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911 SC shakedown issues

T

tyasman01

New member
As the new owner of a 1979 911 SC I am just discovering a few problems which I would like to remedy.
The heater controls don't work. Is this easy to remedy by a competent (non Porsche) mechanic?
I can't adjust the driver's side door mirror. Will it need a new electric motor and are they easy to find?
It is very difficult to remove the Targa roof. I think the keys are worn as well as the receiving bracket, probably due to 40 years of use. Are these parts easy to source/repair?
I live near Teesside, and have found a few local Porsche specialists. Jamie Nelson in Stockton seems well recommended.
I would appreciate any comments on the above, and thank you for your replies.
 
I can never quite turn off the heater in my ‘81 SC Targa. It uses a strange system that tries to vent the heat before it travels forward in the car. Doesn’t really work. I’ve checked the shutters are fully open and got mechanics to check it too, so always have toasty feet. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373008315797
 
The heater on the Targa is a bit of a mystery. There's a temperature sensor above the mirror but the connector can be unreliable. It feeds a signal to the automatic controller between the seats and when it is working you can feel the lever automatically moving up and down. The hot air is mixed with cold air via two thingys under the back of the car each operated by a solid wire cable so as the lever rises it opens the fresh air bits in the thingys. I replaced the cable on mine and replaced the thingys with stainless steel ones but I still can't get the vent things to work properly - too much fresh air, not enough heat.
The mirrors are strange; although the switches move in two axes there is only one motor in the mirror giving lateral movement, you have to press the mirrors themselves for vertical movement. The most likely problem are the connectors on the back of the switches - remove the door cards and clean them a bit.
I've never had problems removing the roof but the handles are hard to turn and the pin in one of them has dropped out so I do one at a time.
I bought the Bentleys Manual (a US publication) and have the Haynes but the updates for the later models aren't very detailed. Lots of good advice on the Pelican (again US-based) website. Good luck, hope you get everything sorted.
Keep the Faith.
 
Sorry - I was thinking about the electric window switches in the door card (drivers side) - never had to look into the mirror switch itself but as I said there's only one motor in my mirrors (I've replaced the glass once).
 
Heater - the valves that control the hot air input from the heat exchangers are notorious for corrosion (as also are the cables that operate them). So exposed are they that they are almost consumable items, there are aftermarket suppliers. The ducts that carry the hot air to these valves and to the mixer under the hood can also need replacing. These items are freely available. Heater operation is not very controllable though in any of the air cooled 911s even when working as intended.

The Targa roof - I broke one of these catches (probably wear and tear) and had no problem getting the part from Porsche, was an easy job to replace.

Door mirror - worth checking in the drivers door card that it‘s not the switch, switch connections or their 12v supply.
 
I have issues with the mirror too. I think this was leading edge technology in the late 70s 80s. My near side one only works on one axis. Regrettably, that means employing an alternative technology: wife! up a bit, left a bit. Undesirable, but I guess it gives her a purpose in life? Seriously, I had RPM have a good look at it, but they could only improve it a bit.
 
The mirror has one motor that is switched via an internal solenoid to achieve both up/down and left/right, no need to use your hands to adjust the glass if its working correctly. You have the mirror selector switch clicked over to the RHS do you? Easy enough not to even know where it is!!
 
Thanks for note about the Targa roof on my '79 911SC. I have ordered a new catch. (b.expensive!). Is it easy to fit? I can't see an obvious way to get the old catch out, but I know a decent mechanic.
I'd be grateful for any advice.
 
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