HELP! Very hot exhaust after changing distributor 1985 911

kide · 11-10-2005, 08:00 PM

Please help me with my 1985 911 Carrera coupe.

I recently changed plug wires (ULTRA silicon plug wires from Nagai), distributor cap (Bosch), rotor (Bosch), and distributor (rebuilt) (First time for me, I got the car only this summer.)

It took me a while to find out where the Z1 mark was, but thanks to all the previous posts on this forum, I was able to locate it.

Now I think I have TDC and distributor rotor is at the mark as well.

The engine starts fine, but I have the following problems:

1. Low power. Engine is not as powerful as before.

2. Engine stalls when changing gear. When I go from 1->2 or 2->3, as I press on the clutch, the rev does not lower to idle but goes all the way to zero and engine stops. This did not happen every time I change gear.

3. After driving for about 3 minutes/2 miles, all under 2500 RPM, E.X. light was lit indicating exhaust was getting too hot. I stopped the car and checked, and yes, left lower corner of the car was very hot. After that, I had to go very slowly to barely get home.

What could be causing these symptoms? Is it still the timing? If timing, other than Z1 on pulley and the mark on distributor, are there any other place to check or I can use to adjust the timing?

Thanks for your advice!

kide

stlrj · 11-11-2005, 04:32 AM

Recheck your firing order. You must have your wires crossed somewhere.

dean · 11-11-2005, 05:57 AM

It sounds like you changed all your plug wires by one place making the timing retarded.

slow&rusty · 11-11-2005, 06:33 AM

If all you did was change the wires, cap and rotor...the betting money says that you got a couple of cylinders mixed up when you installed your new wires...does the car run rough...lopey as if on 5 or 4 cylinders? If so....then you have the firing order mixed up for sure, common error but easy to fix!

Yasin

Rex Walter · 11-11-2005, 07:22 AM

Kide,

Be sure to check here for information on how to install a distributor and check your timing.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_static_timing/911_static_timing.htm

Rex

rick-l · 11-11-2005, 08:22 AM

I just changed my dist cap and the BOSCH one has the cylinder numbers (firing order) molded into the top by each connector.

acapella8 · acapella8's Garage

I was just going to do this weekend -- thanks for the tip.

Wil Ferch · 11-11-2005, 08:52 AM

composite of all the above....make sure firing order is correct ( one plug wire next to the other) but also know where number one is..and that it's indexed correctly to the rotor position. Also...small tidbit....when you pulled the dizzy...notice that the angle gear cut made the rotor rotate that "little bit" more JUST before it came out of the hole. I hope you took notice of that and made sure it went in EXACTLY the same way.

Wil

Wil Ferch · 11-11-2005, 05:31 PM

more.....firing order is 1-6-2-4-3-5.

As you view the engine ...peering into the engine compartment...left bank... bumper toward front is 1-2-3..right bank , bumper toward front is 4-5-6.

Then..make sure #1 and rotor are lined up when crank ( Z1) is supposed to be where it is.

dizzy turns ( your model) clockwise... I think '79 goes opposite.

- Wil

jimi_c · 11-11-2005, 07:22 PM

I just finished this today - new magnecores - as I'm sure you've learned, there is no z1 mark on an 85 - you have to line up the the rotor with the notch in the housing - there will be two notches at tdc on the pulley - the first you pass is for timing, ignore it, about one inch after is the notch for tdc. Just make sure that all the plugs are correct and seated firmly on the dist and the plugs. I checked mine twice and still screwed it up - car ran like crap, back fired, was just horrible - realized what I did and now it purrs.

Wil Ferch · 08:08 AM

jimi-c:
Please elaborate on your excellent post....the point about the first and second mark on the pulley. Which is which?

Presume the the one on the "right" ( as you peer into the engine compartment) is the one you "pass over"...and the next one on it's left...is the correct one?

Wil

EDIT: see here--> 930 Timing Marks For Valve Adjustment

jimi_c · 11-12-2005, 08:48 AM

Wil, that's exactly right:

This picture clearly shows the two notches and are correctly labeled.- it was one of the most confusing things that I had to do, all the the manuals, Wayne's book, Bentley - they all refer to Z1. If you're on that mark shown here at 12:00 and lined up with the notch on the rotor case, you're home.

Once I had the wires in the correct location there has been a significant improvement in idle and throttle response.

kide · 11-13-2005, 06:31 PM

Thanks all!

I am embarrased to say this but it turned out that the plug wires were not inserted all the way in a couple of cylinders. I figured it out on this thread on Clewett wires

Help - installing new spark plug wires - running POORLY after

I installed a set of Nagai ULTRA silicon plug wires, and it had a similar problem with Clewett's.

After inserting it all the way (which was quite difficult) and hearing the click (what a joy), now engine runs very well.