front defroster

thekidd · 06-02-2008, 11:20 AM

my car is in the shop for inspection (84 944), and the guys said that the front derfoster doesnt work. Anybody have trouble with this, or any ideas on? Sucks i cant fix it myself, probally wont let me drive it from the shop.
Also, my battery wasnt straped in? any ideas on that?

bholmes · bholmes's Garage

That's absolutely nuts. Either how, you can get some generic battery straps at the local autoparts store, maybe that will work. How picky are they? Pretty picky it sounds like...if all they want is for it to be strapped in, use one of those rubber bunge straps. As for the defroster...what's it doin? You may just need to check the fuse box...man, that's really dumb.

hpservertech · 06-02-2008, 12:56 PM

Since when is a front defroster needed to pass safety inspection???

I can understand the battery strap issue. flopping around can cause an electric issue.

hpservertech · 06-02-2008, 12:57 PM

Oh yea, and do they even know how to turn it on?

onZedge · 06-02-2008, 02:27 PM

Our cars have front defrosters??

thekidd · 06-02-2008, 03:07 PM

yeah, i know, pulling my balls on the defroster. I checked the fuses, they all looked OK, some of them were a little "skinny", if you know what i mean? The metel on the fuse on the early 944's, 924S had ceramic fuses.
And I was having a fun time getting the lights to work too. The right side break and reverse lights werent working, and the front right marker wasnt working. Changed the bulbs, still no luck. Took the front front bulb out, and the wire to the bulb broke in my hands, so i got all the rust out from the wire connection, and used the other peice on the bulb, if you get me? And the rear lights look like the connector peice are corroded. At one point after going through this and correcting the problems, the lights finally worked. But today, the shop said that they werent working. Tried to tell them, and they just looked at me......????? what?

flashgordon13 · 06-02-2008, 03:34 PM

I would go get my car and find another shop. It sounds like they are seeing a Porsche and figure it's easy money.

nightheart · nightheart's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashgordon13

I would go get my car and find another shop. It sounds like they are seeing a Porsche and figure it's easy money.

+1. fix the lights and drive somewhere else. PA safety inspections are easy. brakes, lights, and tires, and most of the time exhaust. Emissions, well thats a different story. Avoid tire plus, pep boys and any big name places. Friend of mine passed emissions and safety inspection with 2 misfiring plugs, car was shaking something fierce. my 0.02 cents, about what it's worth.

Slam · 06-03-2008, 10:40 AM

A couple of issues with the early heater/defrosters: the rotary switch goes bad and you've got to rock it from side to side to get it to work. Easy replacement when the console's out. The ducting for the defroster is all pushrod/cable controlled and the clips that hold the pushrod sleeves to the controls can break so the cable just flexes when you move the slider. The resistor at the squirrel cage itself (underhood intake above the heater blower) can dry out and flake apart and quit. The motor itself can make marbles - I still haven't found a decent way to replace the bearings in it without trashing it. And after so many years the cardboard ducting in the dash separates - gotta take the dash out to fix it.

HTH

thekidd · 06-06-2008, 07:10 PM

Fixxed the lights i think. Worked on the lights for a few minuets, got them to work, then took her from the shop at night.....shhhh, and when i got back, the brake, revers, and running lights werent working. Then i unconnected the tail light, and connected it half way, shook and banged it around a little and the lights didnt go off. I then took her around the shop, and they were on, so i just wraped electrical tape around the connector peice to stablize the connection. Ill go back to the shop and show them what was up with the lights. Thanks for your help.