Hello this is my first post so be gentle. If there are any errors please let me know for future post. I have a 1990 964 and at random all the warning lights come on and there is a warning beebing. Hitting the switch on the center colum to turn off the warning light does nothing the only way to reset is to turn the car off and restart. I have been told maybe a bad ground to the main box under the drivers seat. Perplexed for sure. All wires seem to be tight. Thanks

 

Sounds like an early Christmas

 

Search for 'christmas Lights'. This is a common issue and can often be traced to HT leakage in leads, coils, cap or rotor. In my case two new HT coils fixed it.

 

If they've never been replaced, it's time to do it anyway. Save yourself a lot of experimenting and frustration and replace both coils and the spark plug wires/boots (leads). Be sure you're sitting down when getting the price of the wires.

If you shop long enough, you may be able to find a bargain. They were available to our Canadian friends for about half price for a while and a fellow Rennlister sold me a set at that price.

Problem is called the Christmas Tree because all the warning lights come on and it looks like one on your dash. It's caused from leaks in your ignition system setting off the myriad of sensors on the 964. You can see the arcing if you spray the engine down with water, top and bottom, and run the engine in complete darkness.

 

P.S. I suggest you go with the original Beru wires. Also, I wouldn't try constructing a set or connecting wires to boots yourself.

 

1/2 price wires? Wow! I would love to score a set of Porsche wires for half price, do we know who was selling them?

John

 

It was a couple of years ago. Canadian prices were less. It doesn't exist any more. I bought mine for $250 from a fellow who had bought a set and didn't use them. They were new and resolved about 90% of my Christmas trees. New coils fixed the rest.

 

I would also look at the alternator. I had the christmas tree issue when the car was at my shop last time and in doing the research it ended up being my alternator. Re-furbished bosch wasn't too bad.

Good luck,

Skip

 

Welcome to the forum RW,

As KLR10 says a search for christmas lights in titles and posts restricted to the 964 forum will give you some ideas.

Got any pics of your car?

 

Attempted to Drive the car to work today and christmas lights happened. Going to order Cap, Rotor and Coil. Do I need new wires as well?

Chris

 

What happens when the beeping comes on occasionally and then as soon as you drive it the beeping goes away. Looks like a 4 wheel drive picture comes up. Is this the same thing? The beeping is what shocked me.

Thanks

 

The high voltage wires are most often the culprit in the 964 Christmas Tree Effect, both to plugs and between coils and distributors.
Cheers,
Tore

 

Thanks ToreB

I was hoping it wasnt cause they are the most expensive part =(

 

Start with the easiest, wires between coils and distributors. I would place my 5 cents that you correct the problem. Place the car in dark conditions and use a spray bottle with water to provoke the fault. A spark will be visible, and the christmas tree in the dashboard will be quite spectacular. I've done this myself.
Cheers,
Tore

 

Tore, are the wires between the coils and the distributor different than what I just ordered?

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg1.htm#item3

I ordered the above spark plug wires plus, Cap, rotor, coils, and park plugs.

Is there anything else I need?

=(