924Board.org

skemcin · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 1284 Location: Plainfield, IL

Just when I was praising my car and thought everything was fine . . .

As I've mentioned in the referenced link, I've now been running my car for the last few months as a daily driver - 86 miles round trip - mostly at highway speeds. Until today, its always been fair to hot outside - cool during the morning commute and hot on the way home.

The AC is not connected (no belt) as I've been using the windows. I've used the regular cabin air blower with all levers to the far left - just blowing in fresh air.

Today, it rained and it was the first day I've had to drive in rain since I started using the car daily. So, its the first day I've moved the levers to the far right, and also the first day I've used the rear window defroster. All was going well, then the battery light went on and in the last leg of my trip (stop and go) the car was idling at 2k rather then purring at 900 as it was.

Praying I just get home, I do. Close the garage and the car planning to inspect when it gargled. Yes, I popped the hood and the coolant reservoir would intermittently shake as coolant gargled. All the hoses seemed intact but I've not completely inspected the car.

What my best course of action now - thank in advance.
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924.org (no time to complete)
9249206346 - 89k – new shifter bushings, belts, running well.
9249206347 - 8k – waiting its resurrection, no power at the fuel pump and fuse #7 blows w/power

Smoothie · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:42 am Post subject:

Take another look and see if your alternator-waterpump belt is there.
_________________
"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."

'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

skemcin · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 1284 Location: Plainfield, IL

Smoothie · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:18 am Post subject:

No, just top off the coolant if it's low, and replace the belt.
Well, you could also say a quick prayer that it didn't overheat enough to damage the head and/or head gasket. (I doubt that it did.)
_________________
"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."

'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

skemcin · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 1284 Location: Plainfield, IL

gla924sem · Joined: 08 Nov 2002 Posts: 405 Location: Taylor, Michigan

How old is the radiator in your 924???

My 82 is a street/PCA club racer. After a 20 lap race in 85 plus weather the last few laps it was in the read zone plus pushing over 200 on my temperatuire guage but would never push anything into the over flow.

Pulled it several years ago and took it to a reliable raditor shop. He questioned my motives on having it flow checked and cleaned. From the outside it looked brand new.

He did a flow check and it was restricted. After a recore I inspected the old core. After 23 years it had alot of calicum build up and was atleast 25-30% restricted.

Pending the age of your radiator, even with great care with fluid changes and flushes, it could have built up.

Might consider a flow check

Paul · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:08 am Post subject:

When an idiot light comes on, always stop and take a look under the hood.

You may need to bleed the cooling system.
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

skemcin · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 1284 Location: Plainfield, IL

968rz · Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Posts: 537 Location: S. E. Wisconsin

Replace/tension the alt belt but first spin the pulleys it rides on by hand to make sure they all spin smooth (water pump may feel a bit lumpy as it pushes water but it should not be HARD or stiff).
As Paul stated re-bleed the system with the cabin heat on hot (no fan), it's possable you could have an air bubble in the system now (better safe than sorry). Also idle the car for a time to test the cooling fans, they should come on when the temp gauge is around 3/4 and turn off between 1/2 and 1/4 (est).
_________________
Rick
79 924 coupe Petrol Blue 3spd auto (wife's DD)
93 968 coupe Amazon Green 4spd Tip (my DD)

Paul · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 12:49 pm Post subject:

I can understand why you kept on going, risking a trashed motor in that situation is better than risking your life by stopping.

It's amazing how fast you guys drive in constuction zones and how close you drive to each other while doing it. 75 in a 45 construction zone (no workers present, but with barrels, lane changes, bumps, uneven payment, etc.) is done all the time. I had a bus pass me on the shoulder doing at least 85.
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

JackRabbit · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:45 pm Post subject:

for whatever reason, the alternator in my '79 seems to be mounted with rubber gaskets, which after 30+ years have a tendency to deteriorate and can throw the angle of the alternator and belt off... potentially enough to cause strain/tension that could be the cause of your problem... as it takes 5 seconds to check, in your situation I'd do it and replace the gaskets even if they seem okay...
_________________
'79 Porsche 924
'05 Honda Civic
'07 BMW K1200R
'78 Honda Express
'52 Willy's
'58 Wheel Horse

Christopher Gear · Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Sparks, Nevada

I have a 1987 924s and have this same problem. I come to find out yesterday that the pump is seized up which has caused the gurgling in the radiator. with no pump moving water the engine boils the fuilds and creates steam in the engine. I have having trouble finding prints on the 2.5L FI front end so I can remove and replace the pulleys and the water pump. I have replace a cracked radiator from the boiling and don't want to do that again...

bet your pump is bad. unfortunately the only way do know is to pull the cover off and attempt to spin the pump pulley freely.

_________________
I bought this 1987 924s for my son and I seem to be the one working on it all the time....
A challenge is measured buy the frustration in your voice. There are days I am glad the hammer is in the other tool box.

Joes924Racer · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:09 am Post subject:

I can add.. As I had a the same thing happen though at highway speeds
around 65 to 72 any way didnt notice the battery light on till it over heated resulting in a warped head on a special ported and polished head.. I blew a head gasket. this was a few yrs ago. Reminds me to get the head planed
sometime. / yea Id just top it off with coolant getting out the air bubbles out and replace the belt tightening it not to tight. You should be good to go.
_________________
1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

skemcin · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 1284 Location: Plainfield, IL

skemcin · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 1284 Location: Plainfield, IL

Finally got time to work on the car tonight.

I ended up taking off the protection plate underneath the car to access things a little better. Another first interesting look at the car for me.

From there it was easy to access the bolt that control the pivoting, but I got down there because I had no success putting the belt on all three pulleys from above.

What finally worked as getting it around the crank first, but pushed off the pulley toward the back of the car/engine block. Then, the water pump and alternator went on easy. I then worked the belt on from the top of the crank pulley, edging the belt int he grove as best as I good - again below there I had plenty of leverage.

What eventually got it was me pulling (toward the block) as hard as I could on the alternator and turning the alternator pulling clockwise to help move the belt along.

That was the trick for me. To get tension, I discovered some reinforcing metal jetting out of the adjuster bolt bracket. I used and a crow bar leveraged against the engine block to get the tension I needed. Worked out very well for me.

While I was down there, I figured I'd try to diagnose why my muffler made annoying chirping sounds, especially when stating up. I knew it was loose by why and where.

I found the muffler rubber bushing and they had failed. So I took them off, and on the one bad side predrilled a hole for equal size wood screw. That ended up working very nicely. I've got pictures just not pulled them from the camera yet.

Anyway, I topped the car off with coolant/antifreeze and went to the grocery store and back. So the Subaru gets back to its vacation tomorrow.

Thanks again for all the help.
_________________
924.org (no time to complete)
9249206346 - 89k – new shifter bushings, belts, running well.
9249206347 - 8k – waiting its resurrection, no power at the fuel pump and fuse #7 blows w/power