DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Well that didn't go as planned. 10 miles from home the 914 starts to get a slight vibration through the steering wheel and then began to pull to the right. Bugger, I thought, it's got a puncture. Pulled over, no puncture. Nothing seemed wrong. Within a few hundred yards, car was pulling hard right. Bugger, I thought (again). Pulled into filling station and could hardly manoeuvre the car other than hard right. Brake caliper smoking, wheel rather warm and sounds of hot metal cooling. Bugger... Found water hose, poured water over the wheel and brakes. Once freed off, headed for home using the handbrake where possible. Rebuild kits and brake fluid ordered. Bugger...

KS wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 1:21 pm
Once freed off, headed for home using the handbrake where possible.

That's brave with a 914 handbrake!!

JW

jwhillracer wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 2:33 pm

KS wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 1:21 pm
Once freed off, headed for home using the handbrake where possible.

That's brave with a 914 handbrake!!

JW

Ain't that the truth! I tried to avoid using the footbrake in case it locked on again, but it behaved itself...

Just a thought - when did you last change your brake fluid, is it boiling and building pressure in the caliper? Check to see if the pistons are free before you start to dismantle them.
JW

If that is an issue I would suggest going for a dot 5 HBP fluid Keith

I use Automec, which bizarrely is cheapest from an MGB parts supplier called MGB-Hive. They have an eBay shop


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Using Brembo DOT 4 - last changed in the summer, so little use since. That was after the rear calipers had seized (!) and I replaced them as they were getting scabby.
However, I will flush the entire system (again) to be sure.

Could be a nice morning tomorrow and even the wife said yes to taking the 911 out locally to a National Trust.

Thought I should start the car to be sure of tomorrow's trip and it burst immediately into life, on all 6 and a very steady 900 rpm.

No blue smoke, no white smoke just worked, but...

The one battery has died I think.
When I charged them last, about 6 weeks ago or more the one charged well and drew current that diminished to about 1 amp.

Other battery took no current at all, and the start churn which is usually slow sounded like just one battery was doing all the work.

That battery is about 12 years old, the good one about 6, so time for a new one.

What a car.

You need a trickle charger Graham. Lead acid batteries generally hate being left to discharge. A load tester is the best way to check condition. They highlight if the terminal voltage collapses under high current thus indicating internal resistance or a faulty cell.

Is a trickle charger the same as the battery conditioners used in many storage units Chris?

In 35 years with this car I've lost just 3 batteries and each winter (5 months) in the garage the batteries are simply isolated by the motorsport cut-out switch for most of those years.

Car started well this morning, always a slow churn to start the big 3.2 but after 3 secs it fired up and hummmed as ever.

Drove 24 miles today really well, now with 1/2 a tank of fresh Shell E5 in the tubes, 915 box worked perfectly, wish the brakes were more modern!

Oh, and the steering is so heavy!!
But...it is the very best steering car I have bar none.

Getting old and have nice Skodas as daily drivers....

They are Graham

Had several over the years (cheap to expensive) and I have to say the Noco Genius 5 is the best I have had yet. Hard wired jump lead so it is a simple high quality connection and no messing around with crocodile clips (especially useful on cars with under bonnet lights). It has a battery recovery mode too which works


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It does look Good Wayne.
£77 on ebay. Like the hard loom option, super neat.

Wonder if you can buy additional battery looms, one for the 911 and one for the Boxster.

One of the 911 batteries is dead, just 11 volts, will not take a charge current, the other is 2023 and takes a charge.

Bosch battery on order, will beg for a NOCO charger after a glass of wine administered tonight!

Thanks as ever for the help.

Fingers and spanners still crossed I can get an entry at Shelsley for the Nostalgia meeting in the 911!
Graham.

No problem - if you google Noco accessories they come up, but I made one up.

Cheers
Wayne


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I'll take a look.
Unit now on order.

This may be better for the Boxster, it goes to 'sleep' mode after 7 days sitting still, no central locking etc and that has caught me out once when i left it too long....

A loom for the 911 and Boxster would be ideal.

Wow - no red wine required!

https://amzn.eu/d/8g0emQN


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Yes, I thought I had no points left after fresh slicks on the LOLA @ £1500 the 4.
Thanks for the link.
Found them on ebay a touch cheaper, £11.99, that will buy 1/2 cup of coffee tomorrow at the NEC....

Quite a Battery Fest, the new one for the Yamaha, new Bosch for the 911 pair and now some hi-tech charging in my garage for the 911 and the Boxster; what's going on?