Crisis of Faith, Do you HAVE to be a mecnanic to be into 914's? Options

[dagdal1967]

I (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) my 914. This one is really special. Extremely clean, rust free (no really!) and original. I parted with my last one when I really didn't want to and regretted it severely!

However, the car is depressing me! After Clay helped me put the FI back on (which turned in to a mild debacle) she ran like a dream for a while, then the rebuilt feul pump started to "whine". It's internment so I still haven't diagnosed that propperly. Then I put new plugs in (on the recommendation of Clay) and now the damn thing is running like an old Briggs and Stratton Hit & Miss engine.

I am NOT mechanical. I never have been. I know enough to diagnose and fix small problems but don't really even have the base knowledge about engines that most all of you guys take for granted.

Am I kidding myself trying to own a 914? It seems like the maintenance never ends and after having the car (in running condition) for about a year now, I've barely been able to enjoy 2-3 months of driving!

Should I just give up and let someone else who has more know how and mechanical stamina take care of the old girl?

Suicidally yours.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad2.gif)

Doug

[John]

I (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) my 914. This one is really special. Extremely clean, rust free (no really!) and original. I parted with my last one when I really didn't want to and regretted it severely!

However, the car is depressing me! After Clay helped me put the FI back on (which turned in to a mild debacle) she ran like a dream for a while, then the rebuilt feul pump started to "whine". It's internment so I still haven't diagnosed that propperly. Then I put new plugs in (on the recommendation of Clay) and now the damn thing is running like an old Briggs and Stratton Hit & Miss engine.

I am NOT mechanical. I never have been. I know enough to diagnose and fix small problems but don't really even have the base knowledge about engines that most all of you guys take for granted.

Am I kidding myself trying to own a 914? It seems like the maintenance never ends and after having the car (in running condition) for about a year now, I've barely been able to enjoy 2-3 months of driving!

Should I just give up and let someone else who has more know how and mechanical stamina take care of the old girl?

Suicidally yours.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad2.gif)

Doug

Like others have said, go check the last thing you did. If it made it run WORSE, then you did something wrong. More than likely it is something simple to do/undo.

Are you sure you got the plug wires back on the correct plugs? Did you bump a vacuum hose off?

In the future, and to all rookie mechanics, do one plug at a time, remove boot, remove spark plug, replace spark plug, and put boot/connector back on. This makes it much harder to screw it up.

Another tip would be to label the plug wires so they don't inadvertently get plugged onto the wrong spark plug.

Check the fuel injector connectors to make sure you didn't accidentally remove one of them when changing plugs.

Also check to make sure the Cylinder head temp sensor (passenger side near #3 rear most cylinder) is not touching a ground or shorting against any metal.

Take some pics and post them. Maybe someone can see a mistake.

You don't have to be a mechanic, but it does help. I had to learn how to do it as I could not afford to pay to get my car fixed (still can't/won't).