Carpokes

Latitude48 wrote: Wed Oct 15, 2025 4:17 pm Here's a picture I took almost exactly three years ago when I brought the '89 951 home after having a new clutch master and slave cylinder installed. The wheels are forged Fuchs, 10x18-ET65 and 8.0x18-ET52. The not installed center caps are 911 964 RS, silver with black crest.

Unfortunately, the 951 hasn't moved much since then since it's overdue for belts (based on time), and I don't currently have a place in the garage for it, so it's under a car cover. I'm hoping to be able to do the belts when it warms up next spring, but I need to figure out why it won't start. I had been running it every now and then to "drive around the block" but now it cranks great, but not a hint of "fire in the hole." This was my son's car for most of its life, and he apparently misplaced some of the records, so I don't know when the spark plugs and distributor cap were last replaced, and the spark plug wires are 27 year old Magnecor KV85, which I'm going to replace with a set I have from Clewatt Engineering. Spark plugs? I suppose the standard Bosch WR7DC unless there's a better recommendation.

I probably should sell this car, but it's been in the family for 29 years. Cheers.

20221013_200712735_iOS.jpg

Tom wrote: Wed Oct 15, 2025 7:00 pm

Latitude48 wrote: Wed Oct 15, 2025 4:17 pm Here's a picture I took almost exactly three years ago when I brought the '89 951 home after having a new clutch master and slave cylinder installed. The wheels are forged Fuchs, 10x18-ET65 and 8.0x18-ET52. The not installed center caps are 911 964 RS, silver with black crest.

Unfortunately, the 951 hasn't moved much since then since it's overdue for belts (based on time), and I don't currently have a place in the garage for it, so it's under a car cover. I'm hoping to be able to do the belts when it warms up next spring, but I need to figure out why it won't start. I had been running it every now and then to "drive around the block" but now it cranks great, but not a hint of "fire in the hole." This was my son's car for most of its life, and he apparently misplaced some of the records, so I don't know when the spark plugs and distributor cap were last replaced, and the spark plug wires are 27 year old Magnecor KV85, which I'm going to replace with a set I have from Clewatt Engineering. Spark plugs? I suppose the standard Bosch WR7DC unless there's a better recommendation.

I probably should sell this car, but it's been in the family for 29 years. Cheers.

20221013_200712735_iOS.jpg

Great looking car. And those wheels!! On the no-start, I'd go with the odds. If the boost gauge doesn't move to 1 when the ignition is on, check the DME relay. If the tach does not twitch when you crank it, check the speed and ref sensor connectors. If neither of those, check for fuel and spark. If you have neither or no spark, bypass the KLR and any alarm. If you have fuel or spark (but not both) then more likely something in the ignition or fuel systems themselves. If it has fuel and spark but sputters but won't run, check the timing belt alignment. And, of course, big vacuum leaks are always a no-start favorite. Hard to beat the stock plugs (thought NGK are right up there) and I love the Clewett wires...