Damp Start

Neil_Pickard · Jan 3, 2004

Happy New Year!!!

Just got in the car as I have been away for a week and I'm now getting annoyed with the car (911 Carrera 3.2 Targa 1987).

I don't have the privilage of having a garage so my 911 is on the drive with a nice water tight cover on it. Last year I had a bit of a problem starting her up after a damp morning or rain but this years it's even worse.

Just started her up and she was lumpy after 5 minitures she died, started again and she died, started again she was fine for another 5 minutes, then she died, started again and had a large back fire. I know there's nothing massively wrong as in the summer she runs like a dream it's just the cold weather that she doesn't like.

Please help I need to get her running great in the wet and cold, I feel embarressed that the finest car in the world won't start after a damp or rainy night.

Cheers

Neil

Guest · Jan 3, 2004

ORIGINAL: Neil_Pickard

Just started her up and she was lumpy after 5 minitures she died,

started again and had a large back fire.

Must be giving her the wrong sort of whiskey![

]

Guest · Jan 4, 2004

Neil,
I can sympathize as I know what its like to have the Porka out in the weather. I had my windscreen replaced ( and new rubber seal), hoping it would stop leaking ... guess what? It's still leaking! Guess what's coming back out?
Still, with luck, the car will be in a garage by the end of this week. (thank all plastic images of god like figurines).[8D]
How damp is your Porka?
Reason I ask is; you know 2 vital pieces of kit are located on the floor under the passenger seat? One is the DME and next to it the fuel relay. Both of which don't like swimming or ankle dipping!!!!![

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Remove the passenger seat - easy- 4 x socket head screws, dissconnect wiring harness (seat) and remove.
With the seat out - you can give the area underneath a good eye-ball. Your ignition immobliser can also be located here (black box about 75mm square)- this also would not enjoy bathing![

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If you don't need the passenger seat for the short term- leave it out; dry out the various items under and keep them dry. if this works then you know where the problem is - and whats causing it.
peter

Guest · Jan 5, 2004

I had the same problem with my Targa, try taking off the distributer cap and check to see there is no moisture inside, if there is then i'd say thats what is causing your running problems. Cheers TJC.

Neil_Pickard · Jan 11, 2004

Well it has stopped raining so I have had a look at the distributor and it looks a bit worn so I'm going to try a new one. Then I'll try the DME and fuel relay!

I'll let you know how I get on, just hope the rain stays away!

Neil

dtunnicliffe · Jan 11, 2004

Hi Neil,

Happy New Year. Same on my 3.2 last year although made worse if it had been raining while the car was at my office. BUT not any more! I bought a new distributor and rotor arm and stuck them in - bingo! Works like a dream no more lumpy starting or rough running.

Hope this is the answer you need and that it fixes your problems. total cost should be no more than £35 or so.

Dave [

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Neil_Pickard · Jan 18, 2004

Thanks for all the help!

Finally after a dry couple of days I managed to fit the new distributor cap and rotor arm!

She is now Purring perfectly.

Just teated her to a quick wash and dry!

Anyone with similar problems change these now it's easy and its cheap!

Just got to sort the leaking targa top out now!

Cheers

Neil

Alan_Armstrong · Jan 18, 2004

leaky targa top?

because of the age of thse cars, it's quite common to find the roof panel doesn't sit properly anymore, it could be just worn seals, fronts and rears about 100 pounds each,
or it might be the windows out of alignment to the side seals, these can be adjusted if you want to stip off the door panels etc....

My car has had a complete refurbish on the targa roof by Southbound, where they stipped the roof bare, rebuilt it with new side seals, repainted the metal work, new outer cover, inner lining, and most important, a customs fit to my car...now no more wind noise
(until 80+) and fully dry. total cost 800 pound inc vat....I had some other quote for around 1200!!

Neil_Pickard · Jan 22, 2004

I done the targa myself it was easy, the only prob's I have are the windows coming up too high, I tried to find the adjusting bolts but couldn't. So it's another job for when the sun comes out.

Well I thought everything was ok, but after a few days of rain she's back to stalling just after starting her up. And shes had a rain proof cover on all the time.

She rev's just over a 1,000 then gradually lowers the rev's until she stalls and then she won't start.

I know the Distributor cap and Rotor arm are ok as I have just replaced them, shall I try the DME relay next?

Neil

Guest · Jan 23, 2004

Hi Alan

My roof's actually pretty good - just one or two dribbles but this still adds up to quite a bit, if stood for a long time. I put a car cap on every night now and that really helps.

It's good to hear that Southbound can eliminate the problem though - probably give it a go sometime.

What I find so annoying is that these roofs were produced on 911s for 20 odd years and they never improved them beyond being completely useless. Everything else is so well engineered, why did Porsche consider the rapid deteriation of this component to be acceptable? - if done properly, there would be no reason why it couldn't function perfectly for the life of the car.