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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Bay Area help needed.....
Posted by: BuddyV Jun 14 2019, 08:44 PM
I have a "new to me" 3.2 in my 914. Left me stranded a few too many times..... and now I have dropped mad-money on professional mechanics that claimed they solved the
st-t-t-t-t-t-tarting issue..... only to leave me stranded again.
The car now sits. I frustrated. But the car runs well when it starts, so I need to learn what is going on.
I'm turning to my World Community....... anyone in the Bay Area willing to meet me and take a look at my car? If you know a thing or two about a 3.2 conversion you know a thing (and possibly two) more than me.
Willing to pay for your time..... This car is BITCHIN..... but we need to find the starting issue.
Reach out to me via text or call: (707) 888-1857
Robert
Cheers! 
Posted by: Steve Jun 14 2019, 09:28 PM
I have a "new to me" 3.2 in my 914. Left me stranded a few too many times..... and now I have dropped mad-money on professional mechanics that claimed they solved the
st-t-t-t-t-t-tarting issue..... only to leave me stranded again.
The car now sits. I frustrated. But the car runs well when it starts, so I need to learn what is going on.
I'm turning to my World Community....... anyone in the Bay Area willing to meet me and take a look at my car? If you know a thing or two about a 3.2 conversion you know a thing (and possibly two) more than me.
Willing to pay for your time..... This car is BITCHIN..... but we need to find the starting issue.
Reach out to me via text or call: (707) 888-1857
Robert
Cheers!
Mine left me stranded a couple of times. I just swapped both flywheel sensors, head sensor and upgraded back to the heavy duty Bosch fuel pump. Now my car seems super reliable. Just did the WCR with no problems.
Posted by: BuddyV Jun 14 2019, 10:02 PM
I have a "new to me" 3.2 in my 914. Left me stranded a few too many times..... and now I have dropped mad-money on professional mechanics that claimed they solved the
st-t-t-t-t-t-tarting issue..... only to leave me stranded again.
The car now sits. I frustrated. But the car runs well when it starts, so I need to learn what is going on.
I'm turning to my World Community....... anyone in the Bay Area willing to meet me and take a look at my car? If you know a thing or two about a 3.2 conversion you know a thing (and possibly two) more than me.
Willing to pay for your time..... This car is BITCHIN..... but we need to find the starting issue.
Reach out to me via text or call: (707) 888-1857
Robert
Cheers!
Mine left me stranded a couple of times. I just swapped both flywheel sensors, head sensor and upgraded back to the heavy duty Bosch fuel pump. Now my car seems super reliable. Just did the WCR with no problems.
Saw your car at WCR - AWESOME.
I have replaced BOTH sensors..... no improvement. I'm trying to avoid just swapping out parts.
Losing spark intermittently (spelling??)
Posted by: jcd914 Jun 14 2019, 10:52 PM
Intermittent or inconstant problems are always difficult.
The basics, you need compression, air, fuel and spark for it to start and run.
Does the starter engage and crank the engine over?
Have you checked for spark?
Have you checked for fuel?
From talking at WCR I know you have done some testing but don't recall what.
Jim
Posted by: ConeDodger Jun 14 2019, 11:04 PM
Never heard of a DME really intermittently going out, but at $35 to replace, I’d consider it...
Posted by: BuddyV Jun 15 2019, 12:16 AM
Never heard of a DME really intermittently going out, but at $35 to replace, I’d consider it...
My first move was to replace the DME relay (I figured that i could always use it as a spare)...... the car did fire soon after replacing..... but didn't idle well. Then died and failed to start.
The crank sensors were replaced next.... no start.
When it failed at my mechanic, it did lose spark.
Posted by: dr.tim Jun 15 2019, 06:10 AM
I have had issues with tired insulation in the engine harness. Specifically near the speed / TDC sensor connections. A little wiggle there would often get the engine to start, but replacing the connector and resheathing the wires nearby resolved that issue.
Posted by: Tdskip Jun 15 2019, 06:12 AM
DME are usually binary, either good or bad.
Had to troubleshoot with the limited information but sounds intermittent and thus harness / grounds / connections.
Any good vintage 911 shop should be able to handle this, should be multiple options in NoCal.
Posted by: Cairo94507 Jun 15 2019, 06:45 AM
Hey Robert - The shop that did the final assembly on my 3.2 with the factory Motronic injection is Aase in Fullerton. Allen is the mechanic and when we met he was able to just look at the parts I brought and immediately know what was missing.
My engine and transaxle are now all assembled and awaiting installation into my car. I am hoping this happens in the next 2 weeks, give or take. Give them a call: 714.770.8187; 1104 E. Elm Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92831. When I was in their shop all of the car swore vintage Porsche with about 5-6 race cars parked out front.
It was great seeing you at WCR- I wish I had been able to stay for the Sunday events.
Cheers,
Michael
Posted by: Krieger Jun 15 2019, 08:41 AM
I bet the guys at Hi Tech in San Rafael could figure it out. They work on older stuff all the time. I don't think being a conversion car would confuse them. You can trust them as well. Deven and Dana run the place and are two of the mechanics there. Other good brains work there too.
Posted by: cali914 Jun 15 2019, 01:34 PM
Ben at Retrosport in Richmond. I know he can solve the problem. 510-508-4300
Posted by: BuddyV Jun 15 2019, 11:16 PM
Thank you for the local recommendations, guys.
Considering this is most likely an electrical issue, I am more comfortable getting a trained set of eyes to resolve this for me.... I can handle more mechanical things for fun.
I like the two local recommendations..... I will stop by and have a chat and see if we hit it off.
I will report back once I have this beast back n the road!
Cheers!
Posted by: Chi-town Jun 16 2019, 12:07 AM
Have you checked the ignition switch? Just a thought.
Posted by: BuddyV Jun 16 2019, 04:41 PM
Have you checked the ignition switch? Just a thought.
Car cranks fine..... just won't start.
Ignition switch provides the cranking, right?
Posted by: Maltese Falcon Jun 16 2019, 05:40 PM
Make sure that you have the newer (superceded) cyl head temp sensor. AND my 3.2 had an untraceable gremlin which turned out to be the distributor shaft. Since it's motronic, during tune ups you may replace the cap/rotor...but you need to check the dist shaft + surrounding area under the metal plate. My dist shaft failed due to age, dirt and apparently loss of lubrication>> which caused an irregular spark.
Posted by: horizontally-opposed Jun 16 2019, 06:18 PM
^ Marty's advice is worthwhile, as is advice to make SURE you've got great grounding everywhere.
Steve at de Jung Motorsports in Cotati is one of the best electrical troubleshooters I've seen—solving a problem on my father's car that vexed the dealer who had better equipment—but I've heard he isn't looking for new clients. If your 914 car needs more sorting as well as this issue resolved and you want someone with a lot of experience with conversions, I'd call John Holleran at Holleran's Performance. It's a schlep since he moved up to the Sierra Nevada foothills, but he's done at least a dozen six conversions and knows these cars inside and out. Been working on them for 30+ years, yet is young and knows his stuff.
Posted by: tygaboy Jun 16 2019, 07:20 PM
Robert - let me know if you need a ride to/from anywhere. I'd love to see Holleran's shop...
Posted by: Steve Jun 16 2019, 08:06 PM
My problem didn’t show up until the motor was hot (20-30) minutes of driving. Engine would just die, pull to the side of the road, rest for five minutes, it would then start right back up and run for another 1/4 of a mile. Rinse and repeat. At home it past all tests in the Bentley manual. Fuel pressure and all volt and ohm tests were normal. Talked to various people. They all said sensors. Swapped both flywheel sensors and head sensor and now it runs great. My engine is an original Euro 1984 3.2 motor with original sensors, so it made sense to just swap them out. This problem started after replacing the fuel cell with a stock tank and stock 3.2 aftermarket pump. So i also double checked the tank and went back to a heavy duty Bosch pump.
BOSCH 0 580 254 044
I also had a separate issue where the motor when hot and idling, the engine would hunt up and down from 500-1500 rpms. Very annoying. There was an article on Pelican on how to clean the idle control valve. It helped a little bit but the issue came back. I installed a new idle control valve and the problem never came back. Car idles and runs great.
Posted by: Maltese Falcon Jun 16 2019, 11:59 PM
...also check the grounding tab located on the intake runner, just about where the ign distributor is...has about 5 brown-insulated ground wires fastened down there. Have a good tech check your motronic ecu...It should be the same year as the 3.2 engine (matched).
Posted by: Steve Jun 17 2019, 07:36 AM
...also check the grounding tab located on the intake runner, just about where the ign distributor is...has about 5 brown-insulated ground wires fastened down there. Have a good tech check your motronic ecu...It should be the same year as the 3.2 engine (matched).
Grounds and power are very important to 3.2 and 3.6 fuel injection. I had a knob type battery disconnect that oxidized and also created similar issues.
I also still need to replace my ignition switch. Sometimes I turn the key and it won’t turn over, very intermittent. I’ve had this car since 1986 and the ignition switch is original.
Posted by: fiacra Jun 19 2019, 12:53 PM
One more recommendation for a "local" shop:
Eason Auto Works in Oakland. Bill Eason is experienced, approachable, and above all, knowledgeable in all things Porsche, stock and modified.
www.easonauto.com
Posted by: BuddyV Jun 19 2019, 06:35 PM
Update...
I was introduced to a new shop in town that is "Comfortable and experienced working on air cooled cars.... younger guy, true enthusiast..... not afraid of working on conversions...… specializing in Porsche."
….. half a mile from my...… umm...…. house.
So, I dropped in. Cameron couldn't have been nicer. He took me on a tour of his shop.... currently working on (5) 911s, one a total restoration 911T for a client...… and a few other nice rides. One a 914. One 911 is a backdated car receiving a 3.2
He was finishing a rebuild on the SAME MOTOR IN MY CAR!..... so, in a couple of weeks he will be picking up my car and we agreed on a couple of hours of his time to assess the situation.
Can't ask for more than that!
I will keep you posted (and my fingers crossed)
The shop is called Wayland Motorsports in Santa Rosa. If anyone has a review to share, please send me a private message.
Posted by: Krieger Jun 19 2019, 10:35 PM
That's great news! It doesn't get any better than that. Keep us posted
Posted by: Cairo94507 Jun 20 2019, 07:40 AM
Hey Robert - Glad to hear it. I look forward to hearing the diagnosis and hopefully some pictures. You are lucky to have found someone so close to home.
Posted by: markhoward Jun 20 2019, 08:45 AM
Posted by: BuddyV Jun 27 2019, 11:08 PM
Update:
I took a few minutes to go through the fuses the other day: Took each fuse out, looked at them..... cleaned them...... put them back.
Turned the key..... IT FIRED RIGHT UP!!!
.... that was six days ago. I have been testing the start every morning on my way out the door to work, and again when I come home for lunch.
She seems to start, warm up and idle perfectly.
I called to discuss this with my "new" mechanic friend. He is still going to see the car as soon as he has a couple of hours free. Hopefully I can drive the car to him on that day and he can look over the car with an experienced set of eyes.
For now, I am relieved that all the mechanical parts seem to function. But still worried about trusting this car since it has left me stranded several times after running fine for days and miles. (I have ONE tow left on my AAA membership until September)
Whew!
..... fingers crossed that we can make this a reliable 3.2
Posted by: Krieger Jun 27 2019, 11:11 PM
Dang Robert, I hope that is it!
Posted by: BuddyV Jun 29 2019, 12:06 AM
started the car..... let it warm up..... dropped the car off jacks..... cleared the garage (took about 8-10 mins)..... car was warm....
.... then died as I was climbing into the car for the first test drive
At least I know that the car starts and runs.
Getting closer!
Hey, at least it didn't leave me stranded somewhere
Posted by: Cairo94507 Jun 29 2019, 07:21 AM
It's all about baby steps- so long as they are in the right direction.
Posted by: mepstein Jun 29 2019, 07:29 AM
Bad gas, fuel line kinked, fuel filter clogged, idle set too low. The pelican guys have a lot of experience diagnosing 3.2’s. Maybe ask on the site.
Posted by: BuddyV Jun 29 2019, 03:31 PM
I see a pattern..... starts and runs after sitting for days. Then after a few minutes, dies. And no longer starts.....until it sits a long while.
I am thinking (because I am cheap) that it could be (Hopefully) a clogged fuel filter? Clogs, starves motor.... and after a long while, enough fuel gets past the filter to allow a short run when I restart.
Makes sense, right?
I will install a new filter and check the lines while I am at it. I recall the lines near the fuel pump call get easily tangled. It's a tight fit.
Posted by: SirAndy Jun 29 2019, 04:26 PM
Take a flashlight and look inside the tank and see if there is any crud on the bottom where the fuel sock pickup is.
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