Kahdmus

When I first joined Rennlist, one of the most common pieces of advice I would read was to carry a spare DME relay. I carried a new one in the C4 for years and never needed it.

Friday I put the C2 away running perfectly and today it would not start no matter how much I cranked.

I took the DME relay out of the trunk and swapped it with the old one...BROOM BROOM, BRROOOOOMMMMM!! ...first attempt!

Wachuko

Cool. Never leave home without it... and a spare belt, and a tire plug kit, and a cell phone, and...

hawk911

Jaime, you're assuming one has a compressor in the car also; mine does not. I carry an amp where the compressor fits.

Wachuko

Do you not carry one because of the amp, lack of space, or because you are missing the one for the car??

hawk911

never came with the car, and the amp now takes that space.

Wachuko

you have pm

LouZ

+1 on the DME in the glove box - BUT!!!!! I also carry wire and the wiring diagram for jumpering the relay.

Belts AND suspenders.

daisy7386

I'll bet $$ that is your problem. The 86'-up cars are notorious for intermittent start & run problems. Inside the fuse and relay box is the culprit. What happens over time is that the contacts inside the relay fuse either open or closed, due to repeated heating-up of the relay. Open the small cover of the relay, ans slide some sandpaper into the contact point where a small spring-loaded copper switch touches it. This should correct the problem. Otherwise, go to the Porsche dealer and get the NEWEST DME relay available, to permanently remedy this issue. The latest DME relay runs about $45-$50, depending on where you live(I swear!). Forget about visiting the junkyard, to obtain this part. Long exposure to the elements will render the relay useless, over time.

Just be glad the car fails to cold-start, instead of starting and suddenly stut-down, in the middle of the freeway going 70mph! They will do that too!
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Turbo Jonny

Maybe put the new ones in now and carry the old as a spare ?

boxsey911

removed my previous info.

92_964

Just be glad the car fails to cold-start, instead of starting and suddenly stut-down, in the middle of the freeway going 70mph! They will do that too!
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I acquired this beauty a few months ago...and I was doing exactly as the quoted thread mentions, luckily very near a convenient exit (God watches over fools and occasionally guys reliving portions of their childhood )

Rennlister 'Opo' drove by just as the tow service was hooking-up the cables and mentioned that a spare relay is a good thing to carry. I assume he meant a DME. I appreciate his stopping...just wish I had noticed this advice sooner!

Next forum search will be for other key spares to carry...within reason.

Chris C

Silvertarga

Make sure you test the spare relay, I bought one from the dealer and it did not function properly, had a bad solder at one of the terminals!

RW964

Carring a spare dme is like taking a flashlight in a cave you just have to do it. I have the spare and a jumper wire just in case and a print on how to sire it. As posted I will test the spare to make sure. 45 American or 65 plus for a wrecker and then just to change the relay out anyhow....
Hey 92_964 when I am up you way I will look you up I am in C L City. About 40 min drive to your house. Have you been to the coffee and car meets all around town ???

Goughary

this being such a common issue- and the relay just being a relay - you'd think that someone would make an aftermarket relay of much higher quality - any takers? it's a relay - there shouldnt be any reason for it to break, unless there is a serious issue of course...

Laker

The Chinese went another route.... make lower quality versions and sell them for less and make it up on the volume. With the quality of the stuff coming out of Bosch-Brazil, it could be the new normal, 'cept Bosch charges full price.