Leson Learned: Check the Easy Stuff First

I took the car ('82 SC) on a 120 mile trip today after winter storage and lowering the engine to replace a hard-to-reach CIS vacuum hose, and it did not start out well. The engine was warming up finally, and I opened the trunk to stow some luggage. The engine immidiately began to run more roughly. Thinking it was just still cold and because we were already late, we headed off anyway. Minutes later on the highway, I was wishing I had switched cars. The car was hugely underpowered and sounded completely wrong. As I imagined everything I could have screwed up while lowering the engine, from fouled plugs from cleaning the sensor plate and thereby adjusting the mixture inadvertently to broken valves, etc. Just when I was getting really discouraged at the near future of my engine, my wife noticed that the clock wasn't working. It was stuck on the time just before we left. Then it dawned on me that a fuse must have blown when I opened the trunk before leaving. Sure enough, no dome lights, clock, glove box lights, power antenna, or OXS SENSOR circuit!!! I was thrilled to realize that it was just a fuse. I pulled over and changed it and the engine immediately went back to a smooth running state with all power restored. Turned a miserable drive into a great one with the family, and we were still on time for the party.

Anyway, just thought I'd share a strange fault and a strong lesson I learned (again). I would have probably lowered the engine again if my wife hadn't noticed the clock had stopped.

Olivier
82 SC

Well done finding the culprit.
I had a similar but less fortunate experience with a Fiat (18yrs ago) where the speedo failed on a rainy night. The lights dimmed and engine finally but slowly ground to a halt!...dead!. After walking to a nearby house and calling my brother to collect me, the next day he help me source the problem to a water induced short in the electronic speedo,
Aaaaah, so thats why the speedo stopped!
Idiot!
I like to think I will be sharper like yourself these days!
rgds Ben

Does she have any tips on adjusting the clutch on an 83??

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Robert Stoll
83 SC
83 944

No, neither of us are very good with clutches, but we did have a long conversation about engine reubilds and upgrades on the way home! I'm still working up the courage to try and replace the clutch on her Cherokee.

Olivier

Did somebody say Cherokee?

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Clay McGuill '66 912, '97 Jeep Cherokee www.geocities.com/the912guy

Oliver, In another thread, Tyson suggested you examine your timing and advance. I'm going to suggest here that you check your mixture. Sounds like you touched your air flow sensor plate and this means you shoulc check the misture. My main reason for suggesting it though, is that your car should have run well without the OXS system. With this system shut off, you have what was called K-Basic CIS, which is a kind of fool proof, completely mechanical CIS.

There is a method of checking this which uses just a dwell meter. I'd be happy to forward that procedure if you need it.

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'83 SC

I have been looking at those threads, but I am still trying to sort out the connections for the dwell meter (and figure out what a dwell meter is and where to get one).

I also looked for the mixture adjustment screw (3mm hex) on my fuel distributor, but I cannot find it. I expected a rubber plug covering it in the middle of the fuel distributor, but everything seemed to be solid, only some flat head screws.

I couldn't find a diagram of the mixture screw either.

Also, do you know the procedure for checking timing and advance?

Thanks,

Olivier

I'll have to be brief (work has really been interrupting my BBS patrol duties). Just get a good, digital dwell meter. They also are voltmeters, ohmmeters and other features. Mine is the Sears Craftsman unit, and has worked very well. I think you can expect to pay $60. I'd be happy to forward you a URL that explains it VERY well.

Timing is done with a timing light, and mine is also a Sears. Perhaps I will send you something from home tonight.

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'83 SC

Thanks, Super.

18 inches and counting of snow here in the Northeast got me home from work early. Good thing I got my test drive in yesterday.

Olivier

Let me add a bit more to this. I had the same problem, except the fuse didn't blow, and I burned the wires.
What you ought to check out: The wire to the trunk light is the line the carries constant current to the clock, interior lights, and trunk. You can see it, as it's bound to the left trunk arm (looking from the front). It's white with a green stripe I think. Also, there are some conditional ground wires in the mess. I'd check all those for wear while you're at it. That way, you can assure yourself such a thing won't happen again
Mine rubbed and finally shorted against the frame there from wear.
This also might explain why opening and closing the trunk triggered the short.

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Kurt B
1984 911 Carrera Cabriolet
75 914 1.8

[This message has been edited by Kurt B (edited 02-05-2001).]

I pulled the entire assembly and checked the entire wire for wear. I couldn't find anything at all, although there are plenty of sharp edges around that area. I will probably go back in and wrap all the wires with a layer of electrical tape just to be sure. At least now I will be able to fix it quickly if it happens again.

Olivier