2.2L won't start

dezzmo · 08-14-2005, 07:21 AM

Yesterday I towed my 73 911T up to Chris Bennet's house so that he could help me fix a few problems (locate an oil leak, battery drainage etc..). But before we could do anything the car would not start.

As we jumped it the motor would turn over but not run. So we pulled one of the plugs (BERU) to check for spark and Chris noticed it was weak. The wires are the braided type but kinda old. It has a Marelli distributor, rebuilt Bosch alternator and new Bosch voltage regulator and new fuel pump.

I installed this motor 6 months ago and it never ran well. When I did get it running it would not idle under 1000rpm. Chris' friend Shawn mentioned that since the motor may have sat for a while the carbs (Zenith) may need a good cleaning.

I'm at a point where I'd hate to start guessing where the problem may be and would like to know if anyone on this forum has a good understanding of this period motor.

Chris is a Guru with injected motors but not carbs so we'll both be getting a lesson in this field.

Any help would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

Tim G.

DByers · 08-14-2005, 01:01 PM

Bumping this up for Tim. Also Tim, is the engine out of a 70-71? I thought the 73's were 2.4's.

dezzmo · 08-14-2005, 01:48 PM

Your right Dan, I got this car with no motor and a 2.2 was all I could afford at the time. I've been looking at tune up kits for this motor, what plugs, wires, etc, would you use?

Also, any experience with the pointless ignition?

And thanks for the bump!

Early_S_Man · 08-14-2005, 03:26 PM

Tim,

Do all of the carb accelerator squirters put out fuel -- fine misted spray, not a dribble -- when throttle is opened?

Was the spark plug test on a wire plugged directly into the coil? That sort of spark test is best done with a new spark plug ... even a new one for lawn mower will work! Make sure the gap is a healthy 0.035" - 0.040".

Check the points to be sure they are opening and closing ... 0.014" is the proper gap, or 38° +/- 3° dwell. Dwell is tested with a meter connected across the points to ground - red lead to points, black lead to ground.

If the spark is still weak on a new spark plug ... take off the CDI 3-pin connector and ground cable at the case lug. Clean all four of the A, B, C, & D .25" Faston connectors ... first with Brakleen or similar degreaser and Q-tip/pipe cleaner, followed by spraying and brushing (old tooth brush) with 9% pickling vinegar -- allowing to sit/soak for at least 15 minutes, then rinse with distilled water, blow or air dry, then a final sprat & rinse with 91% isopropyl alcohol. Remove the CDI unit and do the same cleaning routine with Q-tips on the three A, B. & C terminals inside the plastic shell. Remove the panhead screw holding the 'D' ground lug terminal to the magnesium CDI case ... degrease and wire brush both case and lug. Clean & degrease bare, masked area on electrical plate where CDI unit is grounded through one of three mounting bolts ... with wire brush and cleaner such as Zud or Bar Keeper's Friend.

Cleaning the CDI connections is very, VERY important ... as I have found more than one Bosch 3-pin CDI unit to be perfectly good and functional -- even after the previous owner had declared it DEAD!!!

Shaun @ Tru6 · 08-14-2005, 03:55 PM

Warren, we only ended up pulling one plug. It was mixed day of rebuilding my 915 and troubleshooting Tim's car, so Chris is keeping it to focus on it for a bit.

The Beru's were odd. they were pink and very stylish, but the igniter was the strange part. Instead of going up and over the electrode, it went to one side and tapered to a narrow point adjacent to the electrode.

Just remembering from eyeing it, the gap looked much more like the microgap on my 69E than a healthy .040.

Any idea on what these plugs are? and what year?

Tim, you are in excellent hands here! Good luck.

BK911 · BK911's Garage

Even if the carbs are not the reason she won't start, they could be the reason she isn't running well. Sounds like a couple of zenith rebuild kits are in your near future. Soak the squirters and jets in an ultrasonic cleaner. Soak the rest in a parts cleaner. I used denatured (sp?) alcohol and the carbs came out looking like new. The squirters should rattle when you shake them. If not, they are clogged up with gunk and you will have NO transition performance.

Good luck!
BK

ChrisBennet · ChrisBennet's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Early_S_Man
Tim,

Do all of the carb accelerator squirters put out fuel -- fine misted spray, not a dribble -- when throttle is opened?

Was the spark plug test on a wire plugged directly into the coil? That sort of spark test is best done with a new spark plug ... even a new one for lawn mower will work! Make sure the gap is a healthy 0.035" - 0.040".

Check the points to be sure they are opening and closing ... 0.014" is the proper gap, or 38° +/- 3° dwell. Dwell is tested with a meter connected across the points to ground - red lead to points, black lead to ground.

If the spark is still weak on a new spark plug ... take off the CDI 3-pin connector and ground cable at the case lug. Clean all four of the A, B, C, & D .25" Faston connectors ... first with Brakleen or similar degreaser and Q-tip/pipe cleaner, followed by spraying and brushing (old tooth brush) with 9% pickling vinegar -- allowing to sit/soak for at least 15 minutes, then rinse with distilled water, blow or air dry, then a final sprat & rinse with 91% isopropyl alcohol. Remove the CDI unit and do the same cleaning routine with Q-tips on the three A, B. & C terminals inside the plastic shell. Remove the panhead screw holding the 'D' ground lug terminal to the magnesium CDI case ... degrease and wire brush both case and lug. Clean & degrease bare, masked area on electrical plate where CDI unit is grounded through one of three mounting bolts ... with wire brush and cleaner such as Zud or Bar Keeper's Friend.

Cleaning the CDI connections is very, VERY important ... as I have found more than one Bosch 3-pin CDI unit to be perfectly good and functional -- even after the previous owner had declared it DEAD!!!

Warren,
Could you be more specific?

I appreciate the thoroughness.
Carbs are waaay off my map of experience so I'm looking forward to a rematch. Last year the lawnmower carb kicked my ass for 2 days.

(In the end it was bad gas - nothing wrong w/the carb.)

I've got some other things in the pipeline before I can play with Tim's car but I'm looking forward to it.

-Chris

Wrecked944 · 08-15-2005, 07:56 AM

Not to hijack this thread too much but...did anybody get a pic they can post of Tim's car? I got to see it on Saturday and it seems he won the Porsche Lottery. Super clean and almost no rust. You guys have to see this thing. Especially his fuchs. Tim powdercoated them himself and they are frickin' gorgeous. Oh yeah, plus the nearly complete and well-preserved OEM tool kit and the "S"pecial front bumper. Sweeeet!

dezzmo · 08-15-2005, 10:59 AM

Shaun was right when he said I was in excellent hands! I'll copy this thread and bring it with me the next time I go to Chris' house.

For now I'll take up BK and Warren's advice and order a rebuild kit along with other tune up parts.

I'll keep you posted on our progress.

Janus, I'll get a pic the next time I'm up there.

Thanks everyone!

Tim G.