basic 911 repairs

[Mike Usiskin]

Hi all. As many of you know I know next to nothing about 911's, sure I can drive them (though Bert may disagree ) but when it comes to basic "why has she cut out/stopped/etc etc " I have my trusty AA card and loads of games on my iPhone to keep me happy while I wait for the AA. Anyway I was wondering if anyone in the south east might do a day similar to the highly sought after Bainbridge days but for simpletons like me. Personally I'd love to be shown how to check brakes/oil/sparks/etc. I'd offer my immaculate ex Waldergard/Rohl ST for use but I don't have one

cheers

and should I put this in the general section?

[Nige]

Seriously Mike, those bits you would like to do are pretty much the same as any other car. Whilst workshop days are excellent you can quite easily pick those skills up with a trusty Haynes or Bentley manual and a basic set of tools.

You can still be a simpleton if you wish but if you can read you should be able to at least to the oil and plugs. Maybe then progress to the brakes.

[hot66]

I agree with Nige ... there is no substiute to getting in there & doing it yourself.

Get the books out & start with something simple. An oil change is a good one to start with


Spark plugs .. get the proper tool before attempting them

[Barry]

As above: after all, you clearly managed to read up on how a bucket and sponge works the other week, so surely there's no stopping you now?

Actually, I think you've hit on quite a good idea: 911 for beginners:

i) How to check the oil level (something that's often asked about here).
ii) How to jack up the car and support it safely.
iii) How to carry out a basic service.
iv) How to carry out initial breakdown checks, and what tools and spares to carry (even if they are for the A.A. man to use.


In fact Mike, all of the above and more is in Wayne Dempsey's '101 Projects for Your Porsche 911 1964-1989'. Sorry, I've not got the ISBN as my copy went years ago (with the Gulf Blue car).

Well worth the twenty quid or so, and highly recommended.

[Helen]

well, i'm with Mike on this one.

i have to confess if i didn't have Larry to do it for me i wouldn't even know how to check the tyre pressure.
and checking the oil of a 911 is just a little diffrent to checking the oil on just about any other car...............isn't it?

i am afraid i'm not good at learning through reading, i need to be shown or have someone talk me through the task. then it might actually sink into totally technical phonic brain.

[Bertroex]

Mike,

I think you should come with me to do a impromptu Le Jog when Jazi is ready?

Guaranteed you'll learn to
1. Jack the car & Blow up tyres/check tyre pressures


2. Check the oil


3.Learn about your brakes


4. Make sure you have all bits bolted on


5. Plenty of practice of learning how to refuel your car. (remember? )


6. Never scare the horses with your loud exhaust


7. Respect the speedlimit


8. How to make your sportscar into a practical daily driver: like loading
7m2 of marble tiles



transport some wheels


or even a set of lightweight bumpers and wheels



9. Learn about CDI boxes


and why it pays to have a spare CDI box +black round thing (bobine) in the car


etc etc...



Bert

[Nige]

well, i'm with Mike on this one.

i have to confess if i didn't have Larry to do it for me i wouldn't even know how to check the tyre pressure.
and checking the oil of a 911 is just a little diffrent to checking the oil on just about any other car...............isn't it?

i am afraid i'm not good at learning through reading, i need to be shown or have someone talk me through the task. then it might actually sink into totally technical phonic brain.

Those things are actually in the owners manual, so Porsche obviously did the research and came to the conclusion that the owners of its cars had the ability to read and perform basic tasks. In fact I think some of those are actually part of the driving test?

[Helen]

Those things are actually in the owners manual, so Porsche obviously did the research and came to the conclusion that the owners of its cars had the ability to read and perform basic tasks

you have a owners manual for your car?
.....i keep a man for those sort of tasks

In fact I think some of those are actually part of the driving test?

not back in the days when i took my test.

[smallspeed]

mrs smallspeed is very keen to get stuck-in and learn some stuff, but as Im always wrong/she's always right Im reluctant to teach her anything

i'd be happy to help out if someone wanted a hand running a basics day although i can't host anything as i dont have a porsche or even a driveway right now!

alternatively if anyones got a car that needs basic jobs doing on it, how about we document how to do these things in a ddk haynes manual style with photos and write-ups and post them somewhere on the forum? the problem I've found with haynes manuals is that everything is done in a lab with a brand new car, so often isn't relevant to older cars or misses alternative ways, tips and tricks, etc..

b

ps.. we could include a troubleshooting guide accessable via iphone

[hot66]

=

alternatively if anyones got a car that needs basic jobs doing on it, how about we document how to do these things in a ddk haynes manual style with photos and write-ups and post them somewhere on the forum? the problem I've found with haynes manuals is that everything is done in a lab with a brand new car, so often isn't relevant to older cars or misses alternative ways, tips and tricks, etc..

Already have one

thats what I've tried to do here :

http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22954

and here is the 356 one :

http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=24171

I'm hoping more & more of us will document jobs done & DDK can have a comprehensive libary.

Pelican also has a good tech section

[jb]

Mike
I think you are better off giving the car to Chris and letting him doing the necessary once a year.
When things go wrong - use logic - failing that phone a friend.
Even an oil change has its moments on a 911 - 2 gallons of oil is a lot of oil to dispose of.

[Nige]

Having said all this, isn't this what DDK is all about. Dive in, have a go and if you foook it up logon and ask for help.

I probably need to do some stickies in the tech section on routine maintenance. But then somebody might want to delete it and I'll have to get all huffy and have a paddy fit.

[hot66]

Having said all this, isn't this what DDK is all about. Dive in, have a go and if you foook it up logon and ask for help.

I probably need to do some stickies in the tech section on routine maintenance. But then somebody might want to delete it and I'll have to get all huffy and have a paddy fit.

on a serious note though .... do feel free to add links into the " 'how-to' guides " thread. I don't think we have any for routine maintenance how-to's

[58A - 71E]

Agree with Nige and James on this one - roll your sleeves up and have a go
There's loads of info on here and there are glossy books to help you out (101 projects, even Haynes) with the basic stuff. TBH this is the stuff to cut your teeth on that then starts giving you the confidence to have a go at something a bit more involved. The 101 book even rates the difficulty of each task.

It helps obviously if you have some basic tools and space to work on your car, which is sometimes the thing that puts some folks off, but even then, a lot of this can be done with tools you'd carry in the car and done at the kerbside.

In my case I had never put a spanner near a Porsche until 4 years ago, since then I've rebuilt nearly everything on the 911 (except gearbox) and everything on the 356 (engine in progress) and so far nothing's gone bang!

[Ian Donkin]

Or even pop down to Surrey one fine weekend and I'll provide the tools & sympathy whilst pointing you in the right direction.

Just don't ask me to assist with the valve clearances as a) I find that task an utter pain and b) the engine needs to be clock cold before you do this, something it won't be when you've driven the 45 minutes from Dulwich.

Happy to help if it helps!