924Board.org

StienbargerR · Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 1362 Location: Richmond, IN

This is my first post here! My name is Ryan, and I recently bought a 924 from a friend. Unfortunately we had to haul it home. We are pretty sure it is the distributor, but not for certain. The starter sounds great, just the engine doesnt turn over and run. Anyway, I put in a new coil the other day, just to make sure it wasnt that. Anyway here is the question. What is a Bosch C.D. unit? Would mine car have one? It is a 1978 924. It is all stock as far as I know. ( the second owner was an idiot, and didnt replace anything) So anyway, my coil is the same type as I saw in a catalog, and it said the coild wasn't compatible with a Bosch C.D. unit. So is it ok its in there?

Thanks,
Ryan

Khal · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 2:56 pm Post subject:

G'day, welcome to the 'board!

How long's the car been non-running? Might be a good idea to drain the tank and put fresh gas in it if it's been sitting for a long time. Check the tank for crud, too. And replace the fuel filter while you're at it (cheap, easy).

Assuming the fuel system is working, these things get fuel in the oil when they've been cranked a lot but haven't started. Once you get it to run (if not before...), change the oil ASAP.

I take it you mean the starter turns the engine over but the engine doesn't fire?

It may sound a little obvious and maybe you've already done it, but first things to check is if it's getting spark and fuel.

Any reason you suspect the distributor in particular? Have you already checked and it's not getting spark?

Two common failures are the fuel pump relay and the fuel pump (or pumps, some years/models have an in-tank pump and an external pump).

If you know the pump(s) are good then you can check the relay easy enough by removing it (it just unplugs) and jumping/hotwiring the connections.

Hard to check the pumps for sure without removing them and checking the flow (or just replacing them with known good ones).

A CIS tester will be a great help if it's a fuel system problem. Get one.

By the way, I've had both fuel and ignition problems with my car and I've ended up replacing everything

To save yourself some pain, if the car's been neglected in the past, it might be worth your while to replace ALL the simple stuff i.e.:

Spark plugs
Spark plug leads and HT lead
Distributor cap and rotor
Points (does the '78 NA have them?)
Coil (make sure it's the right one. Sorry, I don't know but others will)
Fuel filter
Fuel pump relay
Fuel pump(s)
Oil filter
Oil

Basically a major service...
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'80 924 Turbo

Ozzie · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 4:12 pm Post subject:

Ditto.
Check spark and fuel.
I think the '77 and '78 had breaker points in the dist and wired direct to the coil.
IIRC the '79 on had the bosch CD unit on the LH side behind the headlight with the breakerless dist.
_________________
Porsche 924 1984 (UK import) NA
Its AUTO and its BLACK
Montego Black on black/red
Engineer of Electro/Mechanical Systems Maintenance

Khal · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 4:32 pm Post subject:

Oh yeah... One of our Yank members might be able to sort you out with a copy of the factory workshop manual on CD (for a small fee, I'm sure

Anyone?). That'll help a lot. And/or get yourself a Haynes workshop manual.
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'80 924 Turbo

StienbargerR · Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 1362 Location: Richmond, IN

Thanks for the help. But, what is a CD unit? and no one knows if mine has one? I bought the hanes manual, and it doesnt seem to say anything about it. I will double check tho. The car hasnt been running for about two weeks now. The reason we think it is the distributor is because it has not been replaced, ever. (well the distributor rotor and cap.) Anyway,
thanks alot!

Ryan

Smoothie · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:47 am Post subject:

Actually as far as we've been able to determine, "CDI" or "CD" (Capacitor Discharge) ignition wasn't used in the 924. They got "TI", "TCI" or "TCI-H" (Transistor Ignition). Take a look here - http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=13316&start=5
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"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."

'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

numbbers · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 10:05 am Post subject:

I believe your car has a Bosch transister ignition, although I am not sure for a '78. One of our '78 owners needs to confirm this. Anyway, the transistor ignition will not work with just any coil, as some coils draw too much current, and will ruin the transistor amplifier. So, your best bet is to go to any good autoparts store, and buy the correct coil for your car. It will not be anymore expensive than a universal coil. I would guess $15 to $35 US. However, if you go for the universal coil, you may end up needing a new amplifier, which could be in the hundreds.

So, your first lesson as a Porsche owner, don't try to go on the cheap, it will just cost you more down the road.
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1980 924 Turbo

StienbargerR · Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 1362 Location: Richmond, IN

thanks for the help! It seems to be a good quality coil, it is racing quality, and it looks like it is that same voltage as the old one.

Ryan