Girl Meets Car, A Love Story Options

[memmek2k]

My uncle-in-law decided to give us his '73 Porsche 914 1.7L. He said he just didn't have time to work on it or drive it anymore and wanted to see it go to someone that would drive it and take care of it.

Only problem is it didn't run.

He said it last ran about 2.5 years ago, after a major service overhaul at a local VW shop. He was able to go on a few drives, and let it sit for a bit. When he tried to start it again, it wouldn't turn over.

So I spent Christmas weekend intermittently at their house, wrenching and cursing and bleeding (as is the customary ritual when meeting a new car). After determining the ECU's fuel pump circuit is fried, along with the 2.5-year old fuel pump, I decided to hotwire the fuel pump to one of the switched power circuits so we could get it out of the garage and onto a trailer.

"My Porsche's in the Hangar" is not a phrase I ever imagined being able to say. We've been fighting the city to build a garage for the last year due to some bigoted BS in the neighborhood we live in. The original plan was to have a garage in which to put a Porsche by this time. Since there's no garage, we're renting hangar space from my boss, which sort of puts a damper on my ability to wrench freely.

Right now, the current plan is to give everything a refresh/once over and get accustomed to the car. I'm sure it needs new fluids and consumables. Probably could use a valve adjustment and a rear caliper adjustment (they're sticking). It has a high idle, which I'm used to attributing to vacuum leaks on MAF cars, but I'm under the impression the 1.7L has a MAP sensor. Also the driver's outside door handle broke literally right after I fixed the fuel pump, so I need to fix that now, too.

Long term: paint's rough, body has some dings and rust (and I need to examine the hell hole). It'll need more gofast eventually, but doesn't everything? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Left Side


Right Side


Owner's Final Farewell
 final_drive.wmv ( 1.93mb ) Number of downloads: 124

[76-914]

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[Tom_T]

As Laugh-In's Arte Johnson would say from behind a bush:
"Wery Interesting! .... but NOT Funny!"

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You can get the ECU rebuilt by FIC in Livermoore CA
https://www.fuelinjectioncorp.com/

Check for other wiring issues causing the short or whatever that fried it & the fuel pump, as well as the FP relay (usually the round red one on the engine bay relay board, if not swapped for a black one by a PO or shop).

Jeff Bowlsby on here rebuilds the various engine bay wiring harnesses which are most prone to failure due to the heat. He also has great 914 info on the 2nd link below.

http://bowlsby.net/914/WiringHarnesses/

http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/

p914.com also has great info, but you may have to go to p914.org or p914.net (&/or manually substitute the .net or .org if the links are still not working right, as he's rebuilding it all after a lightning strike last Spring).

If you need a 914 pro, then Brad Mayeur at 914 LTD nearish to you in Peoria IL from St. Lou, & he can get it all sorted for you.

http://914ltd.com/

A 914 expert will usually give you better results with less "fishing" - than a generic VW shop IMHO. That ECU/FP problem could've been self-inflicted by the VW shop &/or by use of improper parts, as I'd never had that happen with mine nor anyone else's 914 of whom I known since the `70's, but it could be unrelated.

As for your garage issue, I'd suggest getting copies of the applicable sections from both the city/county building & planning codes' sections related to garages, setbacks, sizes, placement, etc., as well as any community CC&Rs which might limit your planned garage. Then research what, when & how they are allowed in your jurisdiction(s) & neighborhood/tract/subdivision - so you know what is allowed by right, & what by conditional use or other discretionary approval. So long as you're constructing it within code & it's allowed by right, then neighborhood bigotry or whatever should not come into play to stop you, so long as it's "of right."

But if it requires "discretionary approval" - then you may have to get with the neighbors to come up with a design which appeases their biases & approval/support, in order to get city &/or community association approval. Just a few words of advice from a CA Architect of 40+ years! In that case, treat them to pie, cookies & coffee & a lot of "Soft soap" TLC to butter them up for your plan!

Good Luck on All Fronts!

Happy Holidays! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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[ClayPerrine]

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There are lots of people with lots of experience on here to help.

And it is not the guys that like 914s.



This is a picture of my wife Betty and I with HER 914 on the Texas hill country tour in 2003. I had to crawl over the shifter and get out on the driver's side because there was a rattle snake in the bluebonnets right outside my door.

She had that car since before I met her in 1985. And it is sill her daily driver, 31 years and 380,000 miles later. It is the first 914 I ever rode in, and the first one I ever drove. She loves that car. She says "If something happens, you better be in my car... that way I don't have to choose who to save!"


She even has a emoji named after her (IMG:style_emoticons/default/betty914.jpg)

[bandjoey]

Nice Car and Have Fun ! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

[ConeDodger]

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[Blue6]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) looks like you have a nice starting point...

[Rand]

He cared for it obviously. Some nice upgrades. The front bumper vent, does it have a front oil cooler? Not sure why, but begs the question.

[Robnxious]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) As a new owner myself, welcome to the board, all sorts of people who are very helpful and knowledgeable. Enjoy the car

[Big Len]

Love the dual fog lights.

[Dave_Darling]

Double-check your diagnosis of the ECU. Those are actually pretty robust and not that easy to kill. If the car actually did run with the pump jumpered to switched power, the ECU is very likely fine.

One thing to check is the fuses on the relay board. One of them powers the fuel pump, but I forget which one. Pull them and examine them; these fuses can pop and still look OK until you remove them from their holders. Take the opportunity to clean them up and the fingers that hold them with a wire brush, just to be sure the connection is good.

One interesting thing--in the D-jet cars, the fuel pump is run off the same circuit as the Aux Air Regulator. If the AAR wire shorts to ground, if will blow the fuse and the fuel pump won't run. This has gotten more than a few people over the years.

D-jet usually sees vacuum leaks as just more throttle, so vacc leaks will result in a high idle. Most airflow-measurement type fuel injection systems will have the mixture thrown off by air leaks, though modern ones can correct for that through the O2 sensor circuitry.

For just about all of the D-jet info that is known these days, see: http://members.rennlist.com/pbanders

Pelican Parts has tech articles, including an illustrated one on how to remove the door handle and repair the cam on it which is often the problem.

Good luck with the car!

--DD

[Mikey914]

Congratulations on your 914! Learn as much as you can and turn your own wrench to the extent you can. It will make it a much more enjoyable and less expensive toy.

Drop me a PM with your address and I'll send you a copy of the maintenance manual.
It has some troubleshooting info as well as wiring diagrams you may want.

[EdwardBlume]

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[malcolm2]

I see 914rubber chimed in, but he did not say anything about the door handle.

There is a plastic cam that pushes on a U-shaped plate. That is probably what broke. An easy fix, biggest issue is taking the door card, etc... off and getting the screw inside the door BACK ON... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

914rubber sells a kit to re-furb the whole door handle. Or you can buy just the parts you need. http://shop.914rubber.com/Door-handle-repair-kit-914DHRK.htm

Buy a couple spare "cams". Better to have a spare than to ride around with the outside handle off while you wait on delivery.

I also recommend a wire diagram, but I bought one from Prospero's Garage

It is not perfect, but it is pretty close and it is easy to read. Best $20 you'll spend.

Good Luck

[memmek2k]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and the links!

I had followed the guide here, and had the hangup at step 12. So I know at least pin 11 to the white 4 pin is good on the harness. Are there other problems that can cause no continuity to ground when the car is switched on? I noted that it was a measurable resistance all the time (i.e. not an open circuit, but not shorted to ground). http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/zTN_FI_FPChecklist2.pdf

First thing I checked was continuity on all the fuses on the relay board. I've had far too many fuses blow that looked fine to ever trust my eyes again on fuses (even the new see-through ones).

No front oil cooler (yet).

I'll keep looking for a vacuum leak, then.

Long story on the garage: I'm an engineer, so the first thing I did when we started planning the garage was pull city code. The design is 100% to code; we didn't try to sneak anything past the city. Our design was approved in early 2016, but the concrete sub wanted to wait for better pouring weather (frustratingly, our neighbors poured a pad for a gar-port while we waited). We planned to break ground the first week in May when the city notified us that we needed notarized letters from our neighbors permitting incidental access to their property. Our lot is 25 feet wide; city fire code mandates a 4 foot gap between our property line and any new structures, which our design had. So I'm not sure why we needed the incidental access permits. In any case, we were able to get the letter from our neighbors to the north, but HUD owns the house to the south, and HUD won't sign anything. The house was supposed to go under contract for a new owner in July; it didn't. We contacted our Alderwoman who was able to schedule a variance hearing for us... in October. The variance would be to let us build the garage without permission from HUD for incidental access under the condition that we would not hold HUD liable for any hypothetical injuries. She was in constant communication with the city government to make sure all the "t"s were crossed and "i"s were dotted and was surprised as we were when our variance was denied. We were not able to get the reason for the denial until November, when we were informed it was because we wanted to set the detached garage deeper into the property, allowing for a 20 foot long "driveway" to the alley. They reasoned the driveway would allow us to sell cars on the side. Nevermind that the houses 5-10 min away in the "rich" part of town commonly have the exact setup we would like. Our neighborhood is in a "developing" area, and we are trying our damndest to invest in it. So the complaint isn't with the neighbors at all (who are fantastic); it's with the city.

[Shadowfax]

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[green914]

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[Elliot Cannon]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

There are lots of people with lots of experience on here to help.

And it is not the guys that like 914s.



This is a picture of my wife Betty and I with HER 914 on the Texas hill country tour in 2003. I had to crawl over the shifter and get out on the driver's side because there was a rattle snake in the bluebonnets right outside my door.

She had that car since before I met her in 1985. And it is sill her daily driver, 31 years and 380,000 miles later. It is the first 914 I ever rode in, and the first one I ever drove. She loves that car. She says "If something happens, you better be in my car... that way I don't have to choose who to save!"


She even has a emoji named after her (IMG:style_emoticons/default/betty914.jpg)

Since SLITS is no longer here, I'll have to say it for him. Is it me or does she seem taller than you? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

[ClayPerrine]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

There are lots of people with lots of experience on here to help.

And it is not the guys that like 914s.



This is a picture of my wife Betty and I with HER 914 on the Texas hill country tour in 2003. I had to crawl over the shifter and get out on the driver's side because there was a rattle snake in the bluebonnets right outside my door.

She had that car since before I met her in 1985. And it is sill her daily driver, 31 years and 380,000 miles later. It is the first 914 I ever rode in, and the first one I ever drove. She loves that car. She says "If something happens, you better be in my car... that way I don't have to choose who to save!"


She even has a emoji named after her (IMG:style_emoticons/default/betty914.jpg)

Since SLITS is no longer here, I'll have to say it for him. Is it me or does she seem taller than you? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

Yes, she is taller than me.

What's your point?

[memmek2k]

Yes, she is taller than me.

What's your point?

Hopefully to commend you for bucking stereotypes, rather than to poke fun due to not fulfilling stereotypes :rollseyes: