Help us please!

[nathannjudy]

We have a '84 928S adn I am fairly new to Porsches. Anyways our problem is that the car will start, then die in about 5 seconds. I saw a fuel problem and replaced the fuel pressure damper and one of the fuel lines. I have ensured that the correct relays are in the correct slots, and visually chked the vacuum lines taht I can find. The car has sat for about 3 years, but only has about 60k miles on it. if I leave the battery hooked up the car will totally discharge the battery, one friend called this a parasitic leak/leech. any help in this matter would be GREATLY appreciated.

[..P]

These cars like to be driven. Sitting up that long they don't like and they may develope an additude problem :-)

There are only a few things that it could be, and of course, once you find it your problems will be over on that issue, but you'll probably find something else. Thus is the nature of 928 ownership.

Here are a few items to ponder. Remember, I am an owner, and not an expert on this, so other opinions are needed.

My first suspect is always the relays. Even if they are in the proper slots, they may be dead or in the process of dying. If you have an 84 (I have a 83) I would most certainly buy another electronic fuel injection relay, as they can cause symptoms as they die.

The thermo time switch, up near the front of the motor, slightly to the passenger side, controls the cold start valve. Either or both could be part of the problem.

The O2 sensor controls the EFI brain, to an extent. This could be part of the problem.

The Temp II sensor on the front driver side of the motor could be part of the problem.

The fuel pump relay could be dying, allowing a start but not allowing flow.

My instinct tells me this may well be a relay problem, because it so often is the case with the older cars. I took one apart and photographed it, need to post that again some day, but the internal copper wire wrapping was slightly frosted with corrosion. The thing still worked when it wanted to, but let me down one night. All they are is a contact switch, and if the contact points are frosted, or if the magnet is bad, then you can get partial activation.

Good luck. This will be a major satisfaction when you finally do resolve the issue. On that Thermo Time switch, my car would simply not start, I would crank and crank it, and but it just didn't want to catch. My mechanic had to find that one. In the end, you may need to do the same.

All the best,

P

[macreel]

nathannjudy... where are you located? what weather does the car see? Is in sitting in-/out-doors? Under cover? Have critters invaded/chewed
anything(wires, hoses, etc)? Replaced fuel filter? Air filter? Got good gas? Fuel pressure in spec? Tranny=auto?Manual? Oil OK(level, condi-
tion)?

Be sure interior light switches, especially door courtesy, are off. Also, be
sure the turn indicator is in 'off' position, not switched to Left or Right
position(which turns on respective parking/marker lights).

G'luck.