Bang, then she stopped…

[Thommo1974]

Hi All,

I have ‘88 911 and I’m not technically savvy…

I’ve just spent a bunch getting the car back on the road after a long layoff…-!: as soon as I got it back from interstate the clutch dropped to the floor and I couldn’t change gears. After a bit of research, I decided to change the clutch slave cylinder - which I did this morning.

Feeling relatively proud of myself, (again, not technically savvy) I took it for a drive.

Feeling confident, I was driving aggressively (still below redline) when the engine lost power, and the engine started hunting between idle and 2500 rpm.

I coasted down the hill and when I got to a stop the engine cut out. The engine turns over but doesn’t fire. The first time I tried it blew a bit of smoke, but subdsequently doesn’t.

When I look in the engine bay, the only thing that I can see is a belt missing, but my limited research indicates it is a belt leading to the ‘air pump’ which isn’t actullay needed? (Smallish pump to the right of the main fan (in Australia)). So my initial hope of just changing a belt is unlikely the outcome.

Any help please on what to check?

Pete

[Balisong]

Belt issue aside I wonder if your brake booster gave it up and now it’s a vacuum leak.

[PeteKz]

Start with the basics; Compression, fuel, spark.

Squirt starting spray into the intake and see if it fires. If yes, then you have spark, but are lacking fuel, or have a large intake air leak. If not, then you are probably lacking spark. Troubleshoot the appropriate branch of the tree.

[Boydyrs]

Check/change your dme relay under seat I think?

[Thommo1974]

Originally Posted by Boydyrs

Check/change your dme relay under seat I think?

Thanks-I’ve just had that changed out as part of some significant work, so hope it’s not that!

[Thommo1974]

Originally Posted by Balisong

Belt issue aside I wonder if your brake booster gave it up and now it’s a vacuum leak.

Is this common? Would it explain the ‘surging’ as it happened (I really don’t know much about the mechanics of it all!)

[Thommo1974]

Also….

If what I am thinking is correct, and it is the Air Pump to the right of the main fan, what is the thing on the front of the pump? It appears as though the belt would feed into a groove on the pump, but then there is another plate on the very front which seems to be able to move completely independent of the pump (ie it is loose). Is this the air pump pulley ? If so, it doesn’t seem to have any connections to anything???

[wazzz]

What you describe seems to be the A/C compressor. The plate that is free to move is the compressor clutch.

[$yncro]

Do you have a pop off valve? Sometimes the seal comes off.
Or check your air box for cracks.

Ahh disregard.. I thought it's an SC.
Seems like a vacuum leak somewhere.

[pmax]

Do the simple stuff first, check the fuses.

See below thread, there's a pic of the fuse panel in one of the posts.
3.2 just died after a ride.

[Thommo1974]

So…

No fuses blown. Had a look under the hood again, and can’t find any obvious breaks/pipes missing. Did find the below cables not connected to anything though. Any thoughts?

Also, turned it over again and the car ‘tried’ to start, but didn’t. Subsequent attempts just had it run over without a fire…

[PeteKz]

Test with starting spray.

[Thommo1974]

[Thommo1974]

[mysocal911]

Read here for 911 3.2 no-start help; 911 3.2 No-Start Troubleshooting

And here under Porsche, DME ECM; https://www.systemsc.com/problems.htm

[Thommo1974]

Update:

After a couple of days without joy, a friend came over to have a bit of a look and couldn’t see any obvious signs. Took the leads off the plugs and apparently that looked good.

When finished I tried to start it and after around 15 seconds it tuned over. Running rough and blowing a fair bit of white smoke. I let it run for a minute and then turned it off.

After five minutes, tried again and fired up first go, still pretty rough and still smoking (a little darker).

I had to go out of town, so tried again today. Fired up first time, and still Smokey. Was planning on taking it around the block, but if I touch the accelerator it tries to stall.

Did a bit of googling and it said if a cylinder wasn’t working it could cause richness and roughness, so take if a lead and see if the rpm dropped.

I took off the first two leads without noticing much - but thought they were both a bit loose - compared ro the third which was on tight - and I could feel the current. Anyway, I tried to ensure 1 and 2 were back on tight (which I found quite hard to secure) - but now car won’t even fire again!!!

Thoughts?

[Thommo1974]

I reckon I’ve found the problem. Pretty sure this creates a decent vacuum leak! Just need to find where it goes!

[wazzz]

Plug it back to rear of rubber boot.

[mikedsilva]

Originally Posted by Thommo1974

I reckon I’ve found the problem. Pretty sure this creates a decent vacuum leak! Just need to find where it goes!

It would be sucking copious amounts of unmetered air and running lean.
I've never heard of those coming out before? Hopefully you got it back in its home.

Where in Aus are you located?

MIke
Brisbane

[Thommo1974]

Originally Posted by mikedsilva

It would be sucking copious amounts of unmetered air and running lean.
I've never heard of those coming out before? Hopefully you got it back in its home.

Where in Aus are you located?

MIke
Brisbane

Hi Mike-I’m in Canberra, but spent a fair bit of time in Brisbane. Just drove the car back from there recently - after it had been in the shop at DHM Auto in Tennyson.

I was on the phone with them today to help trouble shoot. None of this issue was their doing - and they’ve been great. Recommend them if you need any work!