Anyone here know anything about 911's?

[99 Boxcutter]

I bought my first 911 (Carrerra 3.2) last month and haven't had any problems until this morning when I tried to start it and and she wouldn't turn over.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB9uSw5IxXw&lc

Sorry for asking about my 911 here, it's just that 986Forum was my first Porsche community and I find that some people at Renlist can be a little on the condescending side.

Originally Posted by Renlist User

"What!!! You were going how fast on the freeway? This is madness!" :troll:

[Perfectlap]

You'll get all the information you want and then some if you join the Pelican or Rennlist forums and post this in the air-cooled section.

[Ian c]

I have been playing around with them for years , and currently own 3 .
I'm sure I can help , but your description is a little vague

Do you carry a spare dme relay ???
You should .....

[Flavor 987S]

First, anyone who owns an air colled Porsche needs to pay their $17/year and find a way to exist and contribute on Rennlist. It will pay huge dividends.

Second, Ian is correct. Start with a new DME relay first. Call Sunset Porsche or Suncoast Porsche and order the part. An OEM Porsche relay is about $60.

Lastly, don't park that classic outdoors. In a garage only. She's pissed at you, and showing you who's boss by not firing.

Now, go get 'er done.

[Kurt V]

Like the others have said. Check your DME relay. Course you need a new one first. The DME relay is under the drivers seat. Small black cube next to the Bigger aluminum box, which is the DME. Held down by one screw.

And here is the Pelican 911 aircooled board. Friendly group. Porsche 911 Technical Forum - Pelican Parts Technical BBS

[KRAM36]

From your vid, the car is turning over, just not starting. I notice the oil gauge never moves and the oil light is on. Does the car have a kill mechanism if the oil is too low?

[Topless]

911 Porsche Carrera DME Relay and ECU DIY - YouTube

PS: It's a felony in some states to park a black Carrera outdoors overnight.

[99 Boxcutter]

Would this be alright?
DME Relay Porsche 911 911 618 154 00 84 89 | eBay

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by 99 Boxcutter

Would this be alright?
DME Relay Porsche 911 911 618 154 00 84 89 | eBay

For my 993 I only buy OEM Porsche parts from Sunset. But that's just me.

If you are handy, you can try repairing your relay by re-sodering the the board and contacts. This is very well covered on Rennlist if your search those key-words. Worth a shot.

[99 Boxcutter]

Originally Posted by KRAM36

From your vid, the car is turning over, just not starting. I notice the oil gauge never moves and the oil light is on. Does the car have a kill mechanism if the oil is too low?

For whatever reason, it takes 5 minutes or so of the car running for the oil gauge to raise. I know, it freaked me out at first, but that's just how it is.

[soucorp]

Originally Posted by 99 Boxcutter

For whatever reason, it takes 5 minutes or so of the car running for the oil gauge to raise. I know, it freaked me out at first, but that's just how it is.

Sounds like a bad sender unit or gauge. You should have it checked.
911 3.2 Carrera series (1984–1989)

4 things that I would check that won't start your car are these:
confirm or deny each is functioning properly:

Electrical -> Battery -> good ground -> starter -> alternator ->fuses
Spark -> clean spark plug -> wires -> coils
Fuel -> L-Jetronic with Bosch Motronics 2 DME (Digital Motor Electronics system) check relay
Air -> air filter, no blockage, no vacuum leak

Best

[thstone]

Originally Posted by 99 Boxcutter

... it freaked me out at first, but that's just how it is.

The statement made by almost all air cooled Porsche owners at one time or another!

[coreseller]

Originally Posted by thstone

The statement made by almost all air cooled Porsche owners at one time or another!

LOL, how true. Like others have said, start with DME relay. Buy a new one, if that is the cure resolder the old one, verify it works, then toss it in the glove box or tool kit as a spare, exactly what I did.

Regarding Rennlist, it is indeed worth the $17 for membership which will pay off in spades for the info alone. Yes, like any board it has a few jerks but pretty far and few between from what I have witnessed. Their responses to requests for help are usually commensurate with how you ask.

Gotta love the air cooled era.......3 gauges for oil?????????? Really?? Takes awhile to get use to those animals...........

[ghostrider300]

99 Heiko has one and his own website too, may want to check with him he recently did some major repairs.

[99 Boxcutter]

Solved! It was the DME relay.
I cleaned it with a 99% isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush, then resoldered the leads and now it runs just fine. I'm going to order a backup fa show.

Thanks 986 team!

[Whippy]

3.2's are renound for DME's failing at the most inopertune of moments...

That'll be your problem... ;-)

[Whippy]

sorry folks, guilty of not reading the previous posts there after the O/P....


Something I regularly scream at the screen when others do it! Glad you got sorted. Cheap item and easy to access too in a 3.2 so a few in the glove box is always a great idea!

[tnoice]

Now...go park that car in a garage.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by coreseller

Regarding Rennlist, it is indeed worth the $17 for membership which will pay off in spades for the info alone.

To the OP, a membership fee is not required to post on Rennlist nor read the posts. If you wish to post something for sale you do have to pay the membership fee. I recently let my membership expire and all of the model-specific forums are still accessible to users who are not paid members. Rennlist is now operated by a corporation, which in turn was acquired by an even bigger private equity interest, that collect fees from advertisers, in addition to running more than 100 other sites. It is alledged that they sell your user information but I haven't looked into that. Pelican and Renntech, other sites that also benefit greatly from the members' collective knowledge, the real value in these websites imho, have no membership fees just like 986forum does not. In fact, I can't think of a single forum I've belonged to that charged a membership fee. Even on the Rennlist parent company's website, they boast that nearly all of their sites do not charge user fees.