931Lyfe Update

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
05/16/2017 at 22:09 • Filed to: 931Lyfe, 931

We have working lights now. The headlights are still stuck in the “up” position. It now has a new battery. And after presumably setting the car to top dead center on cylinder #1 and messing-with/adjusting the ignition timing to match, and cleaning the fouled plugs...still no start.

I’m adamant about the starter motor not sounding “healthy” but my dad believes it to be anything else but that since it still cranks. But it doesn’t sound like it’s enjoying the cranking.

The engine light and headlights work better and brighter than the 944 though. :/

DISCUSSION (16)

Die-Trying > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/16/2017 at 22:16

do you at least have spark?..... you can check by pulling a plug wire, put a plug in it, and ground out the shell while you crank it. check and see that you have spark, AND what color that spark is. blue good, yellow not as good.......

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Die-Trying
05/16/2017 at 22:28

I know I saw spark when I tested cylinder one, but I don’t remember the color. Definitely wasn’t blue though.

Die-Trying > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/16/2017 at 22:29

forgot to ask, how did you “presumably” determine tdc?........ i like to pull the #1 plug and put my finger in the hole, and bump/turn the engine until the compression stroke blows past my finger. then wherever the pointer/rotor of the distributor points closest to terminal, BECOMES the new #1, and wire the firing order from there. but thats just how I do it........

Urambo Tauro > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/16/2017 at 22:35

Hm. That starter does sound kinda funny, doesn’t it? There seems to be an extra “groan” at the 10-11 second mark in your video, too.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Die-Trying
05/16/2017 at 22:43

I followed these instructions. By rotating the crank from the pulley I lined up the mark on the cam sprocket with the proper point on the cam cover which should be TDC on cylinder #1 if the sprocket was installed properly. If not, I’ve to check the marks on the flywheel and line up the crank mark with another; but it’ll have to wait until tomorrow after work now.

Though it’s possible I could’ve messed up again. I’ll check again tomorrow.

https://www.porscherepair.us/porsche-924-turbo/info-yij.html

There’s a lot more for me to diagnose.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Urambo Tauro
05/16/2017 at 22:43

I know, it does that while cranking after a while.

JGrabowMSt > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/16/2017 at 23:06

Having gotten stuck on the side of the road by a 9xx car before for long enough to have it lose it’s charm, how about fuel?

A clogged fuel filter will ruin days.

Aside from that, my preferred method of checking for TDC is to take a dowel and rotate the crank until I can visually see when the piston reaches TDC based on the height, and when it begins to drop. Just pull the plug out, insert dowel, and watch it. It also lets you verify any timing marks on sprockets or pullies in case someone fudged an installation in the past.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > JGrabowMSt
05/16/2017 at 23:22

It has two filters, in and out of tank, and the external filter has been changed. I’m definitely gonna have to go over my TDC markings again. Fortunately it doesn’t take me long to do.

Sam > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/17/2017 at 02:03

Good luck on your sparkplug change. Still gotta do mine, but it’s insane how tight the space is. I’m gonna need to see if there is a procedure, because German engineering.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/17/2017 at 05:41

Is it me or is there not a chance in hell that starter motor’s spinning fast enough? Here’s how quickly a healthy 924 starter should run:

Much, much faster.

I’d say check the wiring to it maybe. Although I’m usually shooting in the dark with electrical stuff perhaps a knackered earth cable from either the battery or the starter (usually a braided thing which can fray) might cause it to crank slowly. Worth a quick visual inspection at least.

Have you tried starting it with the lights on? Do they dim noticeably when you start cranking?

It could also be that the motor itself is knackered. Not really heard of that before, but it’s definitely cranking slowly and pausing as it reaches compression. You can hear it stop turning the engine for a second which is not normal.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Sam
05/17/2017 at 05:50

It’s actually really easy when you have extensions that bend and rotate. Took me about 10 minutes.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
05/17/2017 at 08:27

I do not believe the motor is kaput in any way! I’ll be taking a look at the starter after work today though. I think the starter or something related to it is causing the issues present.

Sam > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/17/2017 at 10:38

Wow, I’ll have to get me some of those.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/17/2017 at 10:50

Absolutely. There isn’t a chance in hell that starter is functioning as it should :)

Dead battery, poor earth. Something like that :)

Oh, and i meant tge starter motor itself, not the actual engine! As a Brit, a ‘motor’ is usually electric ;) anything with pistons or rotors is an engine ;)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Sam
05/17/2017 at 10:57

It was necessary for me. The charge pipe goes right over cylinder #2, partially obstructs #3, and it’s the only way to get it out without removing the whole thing.

Kinja'd!!!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
05/17/2017 at 11:01

Agreed! And with a fresh battery, it’s performance should’ve improved if anything. At least with my 944 it cranked faster with fresh battery. I’m going through what electrical and ignition bits and pieces were changed last just to be sure it isn’t something stupid obvious, starter motor aside.

Gotcha! I should’ve picked that up from my mum, but she wasn’t around car parts enough growing up for me to pick up on that. :p