hello from newbie

[Guest]

Hello everyone,

Just got my 964 C4 yesterday!!! I'm so chuffed, as I'm sure you all remember the day you got your first 911!

Will be joining PCGB very soon.

Just wondering though, about the oil temp. gauge. As I live in London and the 911 is my only car, when should I start worrying about it? On my way back home I ended up driving through central London in the traffic jam from hell. When the needle got close the black mark (the one before the red one at the top), but not touching or above it I got a bit worried and put the heater on full blast. That kept the needle below that mark. Apart from being quite uncomfortable with the hot air blasting at me, the car seemed fine and the needle didn't go up any further.

I suppose what I'm asking is did I panic too soon? Could I have kept going without putting the heater on? At what point on the dial should I start to worry?

Sorry if this is a stupidly newbie question, but any advice/help would be much appreciated.

Cheers
Humy.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Humy,

Welcome to 964 ownership - in more ways that one!!!

Oil temperature is, as you realise, fairly crucial in a 964 since it is one major part of the engine cooling system. When you're stuck in a traffic jam it's not that unusual to see the temperature go pretty high although I'd like to have the comfort of knowing the the oil cooler fan is coming on as required.

It's entirely possible that there is nothing wrong but I think it's worth checking that (a) the oil thermostat is opening correctly and (b) the oil cooler is getting warm (feel the right wing) and (c) the cooler fan is operating. The fan has two speeds although it will be pretty difficult to get it to run at both speeds without doing a "bodge" at the relay. The fan makes use of a ballast resistor to drop the voltage for the slow speed (in common withe the a/c condenser (if you have a/c)) and the rear blower and it's not uncommon for the ballast resistor to break up and stop the slow speed operating.

Some of these things can be checked out with the Porsche diagnostic tools but a bit of knowledgeable investigating comes free!!

I'm sure you'll have a load more questions as ownership endures - just remember where to come!!

Regards

Dave

 

[smallspeed]

one other quick point, the heater runs off heat exchangers on the exhaust and so has little or no effect on oil temperature []

congratulations on your purchase; now post some pic's!!.. []

ben

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the info Dave & Ben.

Seeing as you asked here's a pic. Though it's from the website (eporsch) that I got it from. I'll take some nice ones when it's a bit sunnier etc.[8D] and will put them up in due course.

All I've done today is just look outside on my drive and grin like a cheshire cat!! Can't wait to do some track days!

 

[mr pg]

Your biggest worry living and driving in London should be the new £25 daily charge for the privilege of owning such a car!

 

[Guest]

 

[smallspeed]

register it as a minicab...

costs £82 for the application fee, and £27 a year for the licence, then you avoid paying the congestion charge completely (ask me how I know [] )

looks really nice; is that dark green or dark blue?..

ben

 

[smallspeed]

ps.. there is no vehicle suitability check for registering as a mini-cab; you just need the paperwork to prove its yours and a valid MOT

 

[Guest]

[] lol,,,, okay, so how do you know about the minicab thing? I don't have to have a plate on the car do I?

It's Amazon Green Metallic. Though it is on the blue side of green. Looks more green when the sun is shining. Am waiting for the sun to come out so I can take some nice pics.

Oh and by the way, the oil temp seems to have settled down now, so that's a relief. Just me panicing I think.

Cheers

 

[smallspeed]

its definitely worth checking your fan is working at both speeds if you're going to be using the car in traffic and around town, as its much worse (obviously) in the summer
there are checks and work around's to force the fan to trigger so you can check without getting the car cooking hot!
as for the mini-cab thing, i don't know what the deal is for london now, however a mate of mine has done this. you dont have to have a plate, the whole thing is worked off your reg number...
im sure if you do a search you will find loads of info, in the meantime i will have a chat to my mate who has an SL55 registered as a london minicab and my dad who's CL600 is also registered i think, although me may have let it lapse as he doesnt go to the big smoke so much these days []

 

[polar964]

Welcome to the forum Humy and life with a 964 and of course congratulations on your recent purchase []

 

[Porker993]

CL600

Wow. What a minicab - amazing car...[] Only 2 doors though, so a bit inconvenient for passengers. Nice and comfy once you're in, though.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Paul, I've only had the car a couple of days and am totally in love with it!

Ben, do you know where I can get the info for these checks? Is there a "how to" somewhere?

P.S I joined PCGB online yesterday, but have not heard anything back yet. I know it says you have to wait a while for things to come through the post but I thought at least a confirmation email for the money paid would come through.

 

[Steve Brookes]

ORIGINAL: humy

Thanks Paul, I've only had the car a couple of days and am totally in love with it!

Ben, do you know where I can get the info for these checks? Is there a "how to" somewhere?

P.S I joined PCGB online yesterday, but have not heard anything back yet. I know it says you have to wait a while for things to come through the post but I thought at least a confirmation email for the money paid would come through.

They have less staff these days I believe so things can be a bit slow. My renewal this year took ages to process so I wouldn't worry too much.

Welcome to the 964 renaissance. You got in just in time as these cars are going up in demand almost by the day now! []

 

[smallspeed]

Plus chicks dig a 964 []

I spoke to my dad last night and he said he did his with help from the website below but hasn't bothered this year as he's not working in london ever again and then went into some rant about people in pin-stripe suits and blue shirts with white collars []

http://www.lphca.co.uk/

He's a proper somerset country boy with a farm-yard accent and according to my mum he got fed up with people in London treating him like a yokel.. plus to quote him "im too old to put up with their bulls**t anymore"

I dont really know much about the process, but I think they have all the resources. You have to get listed on the Mayor's Private Hire Car List or something and then you're in, although they are trying to crack down on it a bit.. I think they send letters to some people and you have to say which hire car company you work for; perhaps we need a PCGB minicab shell-company for the london regions [8D]

Good luck with it; I had a look at the website this morning but it seems to be down at the moment so I can't give you anymore info, but if my farmer-yokel-dad can do it Im sure you will figure it out!

ben

 

[Guest]

Hey thanks for all that info Ben. Much appreciated.

Another quick question if I may; how hard do you have to yank the handbrake on these cars? To stop the car rolling off I need to really pull it up hard, about 4 clicks. It works fine, just wondering if that's normal or if I would need to get it adjusted. Or do I just need to get to the gym? [8|]