2 Problems on 911sc - related????

[tight as a bull's ass]

the car is an 1983 911sc (euro)

daily driver for over 3 years.... 137K miles

While one vacation, I let the car sit for 7 straight days.

when I returned, I observed the following:

1. Slight fuel smell coming from front of car.
I can smell fuel only when the windows are down and driving.
With the windows up, no fuel smell.
(perhaps leak around fuel pump area???)

2. Warm start problem.....Car doesn't start after it's been running for a while. The lights/buzzer comes on but no crank. After letting it cool down a bit, the car starts....

Frustrating, frustrating! If it's not one thing, it's another.

thanks for your help.

[s_wilwerding]

I had a hot start problem, and someone on the board suggested that the check valve on the fuel pump went out. I changed it, and that seems to have solved the problem.

However, with my warm start problem, the starter would crank, but the engine wouldn't catch. If your starter is not cranking (which is how I understand your problem), it's probably some electrical problem.

P.S. Before I changed the check valve, I used to smell fuel too. After changing the valve, I haven't noticed any fuel smell.

[rjp911]

Sounds like a starter issue on the no start-if it's not turning over. I had that off and on in my 1980SC, a new starter solved the problem. Sounds like the two may be unrelated.

[Superman]

Probably unrelated. The starter problem is probably associated with the distance between the battery and the starter. This results in some voltage drop. Combined with possibly a poor ground and maybe a tired starter.... Clean up the ground strap between the tranny and the chassis. Beyond that, disassemble and clean your starter, replace brushes, etc...or get it rebuilt.

Our cars have a venting system for fuel vapor. The vent bottle and hoses are in the drivers side front wheel well. Also, there is a gasket between the fuel level sender and the tank. That is a round thing located at the top center of the tank, under the felt in your trunk. Various seals and hoses could be passing gas. Gas vapors are not healthy or safe, but this is probably not a difficult problem to fix.

[chuckw951]

The fuel hoses on my 78 targa leaked once. The fuel pump is near the steering rack up front. There is a metal tray that covers it. Apparently my fuel hoses were routed incorrectly and over time the lines were chaffed and started leaking. A couple of drops at first (enough to stink up the cabin) and then a big time fuel leak which was easy to identify. Guess I'm lucky that there was no spark.

Chuck

[old_skul]

Start simple with the gas smell. Make sure your gas cap is tight.

[xlr8]

I had an intermittent no-crank problem soon after getting my '88 Carrera. The problem was a corroded battery ground cable. The cable looked like a piece of green rope between the negative terminal and the body. After cleaning it up there were no more cranking problems.
Considering the age of my car, and the possibility of fuel leaks, I purchased a Halon Extinguisher from Pelican.
Good Luck with your fixes!

[Erakad]

Can only relate my recent battery discharge problems. Turned out to have a broken cable on the starter. Over the past year, had problems not starting when hot, since I fixed the cable the problem (knock on wood) has not resurfaced. I go with S-man...big voltage drop due to a myriad of reasons...broken/corroded cables on starter/battery, etc.

[nostatic]

I'll wager that S-man is correct when he says grounding strap on the tranny...that seems to be an often overlooked source of electrical problems.

[pbs911]

AS Superman said, check the fuel vaper resevoir at the front drivers fender well. I was working on mine once, disconnected the hose, and got a nose full of fumes.

As for the warm start problem, replace the negative battery cable and tranny ground strap as other have suggested. These parts are inexpensive, about $20. If yours are original only good can come out of replacing these with new parts.

If the cable and ground strap doesn't do it, a hot start prblem could also be the stater motor. When it overheats it just doesn't work. After it cools down it works like nothing happended. Lots of threads on R&R, cleaning and lubing the starter.

[tight as a bull's ass]

A couple on notes:

My car got a brand new starter at 65K miles, now the car has 137K

last year I replaced the transmission ground strap with a brand new one, making sure all the contacts were clean.

Last week I also replaced the gasket at the fuel tank sender (alum. tube that sticks into the fuel tank).

my battery fluid is also low (I need to refill), maybe this is causing the start problem...

there's always something to do on these cars as so it seems....but it's all worth it, that's for sure

[brawlins]

When I bought my car, it had a warm start problem - replaced the fuel accumulator and it worked fine.