car cuts out while driving

[rsswesley]

Hello, I am new to the forum. I am on my second Porsche. I own a 1982 Porsche 911 with a 3.2. I purchased the car in coneticut and drove it 735 miles with no problems. While driving a couple days ago the idle began to hunt up and down. I was driving yesterday after the car sat in a little rain and about 16 miles into the drive the car died out, I let off the gas while still in gear and moving and the car resumed. I drove home and pulled into the garage and the car started hunting for idle again. Well I checked the lines and oil and could see nothing visual. I drove the car to work today and about mile 16 the car cut off. I tried restarting the car but it would not fire off. I got out and checked the fuse's and the oil level. All was good on the car. I have the alarm switch in the door but I'm not sure how that works. I tapped lightly on the ignition box and the coil and I played with the alarm switch a bit. After a few minutes the car started up and I drove to work. Does anyone know what would cause these problems or what I could check to narrow down the cause. I am a mech in the Marine Corps but this Porsche ignition is well weird to me. Any help would be great. Thanks for your time.

[kach22i]

I don't know much about your year, but assume it does not have points. Still I'd look under the distributor cap for condensation and hairline cracks.

One guy said he went so far as to caulk the cap on (never silicone) to keep moisture out. I've never done that, but looking under the cap for sudden wear is a good starting point in problem solving.

Could also be a CIS leak. Do a search on the fire extinguisher with starting fluid hunt for air leaks.

Also check your red cap starter relay under the front hood. Once mine was so worn it did something similar to what you went through. The darn cap came apart in my hand and I could see the burr on the contact. Carry a spare relay, many do.

Is that a stock ignition box or a red MSD?

[rsswesley]

I have the original box.

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by rsswesley

Does anyone know what would cause these problems or what I could check to narrow down the cause.

Rain and 911 engines always cause problems. Maybe that's because the factory never tested them in the rain before they left the factory.

Regardless, you should find the inside of your distributor cap beaded with condensate.


Cheers,

Joe

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by stlrj

Maybe that's because the factory never tested them in the rain before they left the factory.

That would have made them rain cooled.

[rsswesley]

Well the cap has a crack and there is a bit of rust on the throw out springs and weight. What can I lube them with. Would white grease work.

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by rsswesley

Well the cap has a crack and there is a bit of rust on the throw out springs and weight. What can I lube them with. Would white grease work.

Believe it or not, the biggest crack is where the cap sits on the distributor. It doesn't take that much water for capillary action to take over for moisture to seep inside.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by rsswesley

Well the cap has a crack and there is a bit of rust on the throw out springs and weight. What can I lube them with. Would white grease work.

Do a search on lubing the distributor. I think some people remove the felt cap and put a few drops of synthetic oil in there, but don't quote me.

I would not use a heavy grease (white grease) on the spring/weight (does that part rotate?) which can be thrown about and collect dust, and the dust will only collect more moisture. However I am far from being an expert and will await more experienced members to speak up.

Consider this another bump.

[rsswesley]

I will look up those posts. I will keep you informed on what happens. I will have a new cap on tomorrow.

[E Sully]

Since you have a 3.2 engine in your car, you should have a DME and DME relay under the drivers seat. It is always a good idea to have a spare relay. If you can post a few pics of your setup it will help. The DME realy usualy contros the fuel pump, but it may have been wired differntly depending on who did the conversion.
The relay could be cutting off and then working again after resting. Does the fuel pump run when the key is turned on.
Hopefully the distributor cap will fix this problem, but it is best to get to know your car so future issues can be dealt with easily.

[rsswesley]

I replaced the cap, rotor, and fuel filter and the car runs great but it was still cutting out. I played with the DME relay and sure enough it would die and then restart after a wiggle of the relay. I wonder if there is a short or if the relay is going bad. I will order another relay and do the same test. If it dies there is a short if it runs there was a bad relay. If any one has another idea please let me know.

[dshepp806]

I think you've found your problem..

Doyle