Newbie needs some help, General 914 upkeep and adjustments Options

[Keoni914]

Hello everyone! I'm not new to the 914 world because our first Porsche was a '72 914 which is long gone. We bought another one, a '72 and it has some issues that I need to fix. If this is not the right place to ask, please advise or move it to the approp area.

There is a hesitation when accelerating and goes away when finally in 5th gear. (Almost like it's starving for gas.)Is there a common area to look at? Injectors? Fuel filter? <Nah, can't be that?

I have noticed the lights flicker when driving, not a lot but noticeable to me. People at work mentioned to look at the generator brushes. Would this be good area to start?

Back to the lights, high beam doesn't even annoy anyone. Could this be also related to the flickering problem?

Gosh, sorry to ask so many questions, I've got more but will wait until I get these resolved, one at a time.

Hugh thanks in advance.

Keoni914 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

[ericread]

OK You have two issues to resolve in your post.
1. Hesitating when accellerating.
2. Front light flicker.

Are they related. Why don't you take a close look at your electrical system first. Start at the battery.
1. What the voltage at the poles with the car ignition off.
2. Start your engine and rev the engine once over 2K RPM, what's your battery pole-to-pole voltage now (Don't trust the voltage meter in your console, if you have one. It is for entertainment purposes only).
3. Take a look at the pole-to-pole voltage at three or four different RPMs. I your voltage fluctuating?

To look any further, please provide information on your engine? FI or carbatooters? Standard or customized configuration?

We all look forward to your response.

Eric Read (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wavey.gif)

[Keoni914]

OK You have two issues to resolve in your post.
1. Hesitating when accellerating.
2. Front light flicker.

Are they related. Why don't you take a close look at your electrical system first. Start at the battery.
1. What the voltage at the poles with the car ignition off.
2. Start your engine and rev the engine once over 2K RPM, what's your battery pole-to-pole voltage now (Don't trust the voltage meter in your console, if you have one. It is for entertainment purposes only).
3. Take a look at the pole-to-pole voltage at three or four different RPMs. I your voltage fluctuating?

To look any further, please provide information on your engine? FI or carbatooters? Standard or customized configuration?

We all look forward to your response.

Eric Read (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wavey.gif)

Eric it's a 1.7 FI

Will check the volts across the terminals tomorrow. Thanks!

Keoni914

[Keoni914]

OK You have two issues to resolve in your post.
1. Hesitating when accellerating.
2. Front light flicker.

Are they related. Why don't you take a close look at your electrical system first. Start at the battery.
1. What the voltage at the poles with the car ignition off.
2. Start your engine and rev the engine once over 2K RPM, what's your battery pole-to-pole voltage now (Don't trust the voltage meter in your console, if you have one. It is for entertainment purposes only).
3. Take a look at the pole-to-pole voltage at three or four different RPMs. I your voltage fluctuating?

To look any further, please provide information on your engine? FI or carbatooters? Standard or customized configuration?

We all look forward to your response.

Eric Read (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wavey.gif)

Eric, at off the voltage is around 13.xx.

At idle it's moving between 14 & 15 and points in between.

At 2k is ping ponging with WILD swings 12's 13's 14's While the voltage is going back and forth I don't notice any change in the idle.

Do I need, a voltage regulator, a alternator, or another 914? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif)

Another question, is changing the fuel filter a DIY?

Thanks, what a great board!

Keoni914

[ericread]

Eric, at off the voltage is around 13.xx.

At idle it's moving between 14 & 15 and points in between.

At 2k is ping ponging with WILD swings 12's 13's 14's While the voltage is going back and forth I don't notice any change in the idle.

Do I need, a voltage regulator, a alternator, or another 914? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif)

Another question, is changing the fuel filter a DIY?

Thanks, what a great board!

Keoni914

1. The voltage should be 13.4 volts, so that looks good.
2. You should never see 15 volts. Looks like trouble
2. At 2K, the voltage is ping-ponging with swings in the 12's, 13's and 14's.
Question: Is this measured at the battery poles or at the console meter? If what you're seeing is real, then it would appear to me your generator is on it's way to failing. You could change out your VR, but I've never seen one go bad.

BTW; When you turn on your headlights, does the voltage drop back to the 13-volt level, or does it continue to bounce?

These are pretty hearty generators. For example, when I was changing out the Previous Owner's generator upgrade POS, I purchased a used 914 generator off eBay for $40.00. It was sold to me as a good core, but with no guarantees on it's working out of the box. My thoughts were that I would have it re-wound with new brushes and replace the existing unit. When it arrived, my existing generator was giving me much grief, so I blindly put the eBay generator in my car. Since then (14 months later) I have not had any generator problems whatsoever using the eBay unit!

Maybe I just got lucky. Anyway, you generator is not being regulated properly. Left alone, it will potentially begin burning out your headlights and radio/electronics.

Why don't you do this. Check the wiring between the genertor and the relay board. Look for faulty cable or areas where the circuit can short. If everything looks good at that point, replace the Voltage Regulator with a NEW unit. Replacing it with a unit that is not known good is only going to confuse you more. If that makes no difference, replace the generator.

Once you get this fixed, you will look back and laugh!!! Actually you'll be too busy troubleshooting other areas of your teener to remember to laugh! hahaha!

Good luck!!!

Eric Read