Occasional ignition AND instruments dying momentarily

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I'm still having the problem of my ignition cutting out occasionally for a beat or two, then it picks back up and runs normally. It's very brief, but once I did notice that the tach had also died, and today I had time to notice that it's ALL the instruments. Not sure about the speedo, but I did see the left-side needles fall momentarily. Car is an '83 SC track car, basically, with very simple electronics--carbs not CIS, no black box under the passenger seat, no radio, no accessories.

Apparently it's not something localized to the distributor, MSDs or coils but is farther upstream than that.

In an earlier post, somebody recommended that I check and clean "the 12-pin collector," I think it was, which obviously is a major electrical pass-through point. Anybody know where I should be looking for this connector? Is it under the instrument panel? Behind the IP but only visible if you pull the tach or speedo? Forward of the front bulkhead in the trunk area?

[Brian 162]

I had the same problem with my SC last fall.
I removed the 12 pin connector and it was cracked. I removed all the wires and re-soldered the marginal looking connections and replaced the plastic 12 pin connector.
I also had a Permatune ignition box. I replaced that with an MSD box and a new blaster coil.
It hasn't happened since. In my case it was the Permatune.
BTW I enjoyed the book. I'm living the title of the book.

[fastfredracing]

I think the 12 pin connector they are talking about is in the left rear of the engine compartment. Behind the plastic fuse, and relay panel.My 80 sc has this connector exiting the aluminum fuse/ relay panel to the rear. It has two plastic halves. The plastic parts are replaceable. Just look for corrosion, and check for tight fit of the connectors. If the connector plastic looks real brittle or cracked, you may want to make a diagram of the wires and what location they go in, this will save you a buch of time if it comes apart and all of the wires fly out. Good luck. I keep passing your book around to my gearhead buddies, they all love it , porsche guys or not.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Thank you, Fred. As I remember, that connector is a bit of a kludge; I think I'd done some repairs on it and taped it up when I rebuilt the car, so that is a likely suspect. Maybe I'll just order replacement parts from Wayne and change it out. I'd assumed it was somewhere under the IP, which shows how much I know.

And thank you, and Brain, for liking the book!

[RoninLB]

the engine compartment 14 pin connector has many individual circuits. Ignition +++ wouldn't all crash at same time. The ignition and tach would though. It's all silver plated and should be delicately cleaned, pins opened with a razor blade, and installed with dielectric.

I'd probably start with the electric part of the ignition switch. I changed mine at 100k miles while it was still operating ok. A weak switch that's intermitent can make you nuts.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I in fact am about to replace the ignition switch--it's en route from Pelican--but that's because I'm also having a very occasional failure-to-engage-solenoid starter problem. I'll see if that concurrently fixes the occasional ignition-and-instruments dropoff.

But here's another question: if it doesn't, and the problem indeed is in the 14-pin connector behind the engine-compartment relay-and-fuses panel, what would be wrong with totally eliminating the connector, crimping and even soldering together individually the wires that pass through the connector, encasing each pair in heat-shrink tubing and maybe even waterproofing each wire with silicone? As far as I know, the connector hasn't been unconnected for the last quarter-century and probably could go another 25 years without being separated.

Am I missing something?

[RoninLB]

engine wiring gets disconnected there for quick engine drop

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Ah. My technique has always been to put a mattress under the car, disconnect the engine, let it drop and then you find out what you forgot to disconnect. Works for me.

[RoninLB]

another wild guess is the small red cables attached to the main starter feed at the battery clamp became corroded or damaged. Without looking at a diagram, one goes to ignition switch and one goes to rear elec panel.

then again even a loose connection at the ignition switch ?

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Ignition switch electrical component replaced, red wires from battery are relatively new and clean. that should do it...maybe. Damn Porsches.

[dshepp806]

Yes,..damned Porsches (I agree) !!!!!!!!

Best of luck

Doyle

[GH85Carrera]

It is all because your Porsche wants to be stored in a nice heated garage. It is fighting back because it thinks you don't love it enough

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I love my wife. I like my car.

[RoninLB]

"Just think, if it weren't for marriage, men would go through life thinking they had no faults at all."

by Unknown