New to site - 1991 911 C4 Targa issues
06-27-2011, 05:55 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
New to site - 1991 911 C4 Targa issues
Hi,
I'm new here. I've just bought a 1991 911 Carrera 4 Targa in excellent condition. It has the original paint and not a spot of rust. Once I figure out how to post photos, they will be put up.
The previous owner's wife couldn't find the manual so I'm trying to figure out the cooling/heating/venting. I think that the A/C is not working because it doesn't get cold. In fact it gets hot, even when the dial is turned down to the lowest temp. Can anyone tell me what the two horizontal sliders do? If the A/C is not on, how do I get a cool breeze inside the car (drivers window won't go down - see below)? All I get is hot air.
I also need advice on fixing a few electrical issues. The drivers window doesn't go down. When I first got the car the window was about 1 inch down and pushing the up button made it close. But it doesn't go down. The passenger side is working normally. How do I remove the door switch to see if it is faulty. Any other advice?
Also have a problem with the drivers side mirror adjustment (passenger side works fine) as well as the drivers seat adjusters (doesn't go up or down - both buttons on drivers seat don't work).
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I'm sure I'll have other questions but these are more important right now.
Thanks,
Nick
I'm new here. I've just bought a 1991 911 Carrera 4 Targa in excellent condition. It has the original paint and not a spot of rust. Once I figure out how to post photos, they will be put up.
The previous owner's wife couldn't find the manual so I'm trying to figure out the cooling/heating/venting. I think that the A/C is not working because it doesn't get cold. In fact it gets hot, even when the dial is turned down to the lowest temp. Can anyone tell me what the two horizontal sliders do? If the A/C is not on, how do I get a cool breeze inside the car (drivers window won't go down - see below)? All I get is hot air.
I also need advice on fixing a few electrical issues. The drivers window doesn't go down. When I first got the car the window was about 1 inch down and pushing the up button made it close. But it doesn't go down. The passenger side is working normally. How do I remove the door switch to see if it is faulty. Any other advice?
Also have a problem with the drivers side mirror adjustment (passenger side works fine) as well as the drivers seat adjusters (doesn't go up or down - both buttons on drivers seat don't work).
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I'm sure I'll have other questions but these are more important right now.
Thanks,
Nick
06-27-2011, 06:14 PM
#2
Rennlist Member
It sounds like you have a lot of minor electrical issues to sort out.
Here is the common advice to newcomers: Search. All of these have been covered in detail on this forum. Also see if you can find a copy of Adrian Streather's 964 Companion Book. It will help explain a lot of the systems in your car.
The sliders move the air control flaps in your car. left is off, right is on. The upper moves air to the defrost vents, the lower moves air to the floor vents. When they're all the way left, the air should come out the dash vent above the radio.
There could be many MANY causes for the A/C issues you mention. You could be short on R/12 or R/134, or you could have a number of problems in-between. Check the fuses in the engine compartment in the sealed box on the left. the 7.5 AMP fuse is for the A/C. IF the compressor clutch is engaged (not likely) and you can see it spinning, check to see if the hoses have a differential in temp. One will be HOT, and the other cooler. If that's so, then your problems are related to the flaps mentioned above. Most likely you're out of refrigerant, related to a leak or other issue.
We'll get you sorted.
Here is the common advice to newcomers: Search. All of these have been covered in detail on this forum. Also see if you can find a copy of Adrian Streather's 964 Companion Book. It will help explain a lot of the systems in your car.
The sliders move the air control flaps in your car. left is off, right is on. The upper moves air to the defrost vents, the lower moves air to the floor vents. When they're all the way left, the air should come out the dash vent above the radio.
There could be many MANY causes for the A/C issues you mention. You could be short on R/12 or R/134, or you could have a number of problems in-between. Check the fuses in the engine compartment in the sealed box on the left. the 7.5 AMP fuse is for the A/C. IF the compressor clutch is engaged (not likely) and you can see it spinning, check to see if the hoses have a differential in temp. One will be HOT, and the other cooler. If that's so, then your problems are related to the flaps mentioned above. Most likely you're out of refrigerant, related to a leak or other issue.
We'll get you sorted.
06-27-2011, 06:15 PM
#3
Burgled
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
welcome! On the windows switches they just pullout of the metal rim in the door panel.They are known problem parts. If one doesn't work the windows wont either. Try swapping the switches around and you can find the switch that is bad.
06-27-2011, 06:20 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
Do you own a multimeter? That will really help.
06-27-2011, 09:03 PM
#6
For the drivers switch...make sure the switch is centered and then try moving it up and down. I have one that needs a little "coaxing". No big deal. A replacement is twenty or thirty bucks IIRC (if you don't want to go with the "paperclip" method).
There is a switch on the dash that controls whether you are adjusting the mirror on the left or right. It looks much like the one for adjusting the clock. Weird little buttons that run horizontally that would leave you scratching your head to their purpose if you didn't know.
There is a switch on the dash that controls whether you are adjusting the mirror on the left or right. It looks much like the one for adjusting the clock. Weird little buttons that run horizontally that would leave you scratching your head to their purpose if you didn't know.
06-27-2011, 09:41 PM
#7
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Hi everybody,
Thanks for the advice and welcoming me to the group. I'll do some more research to find what I need. At first it seems so overwhelming.
To JIMQ: When you say that I have to pull the switch out of the metal rim in the door panel, do you mean pull the actual moving part of the switch out of the square fixed holder, or do you mean pull the entire square holder out of the door panel?
To KaiB: The car has a dial with the temps (in Celcius in my car) to the right of the sliders and a button with a snowflake and a light (comes on when it is depressed) on the left.
To PNine64: In my car the mirror toggle switch is on the top of the door panel, just inside of the mirror. When pushed to the right it clicks then I can toggle it around to manoeuver the passenger mirror. I click it to the left to adjust the driver mirrir but nothing happens. I don't seem to have a button on the dash to change sides. Perhaps this is a different model?
I also was wondering how to adjust the clock. I can't seem to find any way to do so. There is a small rocker button tucked under the edge of the dash near to the clock but it doesn't seem to do anything. Any ideas?
Nick
Thanks for the advice and welcoming me to the group. I'll do some more research to find what I need. At first it seems so overwhelming.
To JIMQ: When you say that I have to pull the switch out of the metal rim in the door panel, do you mean pull the actual moving part of the switch out of the square fixed holder, or do you mean pull the entire square holder out of the door panel?
To KaiB: The car has a dial with the temps (in Celcius in my car) to the right of the sliders and a button with a snowflake and a light (comes on when it is depressed) on the left.
To PNine64: In my car the mirror toggle switch is on the top of the door panel, just inside of the mirror. When pushed to the right it clicks then I can toggle it around to manoeuver the passenger mirror. I click it to the left to adjust the driver mirrir but nothing happens. I don't seem to have a button on the dash to change sides. Perhaps this is a different model?
I also was wondering how to adjust the clock. I can't seem to find any way to do so. There is a small rocker button tucked under the edge of the dash near to the clock but it doesn't seem to do anything. Any ideas?
Nick
Trending Topics
06-27-2011, 10:09 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
The rocker to adjust the mirror side should be almost right above the ignition slot. And to get any movement from the rocker for the clock, press and hold.
Also new to 964s, this is a great place.
Also new to 964s, this is a great place.
06-27-2011, 10:11 PM
#9
In my car the mirror toggle switch is on the top of the door panel, just inside of the mirror. When pushed to the right it clicks then I can toggle it around to manoeuver the passenger mirror. I click it to the left to adjust the driver mirrir but nothing happens. I don't seem to have a button on the dash to change sides. Perhaps this is a different model?
06-27-2011, 11:57 PM
#10
Drifting
Hello and Welcome,
If you are feeling hot air (and not just non-cooled air) coming thru the vents
There is a fair chance one or more of your servos is stuck.
http://www.porsche964.co.uk/technical/servos.htm
If you are feeling hot air (and not just non-cooled air) coming thru the vents
There is a fair chance one or more of your servos is stuck.
http://www.porsche964.co.uk/technical/servos.htm
06-28-2011, 05:28 PM
#11
Medent,
Don't get disheartened. Rennlist and search is your new best friend.
The window switch can be prised out. put a flat blade screwdriver between the plastic surround and the padded vinyl/leather and gently prise out the switch. Try swapping it for one on the other door if you know that works. Can you hear the motor running but the window doesn't move? If you know the switches work or you hear the window motor, you have a different problem which is fairly easy to fix but give your self a few hours to do it the first time. In my targa, the window support mechanism which holds the glass in place had corroded to the extent that it eventially broke away from the rise and fall window mechanism. Can you move the glass up and down with a little force? If you can, you will need to strip the door down and replace the support - the targa has a different support than the coupe. There is a knack to getting the glass into the support using soapy water. Everything just screws , cliips or bolts in place, don't force anything to remove the panel.
While the door panel is off, you could check for loose connections on the switch for the door mirrors - the wiring is usually fairly short so could have been damaged if the panel has been off before. Also check you don't have a switch on the underside of the dial area, on mine it is the other side of the steering column to the clock adjuster.
I don't have A/C on mine but others on here will be better able to suggest faults.
A lot of the faults can be identified by plugging the car into the Bosch diagnostic tool (sometimes called a hammer because of its shape) You will need to find a porsche centre or independant specialist who has one though.
As for adjusting the clock - you just need to hold the switch depressed for a few seconds before it starts to work. If it takes longer, you have a problem.
Your seat switch electric connection could be damaged but check the fuses first. There are connection plugs under the seats which could have got wet. The switch surround unscrews, you can then clean up the connections and see if it works, otherwise it will just be a case of tracing the power. A purchase of a cheap multimeter and a little patience solved a lot of my electrical gremlins.
You can get replacement 964 Drivers Manual from Porsche dealer fairly cheap if they have them. Otherwise try some of the specialist parts suppliers.
Don't get disheartened. Rennlist and search is your new best friend.
The window switch can be prised out. put a flat blade screwdriver between the plastic surround and the padded vinyl/leather and gently prise out the switch. Try swapping it for one on the other door if you know that works. Can you hear the motor running but the window doesn't move? If you know the switches work or you hear the window motor, you have a different problem which is fairly easy to fix but give your self a few hours to do it the first time. In my targa, the window support mechanism which holds the glass in place had corroded to the extent that it eventially broke away from the rise and fall window mechanism. Can you move the glass up and down with a little force? If you can, you will need to strip the door down and replace the support - the targa has a different support than the coupe. There is a knack to getting the glass into the support using soapy water. Everything just screws , cliips or bolts in place, don't force anything to remove the panel.
While the door panel is off, you could check for loose connections on the switch for the door mirrors - the wiring is usually fairly short so could have been damaged if the panel has been off before. Also check you don't have a switch on the underside of the dial area, on mine it is the other side of the steering column to the clock adjuster.
I don't have A/C on mine but others on here will be better able to suggest faults.
A lot of the faults can be identified by plugging the car into the Bosch diagnostic tool (sometimes called a hammer because of its shape) You will need to find a porsche centre or independant specialist who has one though.
As for adjusting the clock - you just need to hold the switch depressed for a few seconds before it starts to work. If it takes longer, you have a problem.
Your seat switch electric connection could be damaged but check the fuses first. There are connection plugs under the seats which could have got wet. The switch surround unscrews, you can then clean up the connections and see if it works, otherwise it will just be a case of tracing the power. A purchase of a cheap multimeter and a little patience solved a lot of my electrical gremlins.
You can get replacement 964 Drivers Manual from Porsche dealer fairly cheap if they have them. Otherwise try some of the specialist parts suppliers.
Last edited by Blown Away; 06-28-2011 at 05:46 PM.
06-29-2011, 01:59 AM
#12
Rennlist Member
+1 - keep your chin up.. we've all addressed these problems... you just seem to have them all at once.
If a Hammer isn't available, you can also try one of these. It helps a lot with diagnoses of most major issues on the car.
http://www.ob1interface.com
If a Hammer isn't available, you can also try one of these. It helps a lot with diagnoses of most major issues on the car.
http://www.ob1interface.com
07-03-2011, 09:15 PM
#15
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
I switched both window switches in the drivers door. Now the passenger side window is not functional and the drivers side is. So the problem is with the switch. Is there a fix for the switch unit or do I have to buy a new one?
I also tried the clock switch but nothing is working. And the clock's hands have been fixed on 10 minutes after two since I got the clock. Any fixes for this?
Thanks for your help so far.
Nick
I also tried the clock switch but nothing is working. And the clock's hands have been fixed on 10 minutes after two since I got the clock. Any fixes for this?
Thanks for your help so far.
Nick