Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Hi folks.

Just went to see a 88 S4 automatic and require some advice and thoughts on the faults as follows:

Drove ok but sometimes seemed to get stuck in gear rather than changing up smoothly. Kick down seems to work. ok

A/C doesn't work, nor does it seem to blow cool air when selected to cold setting. Direction setting only seems to work on the windscreen, blower doesn't move the direction to the feet.

Tail gate release doesn't work from inside the car.

Drivers window doesnt move.

drivers seat motor doesnt work to move the seat back, but works on seat part, nor does it heat up.

The car has done 131.000 miles, , plenty porsche stamps but not much paper work.

The car has no dents and is pretty clean.

I may get it for £2000.

Question is, are the faults listed bad enough that i should walk away?

Advice welcome.

Thanks.

martin.

Hi MARTIN

For £2000 I would bite their hands off assuming its got an MOT

Usual electrical faults which may cost a reasonable amount to fix but as its SO cheap its worth spending I would think....most S4s go for around £4000 upwards...

The autobox sounds like low fluid (and its a pig to check and top up) but doable....

Aircon on a 928 rarely works (mine never has) and at approx cost if bad of around £2000 to fix.....most dont bother, the heating stuff is vacuum activated mostly but someone like Paul Anderson could fix it with all that spare money you will have lol

As I said, if I heard of an S4 FOR TWO GRAND with an MOT , I would buy it instantly as long as its driveable...

All the best Brett

Martin, I've tried phoning you but never got an answer. Do you want me to come and look at it again with you? Mike Dowie in Livingston has a 928 and I'm sure he will come too. If the items you've listed are the only faults, get on the phone and take it. When was the cambelt last done? Has it been checked for thrust bearing failure? Call me back if you want to talk about it. If you don't want it. I'm tempted.

£2,000 is cheap for an S4. Does it have the digital readouts in the dash? ("digi dash" version)

Transmission, it could be low fluid or you could need a new box. A second hand replacement could cost £1,000 fitted. To check/top up the oil level is not too hard, but has to be done with the engine RUNNING and warm.
The back of the car needs to be raised, say on ramps, and there's a plastic resevoir tank on the side of the gearbox. Checking it with the engine off will result in about a litre less fluid in than there should be.

Sounds like the HVAC (heating/ventilation) system is faulty, it's all controlled by vacuum and time consuming to repair. It's also very complicated, however not expensive to repair if you can do it yourself.
It could require the dash taking out or it could just be the non-return valve (a ten minute job) replacing, as on mine.

Yes it COULD cost £2,000 to fix the aircon, but not necessarily. Mine cost £600 to get going (new condenser, dryer, and some seals) It's nice to have it working.
It's possible that it IS working but won't blow any cold air due to the faulty distribution system...this happened on mine too.
The rest of the faults are not the end of the world, pretty much par for the course and you'll repair them as time goes on.
Spares are fairly plentiful and there are a couple of people who break 928's.

But for £2,000 the car sounds like a real bargain if the rest of it's OK.

Agree with the guys above. £2000 is a steel for a running MOT car. 140,000 Miles is nothing on a 928. Gearbox as said may be due to oil level.
Aircon would probably wake up with a regas but don't sweat about it. Take Lee with you as he offered and let them take a look round it for you just to cover any unknown items.

Then buy it and start having some fun!

Steve

I'll have it if you don't so feel free to pass over any details to me!

I just phoned the guy about this car. I asked what the reg was as it is hidden in the ad. He was like "er, can't remember, er, it's my brothers car". I said I wanted to do an HPI check then suddenly he remembered that it comes up as an Toyota MR2! Steer clear I think.

What? Oh dear that sounds bad... any reason?

It comes up as a Toyota MR2?
You couldn't even think about buying it...it could be anything, stolen, a ringer, rebuilt write-off. I thought it was suspiciously cheap.
There could be an innocent explanation for the false reg number (although I'm trying to think what it could be)