Not started in 15 years, what now?
 

Hi, 911 and 997 owner. My sons best friend wants to get his fathers 928 started and running. He passed away suddenly 15 years ago and the car has been sitting in a garage since. He was the original owner and his son wants to keep the car for sentimental reasons.

So far I helped get the tires pumped up, the oil looks new, gas smells ok but I would not trust it. I told him not to try and start it just yet. The car rolls and the brakes seem to work.

So I guess all fluids need to be changed, possibly brakes rebuilt, but what about that crazy timing belt I read about. Has sitting that long caused it to take it a set?

What should come next, change the gas and try and start it?

Need to know the year. 32V cars are interference. Earlier cars, debateable but usually deemed not interference.

My process is to delay the startup. If stored inside, dry, process will be easier.
Complete grounds cleaning, fusebox out and re-fused, check inside console (under radio), behind CE panel at passenger feet, and in V of engine for mice, erradicate. If none, way ahead.

Some folks scream -- pull engine, do head gaskets, I never have and likely wouldn't.

Water pump failure on sitting is possible, but you will see that with mass leak within hours of startup, just don't go anywhere. If 32V, i would however do TB/WP before even trying to start. Very important.

Gas tank cleaning is prudent, new filter, maybe need to pull and clean injectors, often varnished, not always. If it runs hot, then you've got leaning and cloggage though BTDT.

Say more about year, condition, storage conditions please.

And location of you guys. Bound to be a 928 pelican or rennlister nearby and its a great group, if you are near me, i'm in to help.

Patience is a virtue with re-hab of these. Its sat 15 yrs. Can guarantee spending some quality time and a bit of money prudently prior to the restart will be the right long term path. Don't sell it, no matter what.

+1^^^^^^
And fuel lines.

My car sat for 19 years! It only had 37K miles. The TB was changed, new gas and filters. It ran a bit rough at first, so I put some Techron in the tank, fixed the rich running problem. Naturally, I went through a lot more items but it runs fine now with over 64K miles on it.

If he plans to keep and drive the car long term I would take a different approach focusing more on having nothing sour the initial experiences with the car. An old 928 can be a bit finicky, and a number of simple issues can leave a very bad impression.

Does he plan to work on the car, or do you have an experienced 928 mechanic, a generic Porsche mechanic or dealer can be a HUGE expensive mistake. Start with a thorough inspection, followed by fluids, electrical service, and new rubber hoses in all critical areas.

For sure no mater what year it is > Pull the Gas tank and wash - wash - wash it out . I suggest to wash it out at a coin Car wash unless you have a pressure Washer . Re-instal Tank with new Gas tank sender Gasket ( rubber ) or it well leak when full . Test Fuel Pump off the Car and reinstall . Remove Fuel Rail Plug's at end of Fuel Rails ( under hood ) and hook rubber lines up to Clean Drain Bottle so you can see when the Gas run's Clean . Pour about 2 gallons of new fuel and turn on key to get fuel pumping through system running fuel pump until Clear . Idea is to not pump crud into the injectors / Motor
After a inspection of all lines / hoses ( don't forget the fuel pump Hook up lines ) and with water full You can try to pressurize the system with fuel
Do not try start car until you do this
Very likely the water Pump has froze up and the timing belt well become damaged upon running . Motor well heat up . Do not over heat the motor .
If no start review post's on how to proceed a timely situation perhaps . Recommended is a 928 experienced Expert .

It's an 86 so I guess it is an interference design. It was stored in a dry garage, does not look like any rodents made any nests.

I am somewhat of a amateur mechanic, rebuilt my share of motors in the past including a few rotarys and do most of my own mantainance on my own cars but I really don't have the ambition to learn anything about this one. I agree that an expert is the way to go.

Also tell us where you are located, likely there is someone local enough to take a look and point out things you may miss.

The car is in Bay Shore LI, NY. I am going to bring it to Bill Rutners, I know him from the Merto PCA and he can at least give an estimate of what it would take to get it running.

Don't know him, but frequently very savvy 911 guys don't get the 928 at all.

Getting it running, even running safely is fairly trivial. Making it an enjoyable, reliable car, needs some expert attention.

The missing info is what the target is of the owner, and what is a practical estimate of the budget for the initial work, plus a couple years of ironing out the wrinkles of old car issues.

It would stand a better chance in a 928 hobbies ts garage than in a 911 pro wrench's shop.

Buying a long time no run 928 and expecting to have a "professional" put it back on the road is not likely to have a happy ending. There are very few professionals that have any 928 skills at all, maybe a dozen around the world? Paying a real 928 professional to put the subject car back on the road would generate rightful and required work whose bills would look like phone numbers. Landseer has put at least 6 928's back on the road after long sleeps, me? I have only done 2. Many hours of work, some of it most satisfying, some, not so much. In my case on the 2 cars I spent perhaps 20 hours on each TBWP replacement. Maybe 60-80 hours on general clean up. 20 hrs on AC systems. Maybe 40-60 hours chasing electrical gremlins, still have some. 15 hours to replace the hoses in the injection system and fuel lines. 20 hours to straighten out the transmission messed up by prior owner. 20 hours to replace all the wheel bearings, clean and lube the CV's. Then there is paint work to do, interior pieces to renovate, instrument cluster repairs, rubber trim to replace, after market alarms to remove, on and on.......

Racekar,
Please, please, please, take it to a knowledgeable 928 guy. I promise you will not end up happy paying to train a Porsche mechanic in the nuances of the 928. Read the 3 posts before mine. Can you see a similarity there?

I've only brought 5 back from the dead.