85 carrera 3.2

[BOOKEM 901]

Hi All, New member here looking for any help I can get.
I just bought a 1985 carrea 3.2. that is running fine except for the idle when i stop. The idle comes down to where it should but then spike's all by it's self. Jumps between 800 and 1500.
Also it is a U.S. model with 207 HP which I would like to increase. Which is the best bolt on application?
I have heard that a set of early SSI heat exchangers and a mass air flow system is a good one. Are there any complication's with this .
Thanks Dan

[MOMO3.2]

Dan:

Congratulations on your new 911. I have received excellent help and advice on this forum for my own 87 Carrera over the past several years. This help and advice has really defined my Porsche ownership. I cannot give you any advice on your idle problems. You should get a number of helpful replies to help you with the problem.

As far as engine mods go, I STRONGLY suggest that you spend some time with your new car in stock form. There is actually PLENTY of power there already to please. Keeping it stock will let you get a good baseline for how things are functioning too.

That said, I don't know of any big HP gains that can be made with bolt ons short of a Turbo or Super charger. I have had a Steve Wong chip for about 4 years in my Carrera. It gives better throttle response, smooths things out, and adds a little umph in the lower rpm range, but no chip will ever add big HP to an N/A motor. I would definitely hold off on any chip until you have got your car running perfectly.

Finally, even if you have a lot of experience driving other sports cars, you should respect the rear weight bias of your Carrera and slowly work your way in to driving it in a sporting manner. You have a quick, fast car with really unique handling characteristics. There is no ABS or other electronic driving aids to bale you out, so stay focused and take it easy. This is what will give you a lifetime of fun and satisfaction with your new car.

Mike

P.S. Photos are always obligatory for new members.

[DUK]

No photos = No Help



JK- Do a search (button up in RH corner) for AFM or Air Flow Meter.

[3.2 CAB]

Welcome, if you do not have a Bentley manual, I would suggest you getting one ASAP, and any and all other tech and reference manuals, books, etc. They will be needed if you don't have them already. Good luck.

[craigyirush]

Welcome to the forum.

I've had an intermittent idle problem for a year now.

You should clean or replace your ICV (although I got a new one and it wasn't the problem!).

I am not a mechanic but my sense of the 3.2 Carreras is that trouble-shooting is hard as the same problem could be caused by one of a number of faults (O2 sensor, ICV, idle microswitch, etc.).

On the power, I would also say get to know the car first. Even with only 207HP they still move. Having said that, I may get a Steve Wong chip, cat bypass, etc.

[ZOA NOM]

Check to see that your idle microswitch is opening and closing at the proper time. Search the parts diagrams on this site for part# 911-606-013-00-OEM. An indication that this is a problem is that you can tap the accelerator while idling and it settles out. This can indicate a linkage problem as well.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Duke Zink

No photos = No Help



JK- Do a search (button up in RH corner) for AFM or Air Flow Meter.

He's just kidding you for not posting a pic of your new car. It's kind of a tradition here. You will find a ton of help here in the archives. There have been a few threads about the idle issue within the last 2 weeks. Another search suggestion would be "carrera+idle."

[BOOKEM 901]

Thankyou all for your helpful hint's.
You have given me a good place to start.
Sorry about photo I will try to attach with this post.
All the best Dan

[DUK]

We like Red cars around here. What a nice and clean example.

[livi]

Welcome Dan!

That is an absolute beauty. The perfect combination of model year, color and no tail. I am biased of course.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by BOOKEM 901

Hi All, New member here looking for any help I can get.
I just bought a 1985 carrea 3.2. that is running fine except for the idle when i stop. The idle comes down to where it should but then spike's all by it's self. Jumps between 800 and 1500.
Also it is a U.S. model with 207 HP which I would like to increase. Which is the best bolt on application?
I have heard that a set of early SSI heat exchangers and a mass air flow system is a good one. Are there any complication's with this .
Thanks Dan

Hi and welcome! You've recieved some great advice already, and I'll chime in. For you idle problem, search the archives and you'll find lot's of info...BTDT and my cure was eventually replacing the ICV (cleaning helped somewhat) and tightening the hose clamps a bit more eliminating a slight vacuum leak. Learn your car "as is" for now, and focus on the susepension (rather than HP) as that is the best "bang for the buck" and what it's all about imo. In your case however (since you have an '85) you could replace your stock chip with one from '87-89 (+10 HP from a "factory upgrade", and you could probably get one from someone who's become a "Wonger"), or even better, a Steve Wong chip (Hi Loren... ). A SW chip along with a sport muffler, and europremuffler is a great combo for the 3.2s without spending the bigger buck$ for MAF and SSI (great for 3.0, not as great for 3.2s and larger). Lot's of info on these options and more ...have fun!

[trentwat]

Hi Dan,

I too am a recent 3.2 buyer...and have combed through various forums (Pelican and other sites) looking for mods...Suspension improvements and "Get to know your car" are the two most frequent recommendations.

From a cheap HP improvement standpoint, I purchased the Fabspeed muffler bypass pipe and "Cup" Airbox. The suggested HP increase is something around 20+ w/ improved throttle response. Of course, it might be a bit loud...the parts have not yet been installed.

[MIK911]

Bookem--welcome. You got a nice one!!
Pretty much the only engine mods within reason are: SSI's or Euro premuffler in place of catalytic, Steve Wong chip, sport muffler. Arguments abound, but some claim with this set-up, one would be approaching Euro spec hp (230ish).

To legitamize my response, i'v included the obligatory pic of my ride

[PatrickB]

Nice car Dan!
Best bang for the buck upgrade is definitely the combo of a Steve Wong Chip, and the cat-bypass(pre-muffler.) Not only an increase in hp & torque, but better mpg's too! Quite often, this will also cure the idle issue too...

[DonMo]

Idle hunting problems are unusually cured by properly setting idle then fuel mixture after making sure you don't have vacuum leaks. First Clean Idle control valve, then air fuel meter to make sure the door/flapper closes completely, making sure the idle switch really knows you are at idle, those are the obvious ones that don't cost anything but sweat. Some call the idle fluctuation a feature of the Carrera, don't worry it can be fixed.

[BOOKEM 901]

Wow Thanks for all the help guy's.
I will try cleaning and adjusting before shelling out on new part's.
I like the idea of the Steve Wong chip and cat bypass, seems quite an inexpensive power gain. However I will take all of your advise and drive the car for a while as is.
Only thing is I already have a set of new early SSI's siting in a box doing nothing, Which I could obviously sell if I went with the cat bypass. But seeing as I already have them which do you think is the best application?
P.S. very nice car's by the way.
Cheers Dan

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by BOOKEM 901

...I like the idea of the Steve Wong chip and cat bypass, seems quite an inexpensive power gain. However I will take all of your advise and drive the car for a while as is.
Only thing is I already have a set of new early SSI's siting in a box doing nothing, Which I could obviously sell if I went with the cat bypass. But seeing as I already have them which do you think is the best application?...

I dyno'd my car several years ago swapping back & forth between my stock chip and SW chip over six back-to-back dyno runs. Too my surprise, the numbers didn't show any SIGNIFICANT difference between my '88 stock chip (4th gear, wide open throttle runs from 40 to 110 mph or so) to any of us Pelicanheads that were present that day. That why I say take all "HP claims" with a BIG ole grain of salt . That being said, I love my SW chip, and the part throttle mappings (not measurable on the dyno), gas mileage (27+ the one time I checked on the highway at 80+ mph), and general improvements are well worth it. I use 93 octane, and Steve's chip is set up for premium gas, premuffler, sport muffler, etc. and is an EXCELLENT combo. In your case, a SW chip will also give you the same increases (plus better mappings) that the factory gave us in '87, so you should indeed see measurable hp gains. Keep in mind that a euro premuffler (mine is a Fabspeed) is desirable, and offers some backpressure that a cat bypass pipe does not, and they are not the same thing. Search the archives for SSIs on the 3.2s (specifically) and you'll be able to become more informed on the pros/cons in order to decide for yourself. You could always sell the SSIs to fund better "bang for the buck" 3.2 options. Suspension is still BY FAR the best bang...replacing tired rubber components, stiffening, upgrading, etc. totally transformed my car. Another thing, I've dropped over 150 lbs of weight (10 lbs equates to approx 1 hp), and that is the ONLY way to get additional "cheap" hp from what the factory delivered in '87-89 as they didn't leave many crumbs to pick up by then.

[trentwat]

Originally Posted by KC911

I Another thing, I've dropped over 150 lbs of weight (10 lbs equates to approx 1 hp), and that is the ONLY way to get additional "cheap" hp from what the factory delivered in '87-89 as they didn't leave many crumbs to pick up by then.

KC, Where did you get the 10 lbs to 1 HP figure? Is that pretty accurate? I've looked online for a comprehensive list of OEM parts & assembliy weights w/o much success. Any idea where I could find this?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by trentwat

KC, Where did you get the 10 lbs to 1 HP figure? Is that pretty accurate?....

That's a "ball park" number that's typically tossed around for the 3.2s but its a decent rule of thumb for most to use. If you do a search, someone recently posted more accurate calculations for different years, etc.

[silverc4s]

Originally Posted by trentwat

KC, Where did you get the 10 lbs to 1 HP figure? Is that pretty accurate? I've looked online for a comprehensive list of OEM parts & assembliy weights w/o much success. Any idea where I could find this?

http://www.early911sregistry.org/jCalzia.html

Here's Jim Calzia's definitive list of what things weigh...