Picked up my 57 A, now have a couple of questions

roboguy · Post by **roboguy** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:27 pm

Hi all,

Picked up my 57 A today and drove it back into London from Newbury. It was a really good trip and she behaved beautifully all the way back. I love the sound this car makes when you open it up!

Unfortunately when I got home I discovered that the lock in the left hand door is not working. It just seems jammed i.e. you put the key in and it refuses to turn in either direction. I'm going to try taking the inside door panel off tomorrow and having a look - has anyone got any advice?

The other thing is I tried starting it just a few minutes after I turned her off after arriving back in London and it refused to start. I've started it twice without problem since. The first hot start is tried to turn over but it sounded like the battery was just about dead. I've got some jumper cables and am thinking about getting a 12v motorcycle battery to keep in the care just in case I have trouble again. Is anyone else doing this, if so what size (ampage) battery do you think I need?

It is such an awesome car and I just love driving it already. I'm determined not to let these two things tarnish a great day, but I'll feel a lot happier once they're sorted.

Cheers,
James

cubist · Post by **cubist** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:11 pm

Ah the joys of 6v 356 ownership... i'd feel a little disgruntled if my '56 started first time every time! It likes to keep me on my toes and if it can smell fresh cash in my bank then obligingly breaks something so that I don't get too comfortably well off. Little love...

I've not cured the hot start issues yet but think it deserves a rest after i've caned it. Normally takes 15mins before it will restart with any oomph. I'm about to fit an electric fuel pump which ought to put less strain on the battery getting the fuel back up to the carbs. Also going to try the optima battery route for a stronger turnover. If all else fails i'll convert to 12v and a hi-torque starter but have resisted so far...

If you're in luck, our man at PR Services will be along soon with some proper answers!

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:30 pm

Just a thought (four beers) My old 914 had a hot start issue. This was resolved by installing a relay that meant the power went to the starter in a more direct fashion.

I know nothing about electrickery so maybe ask Tim (impmad2000).

rocket280 · Post by **rocket280** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:56 pm

What can happen is after the engine is switched off heat can be transferred up the inlet manifolds and then up to the carbs making the carbs hotter than they would be if the engine was running. This can cause starting problems. Porsche got over this problem by installing thick fibre spacers between the carbs and the manifolds to stop the heat transfer. check that your car has them as they may have been left out during the restoration. Thinking about it I'm not sure if this is just for solex carbs and not zeniths.

roboguy · Post by **roboguy** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:56 pm

Thanks for the advice on the hot starts guys, I'll be checking up on those fiber spacers.

What about the spare battery for emergency starts? Anyone doing this? I looked at a few 12v motorcycle batteries on the weekend and some are quite small and light so they wouldn't be a big deal to have in sitting in the car. I'm just not sure what amp hour rating I'd need?

Cheers!

mad · Post by **mad** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 4:31 pm

if you have a hot start problem...i doubt the spare battery will help, whatever is causing the non-start, will still be apparent

relay so power goes straight to starter from battery missing out ignition is best option

greg356 · Post by **greg356** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:39 pm

I used to have exactly the same problem, a real pain. Replacing the earth strap between the battery and bulkhead and underneath between the chassis forks and bulkhead helped but did not cure. I changed the starter motor bush in the gearbox again helped but did not cure. I tried a higher Amp battery no good. When I changed to 12v the world was rosey, never had the same problem again.

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:24 pm

are you sure the passanger lock is the same as the rest ? is there not a chance that at some point the handle & lock has been replaced ?

mine has diffrent keys for the doors & ignition.

roboguy · Post by **roboguy** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 9:12 am

Hi Helen,

Helen wrote:are you sure the passanger lock is the same as the rest ? is there not a chance that at some point the handle & lock has been replaced ?
mine has diffrent keys for the doors & ignition.

My car has 3 identical keys with Porsche written on them. The all work in the ignition and the right hand door so it would seem to indicate I still have the original ignition and door locks. The previous owner didn't mention having replaced the lock, so at the moment my best guess is that at some point both locks have been apart and the pins that sit in the tumblers have been mixed up a bit. Until I can get the right hand lock apart (its grub screw is seized in there at the moment) I'm only guessing...

svens · Post by **svens** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 4:46 pm

roboguy wrote:Hi Helen,

Helen wrote:are you sure the passanger lock is the same as the rest ? is there not a chance that at some point the handle & lock has been replaced ?
mine has diffrent keys for the doors & ignition.
My car has 3 identical keys with Porsche written on them. The all work in the ignition and the right hand door so it would seem to indicate I still have the original ignition and door locks. The previous owner didn't mention having replaced the lock, so at the moment my best guess is that at some point both locks have been apart and the pins that sit in the tumblers have been mixed up a bit. Until I can get the right hand lock apart (its grub screw is seized in there at the moment) I'm only guessing...

If the key doesn't turn - then it's the wrong key.

roboguy · Post by **roboguy** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:27 am

Hi Svens,

svens wrote: If the key doesn't turn - then it's the wrong key.

That does seem like a logical conclusion, however for the reasons I stated earlier I believe it is the original lock. I'm not going to know until I can get the right hand lock apart to check the tumblers.