Ye Olde Rad Blog II

••••• today's entry continues below •••••

Normally, under such circumstances, I park the car in the sun for a few hours, and things dry out nicely. But the sun hasn't been out for a week.

I decided to yank a plug, so I could take a look. Sure 'nuf, it reeked of gasoline. So I borrowed a friend's car and drove to the local auto-parts store. There I handed the plug to the guy behind the counter and asked, "Got any of these?" (Bosch)

He didn't. Dang. I told him my problem. He insisted plugs weren't the problem, and that new plugs would be a waste of money.

But he *did* have the platinum version of the plugs I needed (more expensive @ $3 each). I said, "Give me six." Again, he insisted I was wasting my money, and listed a handful of things likely to be the cause (all of which would cost far more than $3).

I've had the Rad-mobile more than 20 years now (23, actually) and never changed the plugs myself. (I'm a firm believer in letting professionals do their job.) But I can't see paying a hundred bucks to let some guy change my plugs.

Well, as I discovered, changing plugs on a 911 suks. There's no room. You actually have to yank the air filter to reach the plugs on the passenger-side.

My hands were quickly covered with nasty, black grease (probably carcinogenic). Luckily I coated my hands with moisturizer before beginning, so clean up wasn't bad, tho I still have grease under my fingernails.

After changing the plugs, it *did* fire up, tho ran rough. Had to keep RPM up or it would die. Once the engine reached normal operating temperature (NOT), things smoothed out (probably dried whatever wires or components were wet).

Then I headed for the freeway. The Porsche doesn't much care for city driving. It's designed for the Autobahn (road in Germany with no speed limit). It doesn't even take off its jacket until 85 or 90 mph. Built for speed. Steady at speed. Actually runs *better* at speed. As if it comes alive. Hates stop-n-go city traffic. Smothers it.

Drove 30 minutes up and 30 minutes back. Long story short > the Rad-mobile is running better than it has in a long time. I feel like smackin' that guy who told me I was wasting my time replacing the plugs.

Moral of the story > just because a guy speaks with self-assurance, doesn't mean he knows what the hell he's talking about. Owners usually know their cars better than the guy who works in an autoparts store.

That guy was freaking me out, telling me all the $tuff that was "likely" wrong. The only thing more expensive than parts-n-labor on a 911 is .. your lawyer. Those plugs were 2 years old. I *knew* they needed replacing. (I've been focused on other things.)

I got lucky. The '84 was one of the most trouble-free years. Maybe *the* most trouble-free year. The Carrera series runs '84 to '88. Both before & after were troubled serie$.

Friend had '90 Carrera2 (C2). Put $28K into assorted repair bills. Now he drives a 'Vette. (Trator.) Bought mine at 2-years old, in '86, Lancaster, PA. (Anybody there know Michael Matto, my old runnin' buddy?) Traded in an '83 911 SC for it (+$7K).

While in high school, I worked at a gas station, where I learned a few tricks with cars.

On a 911, the plugs are recessed into access ports. You can't actually *see* the plugs when they're installed. You stick the plug-wrench in the port and hope to find the plug there.

I used the plug-wrench which comes with the emergency toolkit. Not the best. No ratchet action.

One of the plugs came out with difficulty, as if it were stripped. Tho the new plug went in fine (by hand most of the way).

I should probably trade-in the Rad-mobile for something a little more practical, but I enjoy having the bug sit up front, beside me, where I can see him, and talk to him, .. instead of in the backseat, where he would ride with most other cars.

And I like being able to pop off the targa-top, and tootle around town with him .. nothing but blue sky above .. his long, white hair whipping in the wind, dancing on his head, violently.

For more along these lines, here's a Google search, preconfigured for the query > porsche 911 carrera wet change replace spark plugs