When I first had CIS problems, I found myself really jumping around and making assumptions because I was not too familiar with the CIS system. I consider myself to have a high level of mechanical ability when it comes to cars. I grew up with a tool maker as a father and rebuilding cars since I was able to hold a wrench. But, I never had experience with CIS until my first porsche.

What I did to help was buy the book our host offers for the CIS system. Read it from cover to cover. I created a check list for myself that logically went through every component on the CIS, it's typically faults, how it works and if it does act up, what cues does it give me. Also talking with Brian at RarlyL8 helped. I narrowed it down to the WUR and FD, had them rebuilt and car runs great.

A properly working CIS will run great with no worries. Don't try to band aide or jerry rig to trick something else, it just causes more problems and always leaves you wondering if your car is going to start this time or next.

The book helps and also stepping back to take a breath. Any DIYer can fix the basics and replace parts on the CIS, so trust yourself. If I lived in the area, I'd come lend a hand.

Andy

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the comments.

When I'm teaching people about the stuff I do I always say you have to understand the theory first before application. Lots of people just try random things in hopes they get lucky. This is no different.

I have read a bunch on CIS -- I've run into a couple of problems with matching the part to the name in the book, differences in various year models and diagrams that leave stuff out. I know I'm very close to getting the theory down on my head. Now I need to match it up with what I see when I'm looking at the engine.

I'll get there.

Thanks!

Practice makes perfect.......
 

Tirwin,

Reading and understanding the basic principles is a good thing. But nothing could substitute to hands-on and actually doing the job. Using the correct tools, how to set-up the test, and many other variables not discussed in the book. So you have to develop your style and approach the problem with open an mind.

I have one good example for you: You could read all the articles, magazines, watch videos, etc. about golf, but if you don't actually hit the balls and play the game over and over again, you'll just be another Monday Night Quarterback.

Even people who have not actually done the work would offer you suggestions how to do it because they read and understood it very well or heard from others. It does not take much to be familiar with CIS troubleshooting and be proficient if you minimized the guess-work.

Tony