What Should I Repair Next on My 911?

[ace123]

My 87 911 is need of repair. What should I do next?

Driver side window off track
Horn doesn't work
Blinker/high beam issue
Windshield wiper lever doesn't work on high
Sunroof doesn't retract
Radio gets power for a couple seconds and fades out
Rims need to be redone
New tires
AC not cold
Cruise control doesn't work
Leather seats refurbish
Relpace Interior carpets
Sound dampening on engine

I'm thinking about the biggest bank for the buck. Simple is good as I can do stuff, but nothing too mechanically complicated. I'm on a budget as well.

How much time to do some of these? As a point of reference, I changed my oil for the first time and it took about 2 hours which included cleaning up the mess on the driveway. Obviously, i will knock it out much quicker the next time.

Thank.

Thoughts?

[Flat6pac]

The first half of the list is learning experience rather than high dollars. Column switches are consumable/ replacement items. Sunroof, broken cable or motor/ trans linkage.
Window, take it apart and see what missing, the PET will show all parts.
Bruce

[sc_rufctr]

Fix the drivers side window first.

That's a good list. Not a lot of money to fix everything on there. Good luck.

[Gustyones]

Go after the safety items first. These are a must - Horn, blinker, tires, windshield wiper. The rest are comort items.

[Rot 911]

Before you do any of the above, first go to the fuse panel in the front trunk. Remove each and every fuse, replace the dodgy ones. Clean the contacts on the fuses and on the terminals. See how many electrical problems that fixes before you move on to any thing else.

[Joe Bob]

Add relays for the stalk when you replace it.

[crustychief]

I would start with the safety / fix it ticket items first as gustyjones mentions, then move on to the aesthetic items. If the car lives outside I would do the window first though. Follow Joe bob's advice and add a relay kit to protect your new stalk.

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

Before you do any of the above, first go to the fuse panel in the front trunk. Remove each and every fuse, replace the dodgy ones. Clean the contacts on the fuses and on the terminals. See how many electrical problems that fixes before you move on to any thing else.

Good logic.

Also, check the relays on the panel and the smuggler's box.

Note: You have more relays than those shown for our '86.

Good luck,

Gerry

pm me as needed.

[RWebb]

the biggest bank for the buck is not on your list

it will be either the old rubber brake hoses or the old rubber fuel hoses - have you replaced both???

if so, then new tires if yours are over 5 years old - that is another safety issue

[ace123]

Good advice.

The drivers window really bugs me. I can't really lock up the car with it not working. Ill try that and do the horn next. The horn is definately necessary as well. There are a lot of knuckleheads driving where I live.

Those fuses look good. Any tips/ suggestions on how to clean them?

[RWebb]

use a strong solution of vinegar on them; when they turn bright, follow with some contact cleaner

[MH911]

Tires seem to be the obvious choice.

[OsoMoore]

I'm not an expert, but here are my thoughts:

Bad tires will get you killed.
Bad horn will put in in danger of other drivers.
Bad blinkers can get you tickets and endanger other drivers.

Deal with those, and then continue in an order by preferred amenities.

[tirwin]

Great advice. Safety items first. Security next (window).

Your headlight and turn signal issues are likely related. Fix is to try to repair the turn signal stalk but there is a good chance the stalk is fried. Reason is that power for the headlights runs through the stalk wiring harness and it shortens the life. If you replace the stalk, you MUST add the headlight relays. I learned this lesson the hard way. You can get the relays here on Pelican.

Since several of your problems are electrical, it is worth going through the wiring. Check for chaffed wires, bad grounds, etc. If you are up for it, user fred cook sells a ATO style fuse panel. Several people have reported that some of their gremlins went away when they replaced theirs. Mostly due to repairing loose or corroded wires. Another easy "while you're inthere" fix is to add an inline fuse on the instrument cluster. Do a search on these topics and you'll find the threads.

The A/C not being cold... well, that's a Porsche. If it hasn't been converted to 134, don't do it unless you are prepared to spend a bunch of money. If it just needs a charge of refrigerant and it doesn't have a leaks or other problems, do that and just deal with the fact that it's not very good. The only real "fix" in my opinion is to replace the whole system with one of the aftermarket ones like Rennaire or Retroair.

I'm in the middle of restoring y interior. It is costing more money and taking a lot more time than I bargained for. Easy to underestimate those costs. Problem is all the stuff you end up having to fix that you didn't know you'd have to fix.

Good luck!

[ace123]

Yeah, you guys are right about the safety. I really should get the horn going. Some guy almost backed into me not too long ago and a horn definitely would have helped. I had to do a "quick reverse". Definitely, not good.

The blinkers work, but they mess up my headlights at night. If I pull the lever towards me at the right spot the headlights work. I think I know the issue there, and it is manageable at night. I need to research the relay for the blinker. I know nothing about it, but first the horn!

[RWebb]

ok,

1st - new rubber fuel & brake hoses; new tires & flush all fluids

2nd - horn, blinkers, headlight relays, fuse that wire on the ign. switch, etc.

3rd - drivers window

4th - think about the $$ cost and DIY labor time/hassle cost for various other items and decide which way you want to go; prepare a punch list of of all related while you're in there things

[hcoles]

yes safety first - brake lights, horn, blinkers, brake system, headlights/etc. if driving at night.... most everything else is optional - good point to check for fuel leaks.
Also comes to mind a thing I check at autocrosses is that the mats, if you have them, are not interfering with the pedals and are tethered back.

[Super_Dave_D]

AC - last!!! You will probably never get around to it.

[megerian]

I agree, A/C and cruise control last

[ace123]

I played around with the horn today and I can't believe that sound actually came out of the horn. I tried this months ago and I got nothing.

I took the pad off the steering wheel and touched the wire to the contacts and it worked. Then I put the pad back on and it didn't worked. Did the same thing again and now the pad is sort of on. It is not perfectly on, one side of the pad is slightly higher than the other, but it works.

I would have kept trying, but the neighbor's dogs start barking too much because of all the horn honking.

What is a good technique to get the pad back on. To get it off I grabbed both sides and did a slight bend and it came off. I'm definitely having trouble putting it back on.