New to me '82 SC

[javadog]

Turn signals might give you a problem but simple lights won't. Although, I don't see the need to change any of them, but that's just me.

JR

[drleah]

---Oxygen Sensor---
On to then next big battle, the oxygen sensor and its light. During the cataloging of issues, I noted that the O2 sensor light was just sitting behind the gauges (lit of course). I decided to replace the sensor since we couldn't document when or if it had been changed. Lots of penetrating oil, heat from a torch and it finally came loose. That's when we figured out that someone previously cross threaded it and/or didn't apply enough anti seize lube. After we found a correctly sized thread chaser, it took about 40 minutes of careful work, the sensor was installed smoothly. Then to rest the light. That darn thing was hidden (at least in my dash) behind a veritable rats nest of wire. But I found the reset button!


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[drleah]

---Drivers seat removal---
I successfully muscled the drivers seat out. I did this to figure out more about the automatic heat set up. Specifically, I wanted to verify the wiring in place. According to the PET diagram, it is. Now I have to find the sensor (you can see where it was attached in the headliner). Next job is to see if the heater blower motor works (my suspicion is that it is seized and the PO just disassembled it all)


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[drleah]

---Interesting Changes---
After changing the O2 sensor, we adjusted the idle. It was originally idling @ 1800 rpm when cold (waaay too high). It also was hard to start, really rough, easily died etc. Once the idle was adjusted to ~ 950rpm, everything smoothed out. Drove her today and wow, what a huge difference! No surging, started smoothly and just generally ran more consistently.


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[drleah]

Project list keeps growing...
Passenger side mirror motor, ash tray light (is this in the same set of wiring as the gauge lights? I can't find anything in the Bentley book), speaker upgrades, 3 point belts for the back seats and the leather rear seat retaining straps.


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[82 SC]

Sounds like you are coming along nicely I am stuck right now with a blown front passenger side bilstein shock, it's so bad it's leaking, I ordered a used one for the moment to get me on the road till I can sell a few other cars to help with funds. I really miss driving it.

[drleah]

Thanks! Just when I think I'm getting to the bottom ish part of the list something new comes along. Got the fuse put in the gauge light / ashtray light wires. Then followed the mess over. Determined the ash tray light was just a blown bulb, easy fix. The other bulb holder I found hanging down was for the lights on the right side of the ventilation controls. Whole new can of worms... Sigh


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[RSBob]

just replace the glove box light switch. they go south and there isn't much you can do to fix them

[drleah]

---Ventilation Controls---
So you know the whole "one thing leads to another" saga that defines older Porsches has struck. In my crazy attempt to replace bulbs in the vent control panel, I discovered several bad things:

1. The right side of the plastic cover had been previously broken away from the rivet allowing the middle lever to pop out of its guide.
2. The right side bulb holders were partially melted.
3. A black hole exists which will positively suck up all the tiny little bulbs when the flip out of the bulb holders!


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[drleah]

---Ventilation Controls, part 2---
To repair this, first we had to extricate it. Took both of us, pushing pulling cussing to get all 3 cables disconnected under the trunk and pulled through the dash to get it out. Cleaned it up and then got the metal part back into place and epoxied.



Once cured, we carefully heated the lamp holders and attempted to reform them somewhat. This part was not ideal but I was afraid we would break them off. Then reinstalling went smoother than I thought it would. Taped the end of all 3 cables together, Mike passed them through the grommet to me so I could "steer" around wiring. Reattached the blasted lamps and verified everything worked correctly. Had extra help with that



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[pete3799]

Nice work on the heater controls.
You'll have that car whipped into shape in no time.
Cute munchkin.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by drleah

As the next ower, she is keeping a close eye on your repairs

[Jdub]

Thank you thank you for pulling the levers out of the dash so I can have a look. How did you remove them - was this a set of nuts behind, or is the entire assembly a press-fit into the dash front?

I am fighting those bulbs now - melted mess. I assume you fused that set of bulbs - they are not fused and are a source of dash fires when the levers eventually ground the unfused bulb wire (pick 'em).

[drleah]

Jdub- here's the long version. I would highly recommend a helper, primarily because the ventilation cables are a bit unwieldy. Tools required: 8mm wrenches x2, 10mm wrench, 7mm wrench (plus a 7mm shorty or a 9/32 shorty), needle nose pliers. Difficulty: 3, Aggravation: 7.
There is a 10mm bolt at the back of the metal part of the control panel up and behind where the cables attach (maybe 1.25 inches long?), loosen and remove. Now under the trunk you have to remove all three cables. The two longer ones are easy, the shortest is a PITA. I marked where the cables were in the locking nuts.
The third one is the hardest, it is behind the brake booster and you need the shorty wrench to loosen the nut (they are all 7mm). Trick for me is to push down on the cable with my thumb while loosening. Then one by one push the cables through while someone up front guides them (so as to not rip wiring loose)


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[drleah]

Then unplug the harness from the passenger footwell unplug the ground from the spade connector right behind the control panel on the firewall, unplug the light holders and I had to cut one brown/white wire. I simply put insulated spade connectors on each end to make hooking it up again easier. Now the fun part, pull the control panel forward and slightly to the right (watch out for the soldered connection at the back right of controls) (I did pull the radio and radio receiver box to have more room). Now carefully pull each control cable out of the dash, then wiggle carefully the panel and harness out.


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[drleah]

I repaired mine by grinding the metal edge a little and after cleaning everything it slipped right back in up to the rivet and epoxied. You can tell they slide straight on at factory and riveted through the plastic to the metal. Installation was easier partly because we understood how it went together by then. Taped all 3 cables together, fed through the hole then the harness and ground wire then slipped the control panel part way in. Then someone has to guide the cables over to the grommet behind and to the left of the steering wheel to avoid ignition wires. Then I grabbed them from the trunk side pulling while my husband pushed both them and the control panel. Finally reconnect everything. Let me know if I left something out or if you have a question...


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[drleah]

And yes, I fused the gauge light circuit (3amp)!


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[drleah]

The 8mm wrenches are used to completely remove the cables from the control panel. Sorry I forgot that.


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[daleflesburg]

You are way ahead of most of us!! You have replaced a voltage regulator and reworked the vent controls!! Wow. The VR alone is a 10 on the difficulty scale of 1 to 10. And reworking the vent controls is a 13 on a scale of 1 to 10. I suspect you can do anything. Care to come work on my car?

Good luck to you and have a great experience with your SC. I have been a pcar owner since I bought my only new one in 1974. My current pride and joy is my rebuilt 74 911. It is red too, and has BBS wheels (gold centers) and "out of date" but a popular wheel 30 years ago, and I still like gold painted wheels with red cars.

[drleah]

Thanks for all the kind words! All I can say is I like puzzles, and there's no way I would have even tried this stuff if this forum and its members weren't available. Hope that documenting some of it helps someone else!


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