Getting to know my car - and finding things that need fixing

[Kidasters]

Well - I've owned my car for almost a week, and I think I've found almost all of the issues that need sorting. Now I need some help.

Just a refresher - the car is a 1984 911 Targa with the 3.2. It has approximately 132000 miles on it. I am the second owner.

The car has the 915 gearbox, that was rebuilt about 10,000 miles ago. Tensioners were also re-sealed about then. I'm working through normal tune up issues (belts, filters, fluids).

Here are the new problems:

Drove around town, and noticed a funny noise. While sitting at a light idling, there is a strange rattle coming from the engine. It stops when I depress the clutch. I'm guessing this is some type of clutch adjustment issue?

On the interstate, there is a lot of wind noise coming from the hood cowl vent. Sounds like a jet engine is going to blow the dashboard out! Any thoughts?

I have an oil leak (shocking, I know) - looks like it is coming from #6, where it drips down and makes smoke. Have to look at this closer, but I'm hoping it's just a valve cover leak.

Finally - the cruise control has "Toyota disease". When I try and set it, the car just accelerates. I've done a search - the bracket at the throttle body is not broken, and I think my vac system is fine. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Ken

[CCM911]

Originally Posted by Kidasters

On the interstate, there is a lot of wind noise coming from the hood cowl vent. Sounds like a jet engine is going to blow the dashboard out! Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Ken

I know this sounds dumb, but is the front hood latched down securely? I once forgot to latch mine, and I was able to feel the wind coming in, and it was loud.

Or.....it could just be the noise from the Targa top. I have had my top rebuilt, and it is still loud. I mean, my car is quieter with the top off! At about a hundred, mine sounds like there is a fighter jet idling in the passenger seat.

Oh, by the way, take off the top, and go out and enjoy the car.

[Kidasters]

Thanks for the reply -

Nope - I'm sure the front was latched and locked. I also have good seals around the hood, so I don't think that was it.

I don't think it was the top either. My top seems to be OK. I'm pretty sure the noise was coming from the cowl vent.

Ken

[nineball]

take some blue painters tape and tape up the front seal of your targa on the outside. get a good layer or two so it can stand up to some highway speeds. it won't be pretty but it will be temporary and it will tell you if the top is the culprit.

[ossiblue]

If you remove the screen from the cowl vent, you should see the intake for the fresh air blower unit. It should have a foam seal surrounding it. If that is missing, that could be your problem. You can also look at the ducting from the blower to the air distributors by removing the flex tubes (accessible after removing the cardboard cover in the trunk) and see if the rubber seals in the outlets from the air blower are intact.

[kidrock]

Engine rattle: if the noise stops after the clutch pedal is depressed, it could be a throwout bearing.

Oil leak: Sounds like the usual culprits on top of the motor (old leaking breather hose, T-stat gasket and o-ring, etc.) Could also be a leaking valve cover on the intake, but that doesn't happen very often...but the first thing to be checked.

[Bill Verburg]

just a guess but the rattle is probably from the transmission and likely is normal.

915s are notorious for this gear rattle and were fitted w/ rubber center clutches which have their own issues. Most owners replace the rubber center clutch w/ a spring center version to avoid the weight and other issues associated w/ the rubber centered versions. The down side is that the gears rattle on the main shaft. I'd rather have that than a rubber center clutch

do a search on exploding rubber center clutches for more info.

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by Kidasters

Well - I've owned my car for almost a week, and I think I've found almost all of the issues that need sorting. Now I need some help.

Just a refresher - the car is a 1984 911 Targa with the 3.2. It has approximately 132000 miles on it. I am the second owner.

The car has the 915 gearbox, that was rebuilt about 10,000 miles ago. Tensioners were also re-sealed about then. I'm working through normal tune up issues (belts, filters, fluids).

Here are the new problems:

Drove around town, and noticed a funny noise. While sitting at a light idling, there is a strange rattle coming from the engine. It stops when I depress the clutch. I'm guessing this is some type of clutch adjustment issue?

On the interstate, there is a lot of wind noise coming from the hood cowl vent. Sounds like a jet engine is going to blow the dashboard out! Any thoughts?

I have an oil leak (shocking, I know) - looks like it is coming from #6, where it drips down and makes smoke. Have to look at this closer, but I'm hoping it's just a valve cover leak.

Finally - the cruise control has "Toyota disease". When I try and set it, the car just accelerates. I've done a search - the bracket at the throttle body is not broken, and I think my vac system is fine. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Ken

If it's not a valve cover gasket, or an oil return tube,

as per kidrock, have a look at the top of your motor for oil residue.

If the residue is obvious, I can walk you throught the replacement of:

1. The breather tube and gasket.
2. The oil temp gasket.
3. The oil cooler thermostat gasket.

These are the "usual" suspects.

Also, while you are back there, you may want to replace the sound absorbing
pad that is appended to the back of the firewall.

I performed these "surgeries" last year. 4-6 hours.

Good luck,

Gerry

You may pm me again.

[80-911SC]

if its taken a week to find all the problems your doing good,

i have had mine for two and still finding the occasional WTF did they think when they did this

that with the "while" I am in there

and all Targas are loud

[steve911T]

Just a quick note. The engine oil cooler could also be the culprit. A PIA to fix but to make sure it truly is coming from the top of the engine, a flashlight and a mirror should tell you if it is leaking from one to the leak prone areas. Good luck. It took me 18 months to finally figure out what I had to repair.
Steve

[Tigerrat]

Nothing to add to the above but the usual necessities are a Bentleys and Wayne's 101 book if you haven't purchased yet. Also welcome to Porsches. Bring it down to the Coffee and Cars sometime, open the hood and you will get more free advice.

Houston Coffee and Cars (Cars and Coffee) | New Website Launching Soon!

Ken

[TMoreken]

I had the same problem with my 81SC. When I set it to cruise, it would just accelerate. The biggest problem was it also worked with the car in neutral. If I bumped the stalk at idle, it would send the RPM's shooting to redline! I eventually removed the ECU that controls it and did some troubleshooting. It is located near the fan/ducting in your luggage compartment (silver box). If you have searched, you may have come across an electrical troubleshooting guide. That would be my next step. My ECU turned out to be bad. I just left it unplugged and forgot about it. Good luck.