The beginning of the problems started right after I got the Porsche 928S. The drivers side window wouldn't roll up every time, and there were a few little things here and there that were missing. Also the engine was dripping oil, not all the time but only when it was driven for at least five minutes or so. The alternator also started to smoke sometimes, making me think the engine was on fire. These problems really started to get me thinking, maybe I should sell the car. One day I just started to play around with stuff and saw that sometimes the window would work but the majority of the time it wouldn't. I tried everything I could to fix it but it just would not work. Finally I figured out that I could take the switch right off the center console. I cleaned the connectors inside and voila, the window worked fine. This made me feel like I could accomplish anything on the car. I know that sounds silly but once I figure one thing out I just keep going for the harder stuff. This thought proved to be untrue when I found the major oil leak. I had no clue as to what I was doing or where to start. I didn't want to break anything and I was scared to death to touch anything in the engine. I took the car to Dukes to get a new radio installed and cd changer installed. I provided both of these items from a previous car I had owned. They installed both and could not get the radio or the cd changer to work! Only the cassette would work and on top of that they charged me over $100! It was night time by the time I got the car back and drove it home. On the way home I smelled a hint of smoke and then all of a sudden the interior lights went out with a little cloud of smoke coming from the underside of the dash. This made me even more upset, so I took the car back the next day, to have them look over the connections. After the entire day went by, they could not find a problem that they caused. Instead the manager gave me the name and phone number of a Corvette specialty shop that said they work on Porsches also. You have to remember I am in Flint, Michigan, it is VERY hard to find anyone who knows how to do anything to European cars.
The last thing that I performed on the car was to replace everything that you are supposed to do when replacing the timing belt. I had a squeal that was just deafening to hear, even in the car with doors shut. I figured it was probably coming from the front of the engine and since the timing belt process needed to be completely done, instead of just partially then I went ahead and did it. After finishing the installation of the belt and water pump, etc., started the car to make sure the squeal was gone but it was still there. I managed to get a stethoscope to listen to where the sound may be coming from. As I got closer to the rear of the engine, the noise worsened, as I moved in to the intake it was loud, but when I was over the last intake arm on the drivers side the noise was deafening. I checked the vacuum and it was running at a pretty steady 12, which should run approximately 14 or 15. I could stick a extremely thin McDonalds kids ruler in between the bottom of the arm and the top of the camshaft housing, about half an inch or so. I then took off the intake housing and managed to get the bolts off of the arm. When I took off the bolts and checked the gasket it was soaked in gasoline. I replaced the gasket and then tightened the bolts down and tried the ruler trick again. I could not even get it in over a few millimeters now. After reattaching everything I went to start the car and it ran for about 3 maybe 4 seconds and died. I tried again and it would not start. I took the battery in to recharge while I was at physical therapy, figuring the battery was to low to start the car. Tried to start it again to no avail. I then started poking around, seems like I'm getting fuel and air but no spark. If I held the wire from the ignition coil to a ground, I got no spark. Also no spark at a plug. I then got out the multimeter and tested both terminals of the coil. Both gave the same resistance which is not what is displayed in the manuals. I then ordered a new coil, and when it came the resistance was still the same as the old coil. This got me confused but after installing the coil the car started up. It took a few cracks but started. I am now trying resistance from the chassis to engine and battery terminal to chassis. They both seem to be giving a little too much resistance so I am going to clean the connections with a wire brush on a Dremel and hopefully that will cure the problem.
I have finally got the catalytic converter installed. It was an aftermarket piece so I had to cut the heat shield to make room for the oxygen sensor. It seems to be working great. I have replaced every fuse and cleaned every ground connection with a dremel wire brush and Corrosion Block. The Corrosion Block is a WD-40 / anti corrosion spray and seems to work great. All connections seem to be working properly and I reinstalled the original ignition control unit and new spark plugs to help with starting. I purchased a new smaller and heavy duty starter for the 928 and 911 from Pelican Parts. I haven't yet installed this starter, and I don't know when I plan to. It is just very hard to figure out the wiring for the new starter since it isn't the same adaptors for both starters.
I reset the ignition timing and got the car running. Well what has happened is when I start the car it is hard to start, sometimes not starting again. Then when I am driving, if I put the accelerator half way down to the floor, the car will start to stutter and want to stall. Sometimes it does stall at a stop light. I am frustrated, I will be trying one more trick that Jim at 928 Intl told me about. He said I should consider replacing the air flow mass sensor. I read a Bosch fuel injection book and it looks as though this may be the problem. If it isn't I am going to take the car in to a mechanic to have him look at it.
I did take the car in to EuroTec in Ann Arbor to have it looked at. This was a draining experience for me, just wondering when it will be done and how much it will cost.
I recently installed a new Alpine head unit and it sounds great.