DWS964

I just finished up some maintenance on the 90 C4 (yes, it was on jacks since Jan 1) - valve adjustment, new plugs, oil and filter, cleaning this n that, new rotors and pads all around,...
I fired it up last night and took a quick blast past SneakyPete's house. Ran OK, but a little "doggy". I didn't drive it to work today, didn't want to get it dirty, and planned to do a few checks on it tonight.
I thought I would check distributor 1 vs. distributor 2 - unplugging each ignition module to see how it ran. On the "lower" it ran fine. On the "upper" it ran rough and was popping fire out the exhaust. So, I thought I had a bad plug wire, or ... . I swapped coil wires, and proved that the coil was not the issue - it was still on the "upper" distributor regardless of coil. Tried unplugging one plug wire at a time, etc. Still rough and popping out the exhaust. While checking to ensure the plug connectors were seated properly, I noticed that the wire going to the middle cylinder (#5) on the right side was labeled "I-4". Huh? that ain't right. I wouldn't do something so bonehead as that. Looked at the other plug wire "I-5" and it was on cylinder #4. Dang it, I don't do bonehead things like that. Checked the wire positions on the dist cap, and were in the right firing order.
So, I had done the bonehead move of mixing up #4 and #5 plug wires on the top set. It is interesting that these cars can still run somewhat well, even with a mistake like this, with the dual distributor system in place.
I am anxious to take it for a drive tomorrow. Should be a fun drive.
So what is Bonehead Move #439 going to be?

Vandit

Yea, we all have our moments. Luckily you sorted it out.

I fukk'd up pretty bad this evening and I'm still pretty upset about it. Removing my alternator from the housing, I managed to shatter the rear plastic impeller and put a chip in the pretty new powder coating on the cooling fan... I am so disappointed in myself right now.

jody stowitts

As you said, we've all been there.

CBR786

Vandit rear impeller not very expensive from OPC I had to replace mine when it got cracked easily done 20 year old part . be careful around that cooling fan magnesium is very brittle and can snap if wrong forces applied

Frank 993 C4S

I've done worse!

Rocket Rob

Don't feel bad. You made a simple mistake and corrected it. I've done similar things and far worse.

Vandit

Thanks man. New impeller on the way from Pelican. I think the fan will be alright (fingers crossed).

I swear, being a DIY Porsche mechanic is taking years off my life. My stomach has been acting up since Sunday and the only cause I can find is Porsche-wrench-turning-related stress.

Jacke2c

I thought we did this stuff to earn the grey hairs and distinguished looks all pig drivers have!

Makmov

That is funny. I always find wrenching on a P-car relaxing. It's all the other stuff I have to fix, especially on my wifes BMW, that give me pains.

Vandit

It's the minutiae and 2nd guessing that kills me. I had the car up and running this weekend, and most would have been happy w/ that, but not me. "Oh, look, a bit of coating it leaving marks on the fan housing... *debate myself extensively*" then I start taking it all apart again, possibly messing it up and definitely incurring more costs in the process. The wife is telling me "You stare at the same part going round and round for a half hour, of course you're going to find a fault in it!"

stevepaa

Me too. Seized an engine because I did not believe the oil pressure gauge I had just installed.