Saving a 924... hopefully
Discussion
A friend of ours was about to scrap / sell for scrap an '83 924 (2.0 NA)that had sat for nearly 6 years without turning a wheel. Thinking only of me of course, my son (H18ENF on here) decided I needed a new project (having just got his MX5 back on the road I had nothing to do you see). So yesterday saw the old thing dragged unceremoniously the 20 odd miles back to my house where it now sits in the dry for the first time in ages.
There are a couple of known issues as well as some new ones appearing by the minute of course.
The 'declared' faults first:
1) Fuel leak at the rear - it was this that led to it being laid up in the first place
2) Flat tyre (fixed)
3) No battery (fixed)
4) It's Guards Pink
At first sight the fuel leak seems to be coming from a fairly easy to get at bit of pipework rather than the tank itself, but I know the tanks are a weak spot so not counting chickens yet.
'Undeclared' challenges:
1) The most frustrating thing thus far is the flippin' immobiliser. I shall put an appeal for help with that in a seperate thread rather than confuse this one.
2) Corroded brake pipes
3) It's not exactly watertight in the cabin! Fuse box is literally dripping still and its been indoors for 24hrs!
4)Boot lock - doesn't sem to have the right key
5)Lots of homemade wiring challenges... like the toggle switch to turn the fuel pump on! The Volvo rocker switch to turn the cooling fan on, etc etc
6)Outer sills 'feel' a bit thin....? (hope it ends at the outers)
Plus points?
Well its got great leather seats ... not even worn through on the bolster. Alloys are in great condition, Fat folder of receipts up to '07, .......... ermmm I might be running out now!
This is not going to be a full restoration, I don't have the time, the money or the patience!. Hence, the plan is to sort out the immobiliser so I can see if it actually runs ok before commiting to anything more involved / costly.
Anyway, for now here are some pics of the old thing so you can form your own opinions and I will update this as we go along.
Anyone with experience of saving 924s I would be very grateful for your advice and wisdom!
Chris
What's this!!?
There are a couple of known issues as well as some new ones appearing by the minute of course.
The 'declared' faults first:
1) Fuel leak at the rear - it was this that led to it being laid up in the first place
2) Flat tyre (fixed)
3) No battery (fixed)
4) It's Guards Pink
At first sight the fuel leak seems to be coming from a fairly easy to get at bit of pipework rather than the tank itself, but I know the tanks are a weak spot so not counting chickens yet.
'Undeclared' challenges:
1) The most frustrating thing thus far is the flippin' immobiliser. I shall put an appeal for help with that in a seperate thread rather than confuse this one.
2) Corroded brake pipes
3) It's not exactly watertight in the cabin! Fuse box is literally dripping still and its been indoors for 24hrs!
4)Boot lock - doesn't sem to have the right key
5)Lots of homemade wiring challenges... like the toggle switch to turn the fuel pump on! The Volvo rocker switch to turn the cooling fan on, etc etc
6)Outer sills 'feel' a bit thin....? (hope it ends at the outers)
Plus points?
Well its got great leather seats ... not even worn through on the bolster. Alloys are in great condition, Fat folder of receipts up to '07, .......... ermmm I might be running out now!
This is not going to be a full restoration, I don't have the time, the money or the patience!. Hence, the plan is to sort out the immobiliser so I can see if it actually runs ok before commiting to anything more involved / costly.
Anyway, for now here are some pics of the old thing so you can form your own opinions and I will update this as we go along.
Anyone with experience of saving 924s I would be very grateful for your advice and wisdom!
Chris
What's this!!?
I think this calls for not one or two, but an entire years supply of brave pills!! Preferably to be taken on the first day that you touch it with wire cutters or a spanner! 
Immo fault shouldn't be too hard to sort, it's going to be an aftermarket unit, so it'll be a case of trace it back to where it interrupts the circuits and reconnect the wires. It'll probably have cut either the power to the starter or power to the fuel pump (or if it's a recent-ish unit, both of them), so I'd begin my search under the dash on the drivers side or under the back seats near the pump.
I genuinely laughed out loud at 'guards pink'!!
Immo fault shouldn't be too hard to sort, it's going to be an aftermarket unit, so it'll be a case of trace it back to where it interrupts the circuits and reconnect the wires. It'll probably have cut either the power to the starter or power to the fuel pump (or if it's a recent-ish unit, both of them), so I'd begin my search under the dash on the drivers side or under the back seats near the pump.
I genuinely laughed out loud at 'guards pink'!!
to you and say "Good on you, Get stuck in...and all the best with it"
You see when I bought this little 'red' gem he huffed and puffed called me 'Benjamin' a lot (a name only ever used at times of frustration) whilst deep down he's now as happy as a Horse owner who's found a new source of income from Nobby his incontinent donkey.
While I may as much help in a garage as a flood I shall be there to take pictures, and buy biscuits and hold 'This Lamp, so I can see that bit there'.
Looking forward to helpful hints and advice though!
While I may as much help in a garage as a flood I shall be there to take pictures, and buy biscuits and hold 'This Lamp, so I can see that bit there'.
Looking forward to helpful hints and advice though!
Good to see another one....
This is mine, kindly donated by a PH'er:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I am rather jealous of the seats and lower bumper trim, definatly look a lot better than what I have. I am suffering from a few similar fualts (smell of fuel inside the cabin with a full tank) which is likely the hoses in the boot, broken sunroof (mechanism/worn gear/broken linkage).
It would be good to compare notes and see what fixes certian issues as I'm planning on running it as it is for the summer before taking it off the road over winter/next year so I can either fix/convert it to a track car, already have gf approval for the latter!!!
This is mine, kindly donated by a PH'er:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I am rather jealous of the seats and lower bumper trim, definatly look a lot better than what I have. I am suffering from a few similar fualts (smell of fuel inside the cabin with a full tank) which is likely the hoses in the boot, broken sunroof (mechanism/worn gear/broken linkage).
It would be good to compare notes and see what fixes certian issues as I'm planning on running it as it is for the summer before taking it off the road over winter/next year so I can either fix/convert it to a track car, already have gf approval for the latter!!!
H6CJF said:
What's this!!?
If you're referring to the wee broken rubber bit, it's just a drain hole from the scuttle behind. Water dripping down the fuse box is probably from corrosion under the battery tray as felixp wrote.As it just so happens, I went to view a 924 yesterday, but the dealer wasn't willing to take my part ex for a respectable price
Good luck with getting it running 
Nice project! Paint should come back nicely. You made need a little 2500grit wet and dry on the white bits though.
Agree on the battery tray - if there is water on the fuses that's almost certainly where it is coming from - that may need some welding? If it's generally good it could be hairline cracks in which case a good coating of Plastidip may solve that problem.
With the fuel leak, is it just when the fuel pump is running or at any time? You could try isolating the tank by clamping off the rubber hoses and seeing if it still leaks - assuming that it is leaking when the fuel pump's not running. If it is the tank removal isn't as bad a job as it sounds - will also give a chance to clean up the gearbox (refresh the oil). I used a chemical sealing kit on one of my tanks and have had no problem.
Welcome to the club... they're fun to work on... even more fun to drive
Agree on the battery tray - if there is water on the fuses that's almost certainly where it is coming from - that may need some welding? If it's generally good it could be hairline cracks in which case a good coating of Plastidip may solve that problem.
With the fuel leak, is it just when the fuel pump is running or at any time? You could try isolating the tank by clamping off the rubber hoses and seeing if it still leaks - assuming that it is leaking when the fuel pump's not running. If it is the tank removal isn't as bad a job as it sounds - will also give a chance to clean up the gearbox (refresh the oil). I used a chemical sealing kit on one of my tanks and have had no problem.
Welcome to the club... they're fun to work on... even more fun to drive
Quick update: I found a couple of hours this afternoon so decided to further investigate the electrics.
First stop was the fuse board and relay panel... completely shot from water ingress . Most of the relays actually had water in them and all connections have disintegrated so that needs replaceing. As do all the relays. The battery box has been fibreglassed so it must be coming through the screen.
Next I turned my attention to the alarm(s) God knows why two but there you go. One Serpi Star & one Toad. Again both control units (under the o/s dash were capable of sustaining aquatic life and so little wonder they werent working properly. Both are now removed!
Hopefully all wiring is now back to standard and once I find a new fuse block and relays we shall see where we stand!
Finally, the mysterious switches as pictured earlier... one goes to the fuel pump relay (wires tucked down the side of the relay 'legs' and the other the same for the cooling fan. Presumably someone thought this an easier bodge than replacing the relays! COnsequence is they've butchered the centre console:
should be able to sort that.
So, there we are Easter Sunday afternoon gone! ... Off to search ebay for fuse boards now.
Cheers
Chris
First stop was the fuse board and relay panel... completely shot from water ingress . Most of the relays actually had water in them and all connections have disintegrated so that needs replaceing. As do all the relays. The battery box has been fibreglassed so it must be coming through the screen.
Next I turned my attention to the alarm(s) God knows why two but there you go. One Serpi Star & one Toad. Again both control units (under the o/s dash were capable of sustaining aquatic life and so little wonder they werent working properly. Both are now removed!
Hopefully all wiring is now back to standard and once I find a new fuse block and relays we shall see where we stand!
Finally, the mysterious switches as pictured earlier... one goes to the fuel pump relay (wires tucked down the side of the relay 'legs' and the other the same for the cooling fan. Presumably someone thought this an easier bodge than replacing the relays! COnsequence is they've butchered the centre console:
should be able to sort that.
So, there we are Easter Sunday afternoon gone! ... Off to search ebay for fuse boards now.
Cheers
Chris
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