What are these parts on the underneath of my S2?

MJL944 · Dec 21, 2014

Hello all,
I spent far too much time lying on the floor today in the underground compound where my S2 is parked photographing the undercarriage of my S2 to get pictures of the all the lovely new suspension parts I've just had fitted.

Can someone please tell me what these 2 'things' in the following 2 pictures are please and what do they do? They are on the undercarriage in the centre of the car approximately under the gear-lever area and it's some sort of cylinder (with the wire coming out of it) and what appears to be an inspection hole within another cylinder - looking into the torque tube or some part of the clutch mechanism maybe?
Should there be a cover on the inspection hole and if so is it still available from Porsche?

Many thanks!

vitesse · Dec 21, 2014

Well it's not April fools day yet -but the pics show the starter motor with its solenoid with the "wire" & the clutch slave cylinder with the clutch operating lever visible in the opening[:-]

MJL944 · Dec 21, 2014

Thanks!
That's where the starter motor is?!?! I really wouldn't have guessed that!
I had the clutch master & slave cylinder changed (as a preventative measure) at the same time as the suspension work and Dave did say you had to remove the Starter Motor to change the slave but I didn't think either were where they actually are so I've learned summat here!

So, should the opening have a cover? If not, what about the chances of various bits of debris getting in there and causing problems?

bmnelsc · Dec 22, 2014

clutch inspection hole cover is available from Porsche - not much money. My S2 had one when I got it but it disappeared over a couple of years - don't know if it fell out or if a mechanic needed one for his car

I suspect they get hard over time and once removed they don't stick in place very well. Got a replacement through the dealer - it wasn't a particularly tight fit but as far as I know its still there...

MJL944 · Dec 22, 2014

Excellent, thanks Bruce.
I suspect my cover is on the floor somewhere at the garage that did the work (or they placed it on a shelf out of the way while changing the slave and they've forgotten to put it back). If not, it's good to know I can order a replacement in the New Year.
I'm still mystified as to why the starter motor lives down there though.

vitesse · Dec 22, 2014

Possibly because the engine started life as basically half of the V-8 engine in the 928 coupe & there isn't any room in the engine bay forwards.

It is a pain because you have to remove it just to bleed the clutch slave cylinder -at least I do & to lock the crankshaft when removing the crankshaft pulley bolt.

Fitting a bleed nipple that protruded at right angles compared to that existing would help -suppose that was too easy for Porsche at the time.[&o]