924Board.org

!tom · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:08 am Post subject: Howdy! A bunch of questions.

Hey there everybody. This is a great forum.

We just picked up a '78 924 for my wife. We probably paid a bit too much for it after looking at some of the topics I've seen here, but it appears to be in extremely good shape, hence a few extra bucks. I don't regret the purchase at all; it's been a blast so far.

As all older cars though, it has a few issues, and I was wondering if anyone here had some tips before I get too deep in the dash.

First, the windshield washer pump won't shut off unless you unplug it. I'm not even sure how it is supposed to be controlled. Any tips on this issue?

This may be related; the wipers also don't park properly. I disassembled, cleaned, re-lubed, etc. the wiper motor, and confirmed the park switch in the wiper is working properly. However, the wipers always shut off when the wiper handle is turned to off; they don't automatically stop at the bottom. Again, any tips?

It has AC, but the belt for the AC pump has been disconnected for years. I don't know if it's worth trying to revive the system; it looks like everything is still there except for the belt. Any suggestions? Personally, I don't think we need AC.

I've read with interest a few posts about the heater fan. The heater fan doesn't work in this car, and it doesn't sound like it'll be much fun to fix! I also think the controlls aren't working properly either. White powder comes through the heating vents on the dash at highway speeds; I'm thinking this is either the heater core or part of the A/C system disentegrating.

Anyway, I know it may have been more appropriate to split this post into a few seperate ones, but I thought I'd get it all over with in one big introduction.

Khal · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:14 am Post subject:

G'day, welcome to The 'Board!

I'm in Vancouver at the moment. I'm pretty sure there's one or two members on the island.

Can't help with your problems, unfortunately. But someone here will know. By the way, get a Haynes manual!
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'80 924 Turbo

!tom · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:19 am Post subject:

Chrenan · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 3903 Location: Canada

Go back to Crappy Tire and tell them to order one for you, it is still in print, they are just too lazy to put in an order.

If your heater core is disintegrating, you'll know, because it will spew out all the coolant in your car and the engine will overheat. The dust is probably just crap that has been sitting in your vents for years.

The fact that you are having some issues relating to the control stalk assembly likely means some bad connections in there, it might be worth taking the steering wheel off and getting in there to investigate. If it is a faulty washer pump it is a common VW part and pretty cheap.

I've never lived in BC, but my guess is you can live without AC. The charge in the system is likely long dead, and it might be leaking anyway. I say ditch it, it weighs a ton. Call it "weight-saving" if anyone asks, that's what Porsche folks say when they remove a system they can't be bothered to fix. I've done lots of "weight-saving" on my 924, including trunk side carpet, catalytic converter, stereo, underhood sound proofing, etc etc...
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1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan

Paul · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:45 am Post subject:

The wiper switch has the following positions:

All the way down: Interval wipers
One click up: Off
Two clicks up: normal speed
Three clicks up: fast speed
Pull lever towards you: washers

Please tell us what each one of these switch positions are doing on your wife's car.
_________________
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.

!tom · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:17 pm Post subject:

!tom · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:21 pm Post subject:

Further details on the washer pump:

It is powered when the key is turned "on". I have not tried to fiddle with the wiper switch to get it to trun off; the previous owner mentioned that it was stuck on permanently when I noticed the pump un-plugged when I was looking at the car. Sure enough, when the key is turned "on", there is power at the connector, which is disconnected when the key is turned off.

Ozzie · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:41 pm Post subject:

Slam · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 3:52 pm Post subject:

I'd second the dump-the-AC sentiment. Expensive to fix and chances are it'll only be used for a week a year. It's weight-saving.

For the wipers, you could try just unplugging the connector at the motor and sanding the contacts so it gets a park signal. It may also be an issue with the realy as well. Two quick and cheap fixes to try first.

Good luck and welcome!
_________________
'84 944 - kid blew motor
'83 944 - resting comfortably. For 12 years
'87 944 - sideswiped by trucker
'80 924 - gone
'78 924 - gone
'77 924 - rusting comfortably

Ozzie · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:19 pm Post subject:

And if you have only 95 HP could you afford the loss of power?
_________________
Porsche 924 1984 (UK import) NA
Its AUTO and its BLACK
Montego Black on black/red
Engineer of Electro/Mechanical Systems Maintenance

pocketscience · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:41 pm Post subject:

Paul · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:14 am Post subject:

For the wipers read this:

http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=19033&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=wiper+park&start=15
_________________
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.

!tom · Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 7:53 am Post subject:

Well, I've managed to spend a bit of time on her. Here's the update.

Unfortunately, I don't yet have a Hayne's manual. Every relay panel diagram I've found on the 'net so far says that it's for an 80's era car, while mine's a '78. However, there is NO relay in the position these other diagrams indicate is the intermittant wiper relay position. Perhaps this is my problem?

It appears I've solved the washer issue as well. I pulled the wheel (after wrestling the tach and speedo out to repair the odometer), and noticed it looked like an ape had worked on this car before by the looks of the screws holding the turn signal and wiper control switches in. I took everything apart, and it all looked fine. I put it all back together, using an appropriate tightness on the screws, and all of a sudden, when I plugged the washer pump in, it would turn on and off with the washer switch rather than just being on all the time! My guess is it had been over-tightened, causing the switch to be permanently closed.

Here's a tip for installing the speedo once fixing it. I disconnected the speedo cable from the front wheel to give myself more slack for re-assembly. Man what a pain! I can't wait 'till I investigate the heater core, heater fan, etc., I'm sure that's a blast.

I discovered something unusual behind the dash. There's a blue wire with a red stripe (I think; I could be mistaken on the colour) connected to an insturment bulb. The other side of the bulb socket was not connected to anything. I have no clue what this light is for. For the fun of it (to try to figure out what it was for) I grounded the other side, and when I turned the key to "on," the light would blink on and off to the sound of a relay. When I disconnected the ground, the relay stopped. I have no clue what this is for, but perhaps the other side should be hot rather than grounded. It's currently like I found it, disconnected behind the dash. Who knows if I accidently knocked it out of its location while wrestling with the speedo. It isn't the high beam light, because that still works. Could it perhaps have something to do with a turn signal light? This car doesn't have an indicator light. It looks to me like it's supposed to go in the speedo, but it looks like this speedo isn't original and there isn't a hole for it.

!tom · Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 9:33 am Post subject:

Well, I've now installed a relay in the socket for a wiper relay. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that the parts guy wouldn't know which one it takes. I just saw in the other wiper thread that I should have grabbed a 111 955 531 relay. Instead, the guy suggested (and I purchased) a 321-955-531 A relay, not knowing the other number.

I have know clue what the difference is, but I don't have a properly functioning system. The wipers park now, which is really cool, but the intermittant function isn't working.

!tom · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:33 am Post subject:

Well, I went back to the parts store today and asked about the other relay. I picked up the cheap one the first time; the other relay was priced at over $130.00! So, we'll just live with no intermittant wipers for the time being.

Anyone know of a source for the relay at a decent price? I suspect these relays must be one of the first things to go once any VW hits the boneyard, but I'll be checking them out one of these days soon.

It's strange that this car came without any relay in that socket at all. . . Maybe the PO was hard up and needed some cash.
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78 924 NA
5-lug