Nashua, New Hampshire, USA
+1 on the broken distributor belt theory. See
https://rennlist.com/forums/964-foru...-now-what.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/964-foru...elt-re-do.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/964-foru...-now-what.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/964-foru...elt-re-do.html
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Brunei
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: not in HRM
When a cylinder does not fire and the charge get pushed out the exhaust valve it can blow up in the exhaust system . I would be looking for a non firing cylinder . Bad caps / bad rotors / bad wires / bad spark plugs / bad coil/s .
I would send the tach in for repairs . No need to buy a new one if the old one can be repaired .
I would send the tach in for repairs . No need to buy a new one if the old one can be repaired .
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 133
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From: Brunei
The first pic with the red circle is the failing distributor, technician says it's not working so engine is getting 1/2 the power, hence the backfire.
He also confirmed that the part I linked is what I need to get it running smoothly.
As for the tach, it's not repairable, but that's least of my worries atm.
The distributor belt is fine, there are no intake leakages.
What'd you fellas think? (sad truth is people here know more than the local dealer)
I'm sorry for the bad pics, I'll get more up when she's looking better. The car's a mess now.
He also confirmed that the part I linked is what I need to get it running smoothly.
As for the tach, it's not repairable, but that's least of my worries atm.
The distributor belt is fine, there are no intake leakages.
What'd you fellas think? (sad truth is people here know more than the local dealer)
I'm sorry for the bad pics, I'll get more up when she's looking better. The car's a mess now.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 252
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From: Sawbridgeworth, Herts, UK
When you say the distributor belt is fine, if that is the case, and if the cap and rotor on the offending distributor are both good then there must be a problem with an HT coil or wiring. Are you sure the belt is definitely OK? You can tell by removing both the distributor caps and making sure both the rotors turn together when the engine is turned over on the starter.