964 Niggles

[Steve Brookes]

I always seem to have a number of niggles with my car. By niggles I mean something that doesn't stop me using it but plays on my mind until I get them fixed. Here's my current list.....in order of niggly-ness! []

1. Sometimes the doors don't fully unlock when I press the remote. I hear the locks actuate but the buttons don't come up so I have to use the key in the door. Tends to happen if I try and lock/unlock in quick succession or on cold mornings. I'll strip the door down at some point to investigate.

2. The starter doesn't turn over on first go all the time. Looks like that will only be solved by fitting a new one.

3. On cold damp mornings the gauges steam up (especially the rev counter). They clear after about 5 minutes. The car is not garaged so I guess it's just down to damp air being blown into the dash when first starting up.

4. The radio reception has just gone crackley! [8|]

Anyone else with any niggles they want to share? [8D]

....and any ideas on the above are more the welcome []

 

[appletonn]

Oh good, a mutual 964 niggles support post!

Mine:

1. Luggage compartment lamp doesn't work, despite changing bulb and cleaning contacts
2. Engine compartment lamp only works if driver or passenger door is open too!
3. Squeaks from over right shoulder on bumpy roads - side glass/rubber or rubbing trim type of noise. Trying silicone lube!
4. Passenger window didn't work - NOW fixed!!
5. Passenger door occasional unlocks again when locking car via remote - pin pops back up. Only started since I dismantled passenger side door to fix electric window, DOH! [8|]

Any more?!

 

[Alexander_Drobik]

hmm- three things come to mind battery, connectors and water!

I would check the battery and also look for any current drain. I tend to change the battery every 3 years or so even if used a lot and/or a battery conditioner. The 964 seems to like a really healthy battery. The starter issue may be related?

On the the door locks - could be a lack of oomph, else worn actuators. If the battery is good and there is not current drain and all the earth links look good, then the mechanism is likely worn. That said, they seem to last a long long time else stop altogether.

On the misting up - yes most likely just the damp in the air. But see if any carpets are damp and around the windscreen area.

On the radio - check the amplifier under the seat and connections, inc the windscreen antenna. I had this once, poked around a little, changed the battery and it was ok afterwards.

Good luck!

 

[Steve Brookes]

ORIGINAL: appletonn

Oh good, a mutual 964 niggles support post!

Yep that's what this thread's for! And the more of us that have niggles the better we'll all feel []

 

[Steve Brookes]

ORIGINAL: Alexander Drobik

hmm- three things come to mind battery, connectors and water!

I would check the battery and also look for any current drain. I tend to change the battery every 3 years or so even if used a lot and/or a battery conditioner. The 964 seems to like a really healthy battery. The starter issue may be related?

On the the door locks - could be a lack of oomph, else worn actuators. If the battery is good and there is not current drain and all the earth links look good, then the mechanism is likely worn. That said, they seem to last a long long time else stop altogether.

On the misting up - yes most likely just the damp in the air. But see if any carpets are damp and around the windscreen area.

On the radio - check the amplifier under the seat and connections, inc the windscreen antenna. I had this once, poked around a little, changed the battery and it was ok afterwards.

Good luck!

Alex, although the Bosch battery is only just over a couple of years old I'm with you on that one because it doesn't get conditioned and the car only used once a week. So it wouldn't surprise me if the battery hasn't already gone past its best. Although the indicator window in the Bosch is showing green for good. The simple test is just to bite the bullet and put a new one on.

With the engine running the door locks work fine from the central locking button which would again indicate that they just need a lot more oomph to move them. However, there is this thing in the back of my mind that they started acting up after last winter when I tried opening the car when it was frozen...I remember the triggers in the door handle (that usually just click and spring back) just seemed to fold when I pressed them. As if a cable snapped inside as I depressed them. Once defrosted the triggers worked as normal but I'm wondering if I stretched a cable or something.

 

[Scamper]

I have a couple;

Speedo bulbs are really dim - gonna buy some LEDs to replace
Engine lid struts knackered - although its a good excuse to keep my old jack handle in the car (just in case)
Wheels need a refurb really
Screen rust spots - Arrrrggghhh
JVC Radio not loud enough...should i swap it for the Alpine in my daily driver, still not sure...


thats about it!! for this month!! LOL

 

[NormalNorm]

But still, thats the joys of running an Oldskool Porsche. Part of the fun is reciftying it and getting it right, if not drive, ignore and enjoy![]

 

[Steve Brookes]

ORIGINAL: Scamper

thats about it!!  for this month!! LOL

Never a truer statement when it comes to 964s!

 

[NormalNorm]

Think I'll join Steve and his niggles!

Window on passenger stop working, now fixed. The drivers tends to go slower when closer to the top.
Little knock now and again coming from rear stutt probably, hopefully when changing to Clubsport KWs, it will go away.
A slight bubble near edge of rear arch, hopefully rectified when repainted.
**The side rubber sill seal that has a gap where the two joins, thinking that it should be one piece. And worrying the gap will let the water in and rust the inside sill.
A little click noise when open the drivers door fully.

 

[appletonn]

ORIGINAL: NormalNorm

Think I'll join Steve and his niggles!

Window on passenger stop working, now fixed. The drivers tends to go slower when closer to the top.
Little knock now and again coming from rear stutt probably, hopefully when changing to Clubsport KWs, it will go away.
A slight bubble near edge of rear arch, hopefully rectified when repainted.
**The side rubber sill seal that has a gap where the two joins, thinking that it should be one piece. And worrying the gap will let the water in and rust the inside sill.
A little click noise when open the drivers door fully.

Ah that little click with the door will probably be a door stay issue - they become detached from the weld on the A pillar (inside the wing) and it is often a wing off job to reweld it!

I also have that and will add it to my list!![8|]

The side sill seal, is only a plastic sill cover and does not lead to the inner sill, but it is still good to replace it once starts looking tatty.

 

[Steve Brookes]

Well my door locking problems have just got worse. Having to now lock and unlock with the key, alarm won't arm and the immobiliser won't disarm. I know sod all about electrics so it's going to be a fun weekend sorting this one out! []

Hopefully it's just the battery [&o]

 

[Sifly]

I have been busy rectifiying most of the niggles I have found so far, though there are some still outstanding:-

Windscreen Demist & Air Re-circ buttons - faces badly worn and one wont stay in the 'on' position
Alpine Radio CD - Looks like Blackpool Illuminations and is WAY to complicated to use!!
Metallic knocking sound under engine when shutting drivers door - only audible from outside??
Windscreen is looking worse for wear, a few stone chips and slight wiper arc scratches!

I'm sure the list will increase before it gets reduced!

Can anyone recommend a decent sounding Radio CD (ipod aux) head unit which suits the rest of the dash??

All part of the fun.

 

[Steve Brookes]

ORIGINAL: Sifly

Metallic knocking sound under engine when shutting drivers door - only audible from outside??

All part of the fun.

That's normal...have a look the FAQ about the rattle when shutting the door that you will find on this page of the 964UK site:

http://964uk.com/html/FAQs%20-%20Heating.htm

[]

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

ORIGINAL: Sifly

Metallic knocking sound under engine when shutting drivers door - only audible from outside??

You can cross that one off the niggles list - it's just a sign that the heat diverter flaps are working as they should!!! If you turn the blower switch to "0" and the heat to "Blue" when you park the car you'll find the metallic knocking sound will disappear. Otherwise, just be thankful that they're still working!!!

Regards

Dave

 

[MarkK]

Every time our 1990 C4 has its battery disconnected it has to have a "System adaption" with load ie electric stuff on like heated rear screen,lights etc,otherwise it stalls really easy anyone else have this problem!!!!!????

 

[vitesse]

Part of the door locking mechanism uses a rod system which in cars as built is a threaded rod with screwed on plastic ballconnectors which " plip " onto the steel ball ends,These can stretch with age and cracks appear in them.the replacement part is now a complete plastic moulding which replaces the steel rod as well.These operating links can cause many locking problems.

Doing this resolved one of my niggles.

 

[Steve Brookes]

ORIGINAL: Steve Brookes

Well my door locking problems have just got worse. Having to now lock and unlock with the key, alarm won't arm and the immobiliser won't disarm. I know sod all about electrics so it's going to be a fun weekend sorting this one out! []

Hopefully it's just the battery [&o]

Well having poked around everywhere I could and finding out lots like my car doesn't have the original Porsche alarm module under the seat and that it doesn't appear to have the famous 'green alarm wire' under the dash, I took Alex's advice and fitted a new battery. All seems back to normal at the moment [8|]

 

[NeilW]

ORIGINAL: Steve Brookes
3. On cold damp mornings the gauges steam up (especially the rev counter). They clear after about 5 minutes. The car is not garaged so I guess it's just down to damp air being blown into the dash when first starting up.

Mine also stands outside. I scattered a number of silica gel sachets around the storage bins, which improved matters. You can buy 100 sachets on ebay for <£5.

My niggles:-
1) Engine sometimes makes a rattly chain type noise for about 1 second after the engine fires up. I suspect this may be one of the timing chain tensioners.
2) Rear nearside light unit is slowly delaminating. Don't want to replace just one and have them look odd, so will have to bite the bullet and buy all three pieces.
3) Chasing rust - have tried to vanquish this during the Summer with my local bodyshop. Have sorted the sills, front n/s wing, both rear wings, engine gusset plate, windscreen scuttle. Still have very small patches in hard to see locations such as above rear jacking points and inside rear wings. I'm left paranoid, a shadow of my former self, crawling around underneath the car with a torch every weekend. [&:][8D][]

 

[appletonn]

Reference my point 5 above, the passenger door unlocking again on occasion immediately after pressing the keyfob to lock the car, does anyone have any ideas?

The issue never occurs if I lock the car from the centre console button from inside the car and if I manually turn the locking wheel on the inside of the car door card, then the var locks again perfectly.

Is it just a case of dismantling (again[8|]) the door card and lubricating the locking mechanism?!