914-6 Engine Bay Circuit Board Problem

[pablo45vt]

Hello everyone,

I've been a list lurker for some time. I finally had my 1971 914-6 repainted last summer only to discover that, according to the mechanic, has a burned out "circuit" board in the engine compartment that was disrupting the fuel pump functions. He wants to "bypass" the circuit board because he can't find a replacement board. I am uneasy with this and afraid it will lead to other issues. I am not great with electrical issues at all.

Any advice from the members?

And I have attached a photo of the car since the last time I posted a question, I think i was ridiculed for not sharing an image.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The relay board contains a number of fairly essential components, as well as connecting a bunch of wiring together. It would probably be easier (and much better) if the board could be repaired. The potting material underneath the board can be removed with solvent and scraping, and the copper traces repaired.

These are not modern circuit boards, they are decent-sized ribbons of copper with riveted joints that can also be soldered.

Many -4 boards have been repaired and re-potted. (Meaning, the bottom covered with stuff to keep water and dirt out.)

Unless the plastic of the board has been damaged to the point where some of the plugs or relays cannot fit on it securely, the repair should be fairly straight-forward. And take less work hours and less parts (and money!) than bypassing it.

If it is badly damaged, I suggest finding a used one. Look in our classifieds section, and the one over on the 914world website. Possibly post a WTB ad.

--DD

[pablo45vt]

Thank you for this information, Dave! It seems he attempted to bypass it and now the radio doesn't work, the turn signals on the driver's side and who knows what else. I will ask him to just stop.

Do you have any advice on who would make these repairs? I assumed the circuit boards were "old school" like the first Apple computer that I had.

Cheers,

Joe

[GeorgeRud]

Check with Brad Mayeur at 914Ltd. In E. Peoria, IL. I believe he was repairing these boards, but they really are only a way to connect the cables, relays, fuses, and voltage regulator to each other. There are pictures that show where the connectors run, and it really should only be necessary to clean and perhaps resolder some joints.

The board for the sixes is actually simpler than the one for the fours.

BTW, nice looking car!

[Cairo94507]

Beautiful Six. Do not let that mechanic near your car electrical system again. Please correct your circuit board issue so it is repaired correctly. That car is rare and very nice and should be treated accordingly.

Jeff Bowlesby on the 914World.com site is good at repairing these too.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I wonder if Chris over at Tangerine Racing in CT does these? He is not that far from your area.

If you have any "electronic geek" friends, they might be able to help you.

If you look at the relay board diagrams we have (sorry, only for the -4s!) you can see roughly the width of the traces compared to the board. They really are that thick in real life.

The connections for the -6 board are shown in the -6 wiring diagram we have, but it's not pretty.

Our diagrams:
Pelican Parts - Porsche 914 Electrical Diagrams

There are full-color 914-6 diagrams available from Art Zapf. Zapf Enterprises

--DD

[Matt Monson]

While I wouldn't toss out your mechanic as useless over this I would take it to mean that he doesn't know much about electrical and that his specialty is turning wrenches. That doesn't make him either useless or less than. Just means he had a specific skill set.

As others have mentioned get in touch with an electronics expert and get your board repaired. Take a visit to Armando Serrano's website. He has a massive database of 914-6 info and if he doesn't have skematics posted he may have them elsewhere.

I own the original fiches. Maybe they are there but I don't have a viewer ...

[pablo45vt]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. In defense of the mechanic, the engine has never run better. The electrical isn't his thing and admitted it. I'll look at having it repaired.

Thanks again,

Joe

[9146er]

Get a new board here Aase Sales.com. $549