running, now time to check all the vitals

[cschmidt]

Well thanks to all for the encouragement and welcome on my first post. With a buddies' help we got the '88 924S from PA back to NC. A bunch of tinkering the next day and it was running after sitting for a year or so. We put some new gas in it and drove it around for about 20 miles. Oil pressure was good, temp stayed around 1/4 (low?), alternator was charging, battery in good shape, brakes were firm and once the rust was off the rotors they were ok. Clutch is reasonably new and worked fine. I didn't have a plate or insurance so we were just driving on some deserted country roads.

Now it time to work towards roadworthy. The previous owners kept really good records which will help. These records indicate the car has only been driven 3-4000 miles in the last 6 years, with no miles the last year or so. Here's what the records say and what my first opinion is on each item. If there are suggestions I'd love to hear them. At the moment the car show 97K, but the odometer was replaced at about 25K, so it is really at abut 123K. The maintenance records are shown without the extra 25K.

Going back:

The clutch was done at 70K in 2000, transaxle flushed and refilled, will try the transaxle drain/fill bolts and see if I can drain/ refill

Brake calipers were rebuilt and system flushed at 85K in 2003, I intend to flush the brake fluid and probably clutch fluid as well

Tune up ( plugs, rotor, cap) at 92K in 2004, no mention of wires being replaced in a long time. They look due. I'll inspect the cap / rotor and see. I'll pull the plugs as well, they are cheap and may just replace. Oil change and fuel filter will be done also.

With the new plates - I have 30 days to get it inspected, so I need to do that pretty quick.

So now the big question as I have learned after a lot of reading. Timing + balance shaft belts + external belts were done 94K in 2006. I know this is a real hot topic for these cars. I'm leaning toward pulling the external cover and inspecting them. If they need to be done, will probably do the waterpump as well. It was last done at 62K in 1998.

Let me know what you think. Once it is inspected I'd like to start driving it some. The big question - both $ and time - is when to do the timing belt. My preference is I'm leaning toward driving with the current belts for about 10K if they look good and then swap them.

Longer range, there is more to look at. The AC, radio, confirm all the electricals, and a good clean-up. I'll get after that once the initial work is done.

Thanks again,
Chuck

[Chucked]

Sounds like you have a good one. I would replace the belts, rollers and water pump. I just rolled over 140,000 miles on my 85.5 and awl at replaced the B-R-P every 35,000. Best insurance you can buy.

[alan6272]

CS, did DMV tell you that it had to be inspected in 30 days of the tags? Just wondering. Sounds like you have a great car to start with, as far as the TB's I would inspect them first, even if miles are low on them they have been sitting for some time and if some rust may have built up on rollers etc. then that could harm the belts as well as maybe some dry rot? Even tires have a shelf life so I tend to think that belts do too. Is the car rust free? I know PA cars are pretty good as long as it stayed there. Good luck and you probably already love this car.

[alan6272]

BTW any pictures??

[pfarah]

Chuck,

Good luck with your new baby! I purchased my 84 in May 2012 with service documentation depicting a timing/balance belt change back in Nov 2011. As highly recommended in this, and other forums, I checked under the cam belt cover and found this! Needless to say, I (with a knowledgeable friend) replaced ALL rollers, water pump, both belts, thermostat ASAP and been sleeping soundly ever since. I'm slowly purchasing all the appropriate tools to perform this service next time on my own. It appears that this job can be performed by anyone with patience, can read/understand step by step instructions and handy with tools. Maybe I'm wrong...

[mytrplseven]

Miles vs age on timing and balance belts: 35 to 40 k miles or 5 years on the belts. WP every other set of belts. Appearance is a trap. Age and/or miles will keep you from major damage on the engine. Tires are the same. After 6 miles, look at replacment, regardless of miles.

At some point, while you have the front opened up, it's a good time to replace all the rubber seals. Once one starts to leak, expect more leaks since all the rubber in there is as old as the 1st leaker.

You might consider replacing that fuel filter, now that you've stirred up the old gas in the tank. It's easy and not expensive.

[rhett]

Originally Posted by mytrplseven

Tires are the same. After 6 miles, look at replacment

Wow..LOL

(Sorry, just had to pick this up!)

[mytrplseven]

Originally Posted by rhett

Wow..LOL

(Sorry, just had to pick this up!)

Good catch, Rhett. I meant 6 years. Otherwise we're all driving on dangerous tire, eh wot?

[cschmidt]

Thanks everyone... got the fuel and oil filter tonight. Forgot about the air filter, will get that. Read the recent post on transmission lube change - we have a NAPA nearby and I'll get some Redline MT-90. 2 quarts enough?

As I mentioned the car is still at my friends, about 3 hours away so I haven't had a chance to look at it since the first weekend. I'm heading over there Friday and the first round of maintenance is the plan. Fuel filter, oil change and filter, rear end, brake fluid, and clutch if that isn't too tough. Need to inspect the rest of the electricals and see if they all work too. I'll also look at the cap / rotor (records say they are about 5K miles old), wires are already planned but I haven't ordered yet.

So I have taken the fear of timing belts to heart. Not enough time this weekend to do the above and belts, so Veterans Day I have a 3 day weekend. That may end up being the timing belt weekend. I may try to get the covers off this weekend to look at all the pulleys and such for the belts to scope out the upcoming work.

So as the title says... to change the water pump or not. It is from '98 and has 35,000 miles on it (was put on at 62K). There was another timing belt change at 81K and I'm now at 97 if I remember correctly. I'll certainly look for leaks. Is time an issue on these as well? It would make the timing belt job a lot easier without the WP change.

I had put these pictures on my other thread, but they were buried way at the end. Overall the car is in good shape. A tiny amount of surface rust in 1 small spot, cracked dash, and a seam split in the driver's seat. The paint shows its age but is good for now. I think a wax / detail will clean it up. The yellow on the driver's fender is just sun flare, not crazy paint.

Please keep the suggestions coming, I know each make and model has its own items to learn about, and I value folks with experience letting me know what to looK for.

Chuck

[pfarah]

I think it's about 2.7 -2.8 qts.

[cschmidt]

Finally had a chance to get back and play with the car. Work has been 6 days a week + and the car is 200 miles away...

We got busy on Saturday and had some success:

- now has a license plate and insurance

- flushed the brake fluid, old fluid came out pretty good, but had been sitting a while

- flushed the clutch fluid, it came out black at first then cleaned up, both brakes and clutch have a good firm feel

- I did notice the paint missing on the booster underneath the master cylinder where the fluid may be leaking / dripping. I'll monitor. I saw the note on this on TSTARK's intro thread.

- did the transaxle, Patrick you were right, with a little spillage it was almost 3 quarts. Old fluid was good, no major metal floating around in what came out. FYI, it is a 17mm allen to get the plugs out.

- oil change done, the oil had been sitting and feel better with new oil

- went after the fuel filter and found some fun 8-( The S shaped line from the tank to the fuel pump looks like it has been chewed on by some critters. No leaks but the outside rubber cover and some of the internal fabric are missing. Also found a pinhole leak in the line that goes from the fuel filter over to a hard line, up above the transaxle. Will have to replace that as well.

- flushed the power steering fluid as well, a little dark but is now clean.

- looked at the cap and rotor, both are good, wires look like they should be replaced. Wow, that is a healthy set of springs on the dist. cap.

- external belts and hoses all look good.

The headlights were intermittent again. They open but don't come on. I played with the high beam switch a bunch of times and at one point they came on and worked between high and low. Today they were not working again. This will take a little diagnosis.

Also the reverse lights are now stuck on... is the switch for this in the transaxle?

Most other electricals were ok for inspection.. horn, wipers, turn signals, lights. Alternator is charging well. Heat works! AM radio works, no FM.

Drove the car about 50 miles to burn through the old / new mix gas. It started right up after 3 weeks, and during many hot and cold starts it was reliable. It runs at what I feel is 90-95%. Probably still old gas.

Didn't get to look at the timing belts, but have decided to go after them next, including replacing the water pump. Will have to fill up the order basket and get a few tools. Will read some more and then may have a few questions on how to assemble the whole kit. Another recent thread recommended ZIM's, have their page bookmarked.

Part of the fun of playing with cars is meeting folks. The local NAPA didn't have the MT-90 fluid, but I found a small local hot-rod autoparts store. Had a great time talking with the owner. Also while out driving around on Saturday, I stopped for some coffee. A guy came up to me and we talked for about 30 mins. He has a couple of 928's and is trying to arrange some driving days. Time for me to get busy and get this roadworthy.

Chuck