My list of problems with my 1980
 

So I recently took my 1980 on her first trip. I was blown away by how nicely the car drives. The acceleration is unbelievable and it is a lot of fun to drive. I owe you all here on the Forum many thanks because you guys have helped me on so many things, and I just want to thank you all again for your help. There were some things I noticed that werent working so I will just list them for you, hoping this is my last list of problems:D

1. Car seems to start better when the engine is cold and I have to crank it about 3 or 4 times when the engine is warmed up.

2.The horn does not work and I would really like to know where it is located!


3. The fresh air fan does not turn on so I can not move heat throughout the car or defrost. I thought it might be the relay as I can not here anything click when I turn the fan dial. Is there any way to test the fan or test the continuity. How do I get to it also.


4. The speedometer stops working at about 25 mph, I cleaned up the 4 wire plug in the rear by the battery but it did not help. What else could it be and how do I fix it or check? It feels like it shifts whenever the speedometer shuts off:confused:


5. Cruise control does not work. I could not get the cruise control to turn on, im not sure if there is a relay for it or not. I did replace the cluster switch at the dash recently though. I know there is a computer but would it go bad after just sitting around? Would the cruise control have something to do with the speedometer shutting off??


6. Car has a rough idle when youre at a red light. Seems to surge a little bit. Idles at about 500-600 when its in gear. 850-900 in park.


7. When I turn on the main headlight switch it turns on the headlights the running lights and the right inner front light, fog light I believe, than when I push the middle light button for the fog lights it turns on the left fog light. Kinda seems like something is wired wrong to me. Also when I hit the horn the left fog light turns on:confused:



Thanks for any and all help.

Caleb

#2 Horns are located in the passenger fender area in front of the wheel.
#3 Fuse #17 is the fresh air blower. Check for power there.
#5 Cruise control is fuse #10. Likely culprit is a vacuum leak, though. Vacuum is probably a cause of your rough idle also.
#7 You've got some FUBAR wiring which is causing this and probably your horn not to work. The connections for all these are at the very front of the car. Probably just connected to wrong harnesses???

Good Luck

For the electric blower fan the fuse was burnt out, put a new one in, starts glowing red and smoking, didn't really blow it. But the fan would not come on. Tried to different relays. Idk if either work though.



The horn fuse is fine.

Position X on relay chart - 2 tone horn relay

I know that's the relay. You can hear it click when you hit the horn. I'm assuming it's the horn itself. Main concern is the blower fan and vacuum leak.

With the issues and number 7 particularly...you may want to investigate behind the big fuse/relay board for cross/shorting but may choose to pull the pod and clean contacts first, something is going on and with your #7 description the pod may be the starting point if you see no visible issues with wiring at the board.

That has already been done but thanks for the advice!

First time I powered my refurbished CE it smoked out....caused by the locked up blower motor. I pulled it out, lubed the crap out of it with kroil every night for 2 weeks, and kept working it back and forward until it spun free. Works pretty good connected to a battery. I then bought a newer, nicer one on eBay for $30... Now I have a spare!

This thing seems to start smoking before you even turn the switch to turn it on. How do I access the motor easiest??

Remove hood, remove cowl....passenger side....there are a few threads here and RL about removing. Mine smoked as soon as I turned the key.

Please tell me there's a way to do it without taking off the hood! Haha I'll look for them! Thanks for your help!

The hood is aluminum. Just mark the bolts on the hinge so it will line back up on re-installation.

Does anyone have a link to the removal thread? I'm having a hard time finding one

It's like two bolts on both sides. No need for a thread on how to remove bolts. It's light so it's easy to handle.

On the blower motor not the hood!

After the premlinary stuff (Hood, wipers, and cowling)is removed, remove the rubber seal between the motor and the evaporator. Just inside are 2 short screws. Remove them. Go to the passenger footwell. If you have a package tray, remove it. After the package tray is removed, look up at the footwell fresh air flap mechanism. There is a long hex headed bolt near the center of the flap and towards the rear of the car. Remove that long long screw. Your blower motor is now ready to remove.

I will tell you in all honesty that I just replaced a blower motor in a friend's car that had bad bearings with a new high powered (more CFM) motor that I got from 928sRus, and the difference is remarkable. The new motor/fan can literally part your hair from the side vents. The price is comparable to a new replacement motor.

If I ever have a blower issue on my own car, I'm getting one these new blower motors.

How much do the new ones cost? I'm trying to get one without spending too much money.

That bottom screw on my car was covered in tar/sealant and I couldn't see it, had to feel around then clean the area off. Messy job, not all that hard, not really one I would car to repeat.

Problem I see is that the life of a used blower isn't predictable, and while some have drilled the bearing cover and put in oil and tried to reseal, doesn't seem like much of a long term fix.

Got the motor out fairly easily. But I'm unaware of the best place to buy a new one. There appears to be good talk of one roger sells but I do not wish to pay $600

I got mine on eBay....lucked out as it is from a newer car, but I think Rogers is a smashing deal, and I heard it was priced reasonably.

It's not $600, more like $200.

Cheapest would be used from EBay ( you never know what you're getting)
Best used from 928INTL in about 2 weeks during the sale.

Quoting Roger from RL thread.

"I have a higher amp motor (more blow) which is plug and play on the later blower motors like yours. Comes complete with extra wiring (made by Greg Brown) to handle the higher load = $225."

It's not inside quite plug and play on an 1980 model. The later housings (S4) have a square cutout inside the housing that accomodates the larger requirements of the newer motor. On the older cars, some dremeling is required on the housing, but it's not hard.

Got the old motor working, lubed it up with some oil. I let it sit and it got stuck up again, let it run continuously and put oil on the bottom bearing while it was running. Seems to have stopped squealing and runs pretty smoothly. I will try again in the morning. Do you guys think it would be worth it to buy a new one from Roger or use this one until it completely stops working?

Did you drill and fill with oil and then seal? How much do you plan to use it?

For myself, it seems like a clear upgrade on a 30 year old part. I would replace on a while your already in there basis, even if mine was working OK.

+1

Do you guys have any suggestions on my other problems? The speedometer is a big one. And the warm start issue. I am close to finding the vacuum leak.

Your speedo problem may be a mechanical stoppage. In effect, something is hindering the mechanism inside the speedometer above 25. My guess would be a screw got loose and fell down into the mechanism or something along those lines.

Would that cause the speedo to drop back down to zero though? You'd think it would just get stuck at 25

Hmmmm. I wouldn't think so. Check the connection on the speed sensor under the car. IIRC it's just a single wire?

Anyone know the location of that sensor?

Backmost part of the diff I believe, but then I've never had to jack with mine. Let me go look since my '89 is up on the ramplift.

Top right corner of this photo.....

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1384825788.jpg

Little round disc, held in by a clip, and 1 wire.

Thanks Ron. I got hijacked on the way to the garagehttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/suppo.../cheeburga.gif

A 2 tone horn! Do you mean like this?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1384863168.jpg

What a great idea. I want one!

Hahaha thanks guys. I have some musical horns I might put in it.

Okay roger still has that motor, can you tell me what exactly needs modified to make it fit in a 1980? Does wiring have to change?

Horns....look at my "it's alive" thread...I have a YouTube vid. Of my horns....I had the same problem, it was indeed my horns...got a cheap set at Harbor Freight...10-12$... I think they sound pretty damn good for what I paid, and they don't look too bad....

Speedo is often the 4 pin connector behind a plastic flap at the front of the spare tire well.

Roger knows the details on the fan motor.