My most embarasing 914 story!

Tidybuoy · 07-09-2003, 08:53 PM

Ok, I've noticed that some of these posts are just reminising about the 914 woes - so I thought I would tell you a story of my own.

About 20 years ago, I was a senior in high school taking auto shop for the first time. My older sister was visiting from college and asked me if I could tune up her 914.

SURE! I'm taking auto shop, I know everything there is about cars. I'll give it the best tune up it's ever had.

I got all the parts & got started. Drained the oil & while it was draining, I changed the plugs, cap, rotor, & condenser. As soon as I was finished, I started it up & proceeded to rev & rev. It sounded great until the engine came to a screaching halt with a loud Squeak.

I got out of the car & noticed 5 brand new quarts of oil sitting by the back of the car. "Holy Shiat!!!" I said.

I quickly added the oil as fast as I could & when I was done I attempted to start the engine. It started right up! Yea!!

Anyway, my sister drove the car back to LA (400 miles) without any problems. In fact, she drove the car for about 6 or 7 more years before she sold it. It's probably still running.

I haven't told my sister to this day, but I'm sure we will have a good laugh about this some day.

The moral of the story: Don't let your little brother tune up your 914!

Vern

campbellcj · 07-09-2003, 09:45 PM

Ouch! Funny story...wouldn't have been quite so funny if the engine had seized $!$!$!

I tend to "space out" sometimes so whenever I have the oil drained, lug nuts loosened, or other potentially catastrophic things going on with the car, I leave myself big reminders. Like a big note on the driver's seat or windshield. It's so easy to be distracted by a phone call or whatever...

Alfred1 · 07-09-2003, 10:13 PM

Double ouch! Well, it was 20 years ago and she no longer owns the car so it may be safe to tell her. BTW, she had good taste in cars.

Alfred

jkeyzer · jkeyzer's Garage

The engine survived?! No way!!!

Potter · 07-09-2003, 11:28 PM

You did a favor for your sister? What, are you nuts??

Speedo959 · 07-10-2003, 12:26 AM

Yep had that happen to me in a bug. It got hot and seized. Let it cool down and poured some break free down the spark plug holes and got it loose again. Changed the oil and it ran for another 10,000 miles. I know it is possible, done that.

1bad914 · 07-10-2003, 03:56 AM

I replaced the clutch in my sons Toyota Celica, a very tedious and painful job, I got it all done, fired it up and drove it around the block, I could not figure out why it was whining so much, then I remembered the tranny fluid...I did it real fast as if me doing it fast would cause less damage. It drove fine after that, my son sold it shortly after that, but I still see the kid driving it around town. As far as 914's, Iwas installing my liscence lights two days ago, I plugged them in and pulled the switch, no light, I tap it and it comes on amoungst some healthy sparking, I cussed and thought it took me twnty minutes of trouble shooting before I realized that I had installed them in reverse polarity...dooohhhh. I laughed at myself and moved on. Sometimes the simple tasks are the ones that bite you!

castlesteve · castlesteve's Garage

when i was (err 16) i had a great idea... install speakers under the dash. So as i was mounting them with my trusty makita cordless, i put a screw right through the steering column electrical ... everything melted...

I had taken the guts of a '71 VW squareback steering column and adapted them to the totally melted pieces of the '72-1.7 column.

Worked like a charm. it hurt though.

sammyg2 · 07-10-2003, 08:39 AM

About 25 years ago my 914 developed a clicking noise in the rear when I went around corners. Convinced it was the left side CV joints, I replaced them. Major PITA it was, would be easier now.
Anywho, the noise went away for a week then came back.
Turns out the problem was the car had rivieras with stock lugs, and the lug bolts were loosing the proper torque and coming a little loose and causing the clicking as ther POS wheels shifted on the lugs.
Looking back i can't believe i didn't find that right away.
Oh well.

Potter · 07-11-2003, 09:04 PM

Several years ago I build a boat (tons of fun!!). It was a "real" boat made with fiberglass from borrowed molds.......carpet........75HP outboard, etc. Well, I installed the steering wheel and the throttle and all that. I made a last minute change to the instrument panel prior to the maiden voyage which required that I remove the steering (quite easy on a boat). My wife and I got to the dock and launched the boat. I kinda eased her back in reverse. Then, the boat was pointed straight out into the lake so I hit it hard and we FLEW forward through the water...a huge thrill......we were screaming and laughing and feeling good when I decided to turn left.........Swoosh......the boat turned right. We nearly flew out.......I went to correct by steering right....swoosh, we banked left!!! I had put the steering rack on backwards. Oddly, whenever I am feeling especially cocky, my wife brings that up.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Wives are always good like that.....

handyher · 07-12-2003, 09:55 PM

One time my husband and i jumped in the 914 to go up to yosemite nat'l park, we were living in paso robles, ca dan started her up and put her in reverse and wham the trani locked up. It was a hateful car and hated him worse.... well jumped out and took hammer and unlocked her. happened again. for some reason we decieded to check trani fluid. yup you guessed it NO fluid nada no nothing. the kicker is it was driven from san jose,ca to paso robles, ca (about 150 miles) with no gear oil in gear box. well long story short got home filled her up and drove on down the road. ! very lucky that time.