what would you do?911 died boxster calling

rfuerst911sc · 09-09-2006, 02:36 PM

Well as some of you know I have a 83SC that is in great shape that I converted to Megasquirt EFI and lots of suspension upgrades. Up to Wednesday the car was running pretty good. I dropped my car off at my mechanics to have ss brake lines,front brake cooling kit installed and a DE tech inspection done as I am signed up for my first DE for next weekend. Well when I picked the car up on Friday it wasn't running to good, I don't think my mechanics shop had anything to do with this but possibly bad gas as I put half a tank of gas in the car on my way to my mechanics shop. Today I swapped coil as I thought I had a ignition problem but it wasn't that. I have played around with the tuning of the Megasquirt to no avail, I can get it to run fair when cold but once warm it refuses to run. I've had a attraction to Boxsters since they came out and my current frustration with my car says buy a newer car. I know this isn't rational but thats my mindset. I have 1 week to get my car running or buy a replacement before the DE...........................help me out guys what would you do?

Early_S_Man · 09-09-2006, 02:59 PM

First thing I would do is drain the gas tank ... then take it to be steam cleaned.

Until you have the tank back in the car and it is running satisfactory again ... applications of Jose Cuervo as required to squelch any thoughts of Boxsterism!!!

MRM · 09-09-2006, 03:07 PM

You've been on the board long enough to know that you risk ignoring Warren's advice at your own peril!

rfuerst911sc · 09-09-2006, 03:10 PM

Any chance a couple bottles of dry gas and then filling the rest of the tank having decent results? I'm so friggen angry right now as my DE is 1 week away and I have payed for the DE and prepaid for a motel for the DE. I have been upgrading this car for over a year and now this! I am pi$$ed.

MRM · 09-09-2006, 03:30 PM

Try some Sea Foam. Follow the direction on the can. Change the fuel filter. Filters are cheap and easy to replace, so if you're feeling aggressive you could do it both before and after the Sea Foam. Otherwise, just do it after the Sea Foam. If it is gas, you're likely to be able to get by with that an not having to take the tank out.

scottbooth · 09-09-2006, 03:37 PM

I am not sure if something similar to this will work with your ITB setup, but it might be worth a try:

When I needed to drain the tank in my 78 SC to replace the fuel pump I used the old pump (still working, just loud) to pump out the tank. Back in the engine bay, I disconnected the input line from the fuel filter and found there was enough slack to get the end into a 5 gallon gas can. Then I turned on the igniition and lifted the CIS sensor plate to get the pump running. I sat there and had a couple beers while the tank emptied, and felt really good about not being under the car trying to do the same job with fuel spilling everywhere.

Of course since you probably have more than 5 gallons left you will need a good place to put the pumped-out gas. I topped off the other cars and saved the rest for the lawn tractor (the only time it has ever seen premium). I guess if your remaining gas is questionable, this solution only works if you have some cars around that you think could better deal with bad fuel.

Boxsters are nice, and may in fact be easier to DE than an older 911, but your SC sounds like it is really well set up for the task. I was thinking of doing the Megaquirt / ITB thing myself. IMHO, don't give up just yet. But what do I know.

Cheers
Scott

Rick V · 09-09-2006, 04:00 PM

Have a cold beer, relax a little bit and follow the directions given earlier. I also fond my car doesn't run as well after someone else has handles her. Pat her on the dash, tell her everything is going to be ok, and apoligise to her for letting someone else have her keys. Don't laugh just try it!
Good luck and keep the SC. It is like a wife, it's cheeper to keep her!

Richard Burns · Richard Burns's Garage

Have you tried checking the heat sensor that belongs to the Megasquirt kit? Contact Tony he may be able to help.
Good luck with the D E.
Richard

patkeefe · 09-09-2006, 05:19 PM

Evidently there exist two possibilities
1 You put in bad gas
2 The mechanic dicked it up

Why have you eliminated possibility #2? Car ran good. Went to mechanic. Car ran bad. Hmmmmm.

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by patkeefe
Evidently there exist two possibilities
1 You put in bad gas
2 The mechanic dicked it up

Why have you eliminated possibility #2? Car ran good. Went to mechanic. Car ran bad. Hmmmmm.

Just a coincident.

Zeke · 09-09-2006, 05:27 PM

I have a Boxster and I'm going to tell you to do the same thing as the rest of the guys have. There are quite a few here that have Boxsters and 911's, but not that many that went from 911's to Boxes and stayed there. Talk to Doug of Doug and Julie

That would be one that didn't stay on with a Box.

Or, you could look up bigbpainta. (Oh no, that is a horrible inside joke!!)

widgeon13 · 09-09-2006, 05:39 PM

Have you tried replacing the distributor cap or checking for any samll cracks. it's cheap and easy, good luck on finding a solution.

Don't sell the SC, you will regret it later on.

makaio · 09-09-2006, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by milt

Or, you could look up bigbpainta. (Oh no, that is a horrible inside joke!!)

Milt, There's probably only a handfull of us still here that remember that clown!

silver911 · 09-09-2006, 08:55 PM

Do you remember how it ran after you put gas in on the way to the mechanics? I've found that unless I use 94 octane (the highest we have available) mine won't run cold very well and seems rough at idle when warm. Luckily I only put in half a tank of 91 octane to test and after a few days was able to fill up with 94. Mine ran so poor I thought I had mixture problems and WUR issues.

scottbooth · 09-10-2006, 02:05 AM

When I wrote my first response I was just back from a test drive to make sure my car is ready for my DE on Monday. But had to head out to play pool with the boys as my wife and daughter are out of town

.

So I will chime back in here (unasked) to point out that 911SCs are a lot of fun to drive at the track. That's most of what I do with mine now. For the first several years it was my daily driver, and I had plans to eventually restore all of the tired parts to make it look new, or new-ish.

Then, a few years ago, I started doing DE events. I suck at this, but I am getting better. And it is amazing fun, even sucking at it is fun. You only get better. (Except when you don't. But then there is next time.)

Last winter I decided to save money on the interior by gutting it (cheaper to throw away than to replace, and it adds much lightness) and now my wife won't ride in the car at all, just shakes her head about what I have done to it.

My two year old daughter got one ride around the driveway when I was shuffling cars around the garage, weeks ago, and has been asking for a real ride in it ever since. She understands that there is something going on there.

On the track, an old 911 is very direct, very raw, and tail happy. It is hard to learn to drive it well, but the feedback is amazing. The first time the tail steps out in a corner and you grit your teeth, throw hope to the wind, and put the pedal back down to get the back of the car to step in and behave, you will be hooked.

In odd moments, when I pretend that I have extra money to spend on my track addiction, I occasionally think of trading to a 964 or 993 or even a Boxster. In steps, each removes some of the driving difficulty. Even as the newbie track driver that I am, I suspect that I would turn better lap times in a Boxster. But, especially starting out, DE is not so much about lap times as it is learning to drive, and at this point I feel like using a newer car to get faster is kind of like cheating. I would rather put in the time with the car that I have. And I have too much time and money into it to get anything that would make me happy if I were to sell.

Things to think about:

Could you really get a Boxster in time for your DE? Have you picked one out? Or are you thinking of getting a new one?

Would you feel comfortable learning to drive on the track in a car you don't yet really know?

What if you were to go off track? You won't the first time (I hope) but it could happen eventually. Old 911s can have battle scars and that can be cool. Boxsters just look like they need paint or body work. (MHO)

I will repeat (and then stop beating the dying horse) that you should try to get the car running right, do your DE, and then make a decision after that. I think if you can do that then you will not worry about Boxsters for a while.

Even if you miss this event, with all the money you have paid up front, you will not lose as much money as you would by dumping a badly-running modified car and replacing it with a Boxster. And you won't know what you have missed. You have obviously put some serious time and money into your SC. Give it a chance before you get rid of it.

Best,
Scott

rfuerst911sc · 09-10-2006, 02:43 AM

You guys have talked me off the ledge! I was just very frustrated and now with a nights sleep and a few beers I'm better. I will try Seafoam today and maybe gas from another station. The reason I ruled out my mechanic is because I trust him completely and I can't think of anything he would do for a DE tech inspection that could cause this condition. The distributor cap and rotor are new aprox. 1 year old. Ignition wires are fairly old aprox. 4 years old and spark plugs changed about 3 months ago. I'm thinking I will replace the temp sensor for the EFI as it is a inexpensive GM style and readily available. I'll post my results.Thanks everyone.

rfuerst911sc · 09-10-2006, 10:56 AM

Today I put in a bottle of Seafoam and installed a new temp sensor. I got the car running and it seems to run O.K. but I did have a no start after hot condition once. I got the engine hot and then turned it off and on about 8 times varying the time that it was off. In that scenario I had it not start once. I let it set for 15 minutes and it started. I'm going to fill the tank from another gas station and see what happens. If anyone knows Megasquirt and can suggest what I might check/change in the setup for hot start conditions I would appreciate it.Thanks for all your help guys its appreciated.

widgeon13 · 09-10-2006, 11:38 AM

What is Megasquirt, is there a website that tells what it is? Guess i'll do a search.

anthony · 09-10-2006, 12:04 PM

Quote:

I have played around with the tuning of the Megasquirt to no avail

Can you go back to a megasquirt file from back when the car was running well? I think it's something simple - lose wire, etc.

Porsche_Daddy · 09-10-2006, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by milt
[B]Talk to Doug of Doug and Julie

That would be one that didn't stay on with a Box.
]

Didn't you hear? He got a new boxster and is ditching the 911 SC.