New plugs didn't fix it :(

[nixter]

Well it took about 3 hours and PLENTY of cursing at Germans but I finally got my plugs swapped out. The right side took about 2 hrs and 59 min, and the left side was done in the remaining minute. The best part was when the rubber boot came off the socket and staying on the plug after I screwed it in. Couldn't for the life of me figure out why the cap wouldn't push on! hehe. finally after staring and the floor in confusion I looked in the socket and noticed the boot was missing. Doh! I think that Porsche tool would have made my life a lot easier.

Anyways, it didn't solve my non-starting issue. It's turning over and getting gas and almost springs to life but then it just dies. A few restart attempts produce the same results. A couple times I got a little backfire or a missfire, not sure of the dif really. The old plug tips were quite black, can't remember if that means anything though.

I can't figure it out, I drove to the gym last wed night and it was fine. tried to start her up 45 min later and she was running rough, sounding like not all cylinders firing, and barely any power. Limped home and the next morning she wouldn't start at all.

Oh well, tow truck time.

Nik

[stealthn]

Was anything done to the car prior to the condition happening? Does it do it after running awhile (shut-off restart right away) or always from cold?

[Rod80SC]

Had a similar situation once, turned out to be the pop-off valve had actully popped rightout of its hole. cleaned it up really good and put some fresh epoxy on it and no problem since.
while it could be a number if thngs, sounds like an air leak somewhere.

Keep the board posted and and someone will come up with some more things to check.

Best of luck.

[nixter]

Well it used to be that it wouldn't start right away after leaving it sit for between 30-60 minutes after running from cold. Any sooner or later, no problem. I would have to give it 4 or 5 tries and then it would slowly rumble to life. Did the same thing when the other night but when it did start, it wasn't running on all cylinders I think. Now it won't start at all. Almost does, then dies.

Nik.

[speeder]

Sorry to hear about the PIA, sounds like you need to properly diagnose the various systems that make an engine run and you will find it, though. Is there fuel pressure? Spark? These would be good starting points.

I think that is important to mention, as a data point in case someone comes across this thread in the future, that there is no conceivable scenario in which a car stops running because all of the spark plugs stopped functioning at the same time. Plugs are a maintenence item, definitely, but you might as well have put 4 new tires on and turned the key. Even in the unlikely event that some condition fouled all of your plugs, it would simply foul the new ones unless you corrected the actual problem.

I just hate to see people skin their knuckles bare for no reason.

[ruf-porsche]

Check to see if you got strong spark? If it is only running on a couple of cylinders you need to find out which cylinder(s) are dead. If the tank is full and it seems as though it is trying to start, try starting it with a squirt of starting fluid. If it starts and run strong on the starting fluid you have a couple of clogged or stuck injector(s).

Take a long 1/2" drive extension. place it on the injector side and give a tap with a hammer. Sometime this will unstick a stuck injector.

[FrayAdjacent911]

Your story makes me SO glad one of the POs got a Porsche tool kit. I think it may actually be original to the car.

That spark plug tool made swapping plugs a 10 minutes job.

[stealthn]

I had two scenarios like this one, but one more than the other. I had the CIS boot off to get to the oil sensor at the back of the engine. I put it on, but not completely. Air was getting in and would not want to start, when it did the sound made me sick, chitty chitty bang bang.
Got the boot on correctly and she purred like a kitten.

I'd bet on the air leak too, that's why I asked it anything was done prior to it happening.

[nixter]

Ok, i am a learning new so pardon my ingnorance but..

a) where/what does it look like ? (CIS Boot)

b) where/what do they look like? (Fuel injectors)

Thanks,

Nik

[nixter]

you know, given the fact that recent car work included refinishing my rusty gastank, and changing rust rust filled fuel filter, do you suppose that crap has been gradually getting through and clogging my injectors? Even though the tank/filter are good now, I've been having start problems for probably 6 months.

Nik

[nixter]

Ok Stealthn, got my records from the last trip to the mechanic.

Parts: Fuel sender, fuel ffilter tank gskt, tank seal, o ring, and a vacuum advance unit.

Work: Check high idle, check air aux reg and warm up reg. re+re distributor, replace advance/retard unit, check adjust co% and timing.

What does re+re distributor mean?

Nik

[BlueSideUp]

I would guess it is Remove and Replace, as in the mechanic took it out of the car and put it back.

[Westy]

Vaccuum, air leak, vacum, o-rings, o-rings, and gaskets. At least that's what I'm dealing with right now. Especialy the runners and the injectors and sleeves.

[stealthn]

When did it start? after the tank replacement? Yes crap getting into the fuel system car do number on CIS.
The CIS boot is the black thing above the the air filter housing, check all the connections to it at the back (bunch of lines that connect to it. Also take a mirror and look behind it to see if it's all the way on. I don't know if it was removed or not.
When they worked on your tank, did they replace the fuel accumulator (sp?)
Check for leaks (air) then start checking the fuel system. If it's leak, it would be running rough all the time.

The injectors are the black semi-hardlines going into the silver air intakes at the top of the cylinders, they (the fuel lines) all come up to the distribution unit at the top rear f the engine.

Good luck

[nixter]

Thanks so much for the info Stealthn! I just had the car towed to my mechanic unfortunately. I would have loved to check a couple more things armed with the new info but at least now I know for the future. I'm learning more and more from the group every day, I love it!

I'll update in a couple days so you guys can brag over who was right! hehe.

Nik.

[nixter]

One more thing... as far as air leaks go, (which seems to be a popular guess at my problem), where exactly would said leak be from?

Thanks,

Nik

[Paulporsche]

You have a number of areas in which leaks can occur, including the AAR, AAV, WUR, airbox, mixture control unit, decel valve, popoff valve, and all the hoses running to and from these things. I would recommend you pick up a Bentley manual. It will give you lots of info on the entire car, including the fuel injection. Wayne's book also has a small section on the CIS.

[nixter]

I'm planning to pick up that book as well as 101 projects.

Thanks,

nik

[Mysterytrain]

Bob..It looks like you are pointing at the fuel line going to the Warm Up Regulator..not the injector

[Paulporsche]

Nixter,
See RarlyL8's current thread regarding his 930 WUR, fuel pressures and vacuum leaks.