Stuck on side of the road.

[Stonestreet]

Hi all, picked up my 88 carrera a couple weeks ago and have been driving it almost daily since. Not too many scary issues until yesterday.

After a long day out on the back roads with not a single issue, I took the highway home. The belt started squealing a bit as I pulled over for a coffee. I sprayed a bit of belt dressing on it as a band aid, let it rest for a few minutes and then started off again. Once I got up to speed, I could really smell a burning rubber or plastic and the cabin was starting to fill with haze. Temperature was also starting to approach 9 o'clock so I pulled over again and checked to see if I had lost oil. Oil was fine, maybe a bit high, but not the issue. Started off again and kept an eye on the temp guage. Kept all the air in the cabin off just incase. As I was nearing my house after one very stressful hour, the engine started to warm up again and the car lurched as if to stall, but then didn't. For home and put it away.

This morning wanted to take it around the block to see if I could. I almost did. The burning smell was still there and I noticed the electrics were weak. The lights dim when signalling, the wipers go progressively slower, the defogger was weaker and weaker.

Next thing the car lurched again and then that was it. No response to throttle and now I'm planted a block away from my house waiting for a flat bed. If like to be able to work on this car myself so any help would be appreciated. I planned on changing the belts (fan belt looked a bit sloppy) but now I feel like I need to change maybe the alternator, spark plugs, belts. . .

Again, any help is much appreciated.

[Stonestreet]

Now even my hazard lights are being weird. They were on and fine and then started flicking faster and faster to the point that I just turned them off. . .

[mreid]

Take off the belt and check how freely the alternator turns. Bearing may have seized.

[silverc4s]

Alternator? Bearing seizing....

[timmy2]

Alternator/fan belt is slipping and burning?
No charge and overheating as a result?

Pelican Technical Article: Fan Belt Replacement - 911 (1965-89) - 930 Turbo (1975-89)

[emac]

I would say you fried your belt. Do not drive it as you are not cooling the engine and not charging the system
Change the belt make sure the shims are on right, you should have about 1/4 in of play in the belt

[Stonestreet]

Thanks guys. The fan was spinning still, so I'd have thought it would still cool.

I don't understand why there was no response to throttle though.

[70SC]

Check your VR

[timmy2]

Fan still spinning is good news, doesn't mean it is spinning fast enough to cool effectively due to slippage.
Check your battery voltage at rest (12.3 VDC) and when running and revving to 2000 rpm should be around 13.5-13.8 VDC.

[Stonestreet]

Ok, finally made it home on a flatbed.

I'm very new to owning this car and therefor have a lot of questions.

Going to head to the Canadian Tire to pick up a belt and multi meter to check the battery, assuming that if the battery is dead, the alternator is pooched?

While I have the belt off, I should check to see if I can turn the pulley on the alternator, if I can't then the bearing had seized?

Not sure how to check the voltage regulator, but I'm sure I can search the forum for a related thread.

Does all that sound right? I'm still not sure why I would get no response from the throttle right before it died.

Also, should I be worried?

[theiceman]

get on to rennlist, the regional forum there is huge and one of our toronto boys can help you look at it. nothing to worry about. worst case need an alternator.
the reason the car was lurching and not responding is because you dont have enough energy to run the ignition system
i concur with above. your belt is stretched / burned . if you have ac on that car remove this belt first. the clutch could be seized. causing other issues.
also recharge battery on a charger . not in your car.
doubt you will get a belt at partsource or ct.

[Stonestreet]

Thanks iceman, I'm at ct now, so ill check anyway. Worst case scenario, I buy some cleaning products.

[timmy2]

I have to ask since its been 15 years since I've been to one, does Canuck tire still smell like tires when you walk in?

[Stonestreet]

I'm in the tire section so it's not fair to say. It does remind me of being a kid though.

[Joe Bob]

Replace the belt and throw a volt meter on the battery AFTER you have charged the battery with an external charger.

[Concestor0]

Make sure you get a fan/alternator belt from a Porsche dealer (Phaff or Downtown), they're cheap and the only ones that will fit properly despite what the man at the auto parts store tells you.

[Stonestreet]

So I just checked the battery and it showed 11.9V

I'll order a belt tonight and hope that I don't have to order an alternator. If I do, would it be worth the extra money to order the high output variety?

For what it's worth, we've had a few days of rain here in Toronto and I've been driving in it.

[Joe Bob]

Battery is under charged. It's likely that the alternator is kaput.

As to ordering an alternator. Do a search on failure rates on remans and install nightmares.

Best to have yours redone by a local shop.

[atc_marty]

timmy2, I know exactly what you mean and the answer is yes. They can have cleaning products and air fresheners for sale at the entrances and it still smells like tires!

[theiceman]

yeah but if it didnt it wouldnt smell like home

yeah get your core redone. its end of the season just about anyway, park it, pull the alt and have it rebuilt.

i would call henry at refined motor sports or even jay loyyd at oakville porsche and get a recomendation for a rebuild shop.

if you are not comfy doing it yourself oakville porsche does classic at 100 an hour

ps we are Canadians... we dont go around call you yankies do we ?