My car has left me stranded in palm springs
 

Hi all,

I'm sad to report that I'm experiencing my first problem with my Porsche C2 since I purchased it. I drove out to palm springs yesterday and the drive went perfectly fine. When I got to my car this morning after parking in the garage it started acting funny and hesitating at idle, then died. The problem didn't get bad until I got on the freeway. The car would buck as if it temporarily would turn odd and start again or as if I lifted the throttle abruptly. At times this would be accompanied by miscellaneous dash lights flickering and a strange clicking noise from behind the dash.

I suspected an electrical connection loose so I checked the obvious connections on the battery, everything was tight. I'm having the car towed to my nearby hotel for now but unless I can figure out the problem before we have to checkout on Sunday I'm afraid I'm going to have to have the car towed 100 miles back home to orange county.

Any help would be much appreciated.

I don't know if the 964 has a DME relay? I'd check there.

With the engine off and you turn on your key, do the dash board lights look bright (as normal)? Do you think your battery is good? If you crank the engine, does it try to fire? Do you have a spare DME relay? That relay supplies power to the fuel pump and engine computer. It won't run without it. I would try swapping that if you have an extra.

If you need a spare DME relay, call a place like Sunset Porsche (503-641-8600), and maybe they can overnight one to your hotel for Saturday delivery.

it would be cheaper to go to a local dealer or parts house for one then paying overnight charges.

anyone around Palm Springs that could pop over with a spare DME?

if you think it is the DME and you are getting deseparate, then just pull it out of the car, take it to an old TV repair guy and ask him to check for dry solder joints. should cost $20 or so. dry solder joints are a likely cause for failure if your DME has failed.

Sorry, but that does not make sense, you probably mean "THAN paying overnight charges"

:cheers:

Well, maybe. I would not be surprised if a local dealership did not have the part available same day.

Actually, that is one part they should have. When I was a dealership, we always had 2 in stock. But you never know. Good luck!

A jumper can be used to bypass the DME relay

DME Relay Jumper
connect relay sockets 3, 5 and 7
which corresponds to relay pins 30, 87 and 87b.

Usually only used for a test as its constant power; always on (fuel pump!), but I suppose you could drive with the jumper and remove it when you stop? You'd need to ensure sufficient gauge wire.

Anyone more knowledgeable with a comment about driving with the jumper in place?

geez the spell police sneaking in the forum :roflmao:

We are watching you, one more mistake like that and you may find yourself in the garage doing 5 to 10 valve adjustments. :roflmao: :roflmao:

Any word on this AndrewLang?

Just my two cents, but I would think it would be the fuel pump, had a similar experience, except it happened 2 blocks from house. First start with the DME since its cheap and easy.