She's doing it deliberately I know it
Discussion
In anticipation of me going back to the garage in a few days to have my refurbed speedo fitted to my 993, the car (she) has decided that a few other things should now be looked at. Latest 2 added to the list this morning after the sub-zero overnight temps were ABS warning light and battery (shaped, not sure if it's specifically to do with the battery) warning light. I'm not so worried about the ABS one, but concerning the battery one, what exactly does it indicate? Timing is obviously spot on as I need to take my nieces to school tomorrow morning so would rather not open the front door to find the car won't start at 0815....!
Could be lots of things Mario. An easy quick check is the switch in the engine bay. It's a little block with a plunger sticking out with a little wheel on it. It runs on the side of the alternator belt. If the belt snaps the plunger sticks further out and sets the battery light off on the dash. The wheel can sometimes slip off the belt if it's not sitting spot on.
May not be that but that's an easy check. If it's not, it's a case of checking charge with a multi meter.
Chances are your battery will still work tomorrow but if it's not charging you won't get too far before you lose the lights, then something else, then eventually the spark to you plugs.
I've got surprisingly far before in a car that wasn't charging. Turned out to be an engine earth lead snapped.
Good luck.
ETA - Beat me to it Davek.
May not be that but that's an easy check. If it's not, it's a case of checking charge with a multi meter.
Chances are your battery will still work tomorrow but if it's not charging you won't get too far before you lose the lights, then something else, then eventually the spark to you plugs.
I've got surprisingly far before in a car that wasn't charging. Turned out to be an engine earth lead snapped.
Good luck.
ETA - Beat me to it Davek.
Mario149 said:
In anticipation of me going back to the garage in a few days to have my refurbed speedo fitted to my 993, the car (she) has decided that a few other things should now be looked at. Latest 2 added to the list this morning after the sub-zero overnight temps were ABS warning light and battery (shaped, not sure if it's specifically to do with the battery) warning light. I'm not so worried about the ABS one, but concerning the battery one, what exactly does it indicate? Timing is obviously spot on as I need to take my nieces to school tomorrow morning so would rather not open the front door to find the car won't start at 0815....!
Speedo refurb? Can I ask what you had done and what was the cost. Mine is ok but sometimes the odometer clicks over a little funny, so I was looking at one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-911-964-993-VDO-...They usually go for around £200.00
The great thing is that, 1, you have a speedo reading zero and can keep the old one to show people if you sell, 2 , theres a place in the front of the service book for a stamp to show its been replaced.
just had a look in the engine bay and found this....
<pic would be here>
Presumably this is an alternator belt for which I now need a replacement? Also, how far are we talking here? I did 10 miles this morning and now need to do another 15 miles to fetch aforementioned children....
Balls, thumbsnap ain't working, but it's a toothed belt about 1cm wide and about the size of a small dinner plate
<pic would be here>
Presumably this is an alternator belt for which I now need a replacement? Also, how far are we talking here? I did 10 miles this morning and now need to do another 15 miles to fetch aforementioned children....
Balls, thumbsnap ain't working, but it's a toothed belt about 1cm wide and about the size of a small dinner plate
davek_964 said:
Looking on the bright side - you almost certainly don't have an ABS problem.
Lol!Pic here now:
So my next question is, is it a standard size/type etc, can I pick one up easily from somewhere and fit it myself? Or will the breakdown people have one? Or do I have to get it taken to the nearest specialist?
Mario149 said:
Lol!
Pic here now:
So my next question is, is it a standard size/type etc, can I pick one up easily from somewhere and fit it myself? Or will the breakdown people have one? Or do I have to get it taken to the nearest specialist?
If you're quick and tell the AA exactly what the problem is they can collect one, bring it out and fit it. They'll charge you for the belt but not for fitting obviously.Pic here now:
So my next question is, is it a standard size/type etc, can I pick one up easily from somewhere and fit it myself? Or will the breakdown people have one? Or do I have to get it taken to the nearest specialist?
It's specific to your car though so I don't know how easily they'll find one on a Friday teatime.
For the record, my first post was a bit garbage as my brain is fried today: it was picking the kids up this afternoon, not taking to school tomorrow. Anyway, we managed to fetch them and not grind to a halt in the middle of the road, but the trip to Tesco's to pick up dinner stuff was knocked on the head as I didn't fancy pushing my luck!
Hang on, isn't the alternator behind the fan on the 993? like the other aircooled 911s? If so, a broken belt that has stopped driving the alternator will have also stopped driving the cooling fan - this would be a very bad thing and the car should absolutely NOT be driven anywhere until the belt is fixed and the cooling fan restored to full operation. I can't see any pictures, but if the fan isn't going round when the engine is running, STOP and don't go any further until it is working again.
Okay kids, latest pic:
To confirm, the fan is still going round, presumably the belt I've marked with the red line is the fan belt, the bit I've circled in red is the fan belt sensor(?). Judging by some other pics I've seen on the interweb, the alternator belt looks like it should go round the pulleys I've marked in green?
ETA: if you're colour blind, be sure to let me know if you're going to give me advice based on this pic
To confirm, the fan is still going round, presumably the belt I've marked with the red line is the fan belt, the bit I've circled in red is the fan belt sensor(?). Judging by some other pics I've seen on the interweb, the alternator belt looks like it should go round the pulleys I've marked in green?
ETA: if you're colour blind, be sure to let me know if you're going to give me advice based on this pic
Wozy68 said:
Speedo refurb? Can I ask what you had done and what was the cost. Mine is ok but sometimes the odometer clicks over a little funny, so I was looking at one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-911-964-993-VDO-...
They usually go for around £200.00
The great thing is that, 1, you have a speedo reading zero and can keep the old one to show people if you sell, 2 , theres a place in the front of the service book for a stamp to show its been replaced.
I can't remember exactly, but I think the refurb was quoted to me as £120 (presumably ex VAT) by Jaz in London. They send it off somewhere, give you a temporary one, then you go back to have them swapped overThey usually go for around £200.00
The great thing is that, 1, you have a speedo reading zero and can keep the old one to show people if you sell, 2 , theres a place in the front of the service book for a stamp to show its been replaced.
Do get a genuine Porsche belt - this is because they are the correct size and although you can get an ordinary one in a standard size (such as the AA/RAC would likely carry) that's within a gnat's whisker of being the correct fit, it will be too tight and therefore put a bit more strain on your alternator.
thegoose said:
Do get a genuine Porsche belt - this is because they are the correct size and although you can get an ordinary one in a standard size (such as the AA/RAC would likely carry) that's within a gnat's whisker of being the correct fit, it will be too tight and therefore put a bit more strain on your alternator.
Hmmm....I think what I might do is get the AA etc to fit that, then get a proper one done on Tuesday....that way at least I can get home (my gf and I are at my sis's place about 60 miles away)Mario149 said:
Hmmm....I think what I might do is get the AA etc to fit that, then get a proper one done on Tuesday....that way at least I can get home (my gf and I are at my sis's place about 60 miles away)
Makes sense. There's plenty running around with a belt that's nearly the right size - me included until it was picked up by Unit 11 when they were checking it over.So, end of the saga: got picked up by breakdown people within 35 mins of calling and was trailered to Northway where the owner (curly-haired chap...Ray maybe? I'm terrible with names 
) very kindly whacked on a new belt in the space of 15 mins or so while we wondered round, looked at cars and stared at their chickens, horses and an alpaca?! Seems replacing the belt is not completely straightforward as different MYs of 993 have different length belts, luckily he had one in stock of the correct size. Looks like the original wasn't a Porsche one (and nor is the fan belt which was looking a bit tired) so he said get it replaced as well when the car goes in for its other bits on Tuesday (he didn't have one handy).
He also plugged in the magic machine at my request to read out any faults as even after a new O2 sensor, I'm still struggling with v low mpg, averaging about 20 even with an awfully high percentage of motorway miles. Seems everything read out fine so the mystery continues. He suggested it might need new spark plugs (and having trawled through the history, I can't see any done for the last 3 years or so) so I guess that's the next thing to get checked.
) very kindly whacked on a new belt in the space of 15 mins or so while we wondered round, looked at cars and stared at their chickens, horses and an alpaca?! Seems replacing the belt is not completely straightforward as different MYs of 993 have different length belts, luckily he had one in stock of the correct size. Looks like the original wasn't a Porsche one (and nor is the fan belt which was looking a bit tired) so he said get it replaced as well when the car goes in for its other bits on Tuesday (he didn't have one handy).He also plugged in the magic machine at my request to read out any faults as even after a new O2 sensor, I'm still struggling with v low mpg, averaging about 20 even with an awfully high percentage of motorway miles. Seems everything read out fine so the mystery continues. He suggested it might need new spark plugs (and having trawled through the history, I can't see any done for the last 3 years or so) so I guess that's the next thing to get checked.
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