Stop Press '86ragtop lives....... thanks all!

[twin plugged targa]

Okay, too many people to thank but the winning tip......as usual goes to Warren (thanks yet again!)
Thanks also to George and Darren and all the rest of you guys for not deserting me when down!.
The culprit..... Bad distributor Cap and Rotor!!!!
Yes I know, I should have checked it 1st as one of the first tips!. But the unit was only about a year old!. Carbon contact inside cap was half the length of the new one!
Wet plugs or not she burst to life!.
But once warm she started to 'hunt' - up and down revs every 0.5secs? (fast).
Hooked up the spare DME and she runs like a charm!.
So it cost me about $400 for a used DME and about $70 for a new dist. cap and rotor!.
I have not had a chance to do a long distance run as my back up tow is not around.
I will do a more thorough run tomorrow so wish me luck and fingers crossed 'we've cracked it!'
Best regards Ben

[nhromyak]

It's hard to imagine a cap and rotor causing those symptoms/problems.

Good job Ben!

May you and yours have many happy miles together!




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Nick Hromyak
'85 Carrera 7 & 9 Fuchs
Havin' Fun in Sacramento

[88911coupe]

I also found out the problem on my 88 3.2's idle probs were due to the DME relay. It would run poorly 2-3 minutes after cold start until slightly warm and then drop 100-200 rpms after fully warm. I mistakenly thought a bad DME would affect all operating conditions. My lesson is drop everything you are trying and do what Warren says first. I replaced plugs, wires, cap/rotor, fuel filter, etc and none were the problem although they were all orig and needed to be replaced.
Buck
88 3.2 running well...for now

[old_skul]

86,

I would open up your old DME if the tabs have been disturbed and check for a chip. A performance chip could easily explain the fast-worn distributor cap and rotor (due to advanced timing) and could also account for your hunting idle. I eat distributor cap and rotors for this reason - and my idle hunts - so it's worth looking into.

------------------
Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9 RIP
The Porsche Owners Gallery

[DRD]

Ben, way to go! You have beat the DME gremlins, we all learned from this one!
DRD
Darren

[Superman]

It does not surprize me that a cap and rotor are to blame. Changing cap and rotor is probably the one thing I can name that will almost surely improve your car's performance. In other words, I'll bet at least half of you are using caps and rotors that are too old and you would notice an improvement if you changed them.

------------------
'83 SC

[twin plugged targa]

Thanks again Guys, Mark (Old Skull)
It is possible that the old DME may have an aftermarket chip as I had a peek inside and the solderring on sections of one of the board was not uniform- different colors!.
But at this stage I am happy to pay $400 for a replacement DME that 'WORKS!'
Full test drive tomorrow and pray that you have heard the last of this (I will be )
rgds Ben

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

I think the gap needed higher voltage and then the coil heatet up to much and the voltage output droped.

Can´t see how the DME Brain is affectet.

An old thing in trouble shoting is ask all quest and look at all. Start with the simplest thing and check if you have fuel in the tank and power on the battery.

Sometimes the problem is in the addition from some smale items.

Grüsse