Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/118649
April Tech NoTes No W WArm WeATher DriviNg prepArATioNs All AllAn CAldwell By the time the first day of spring arrives, most Porsche owners have developed a strong urge to do some serious driving. This past winter was no exception after a number of winter storms and cold weather seemed to linger longer throughout the winter than was needed. With warmer driving just around the corner, it may be a good time to summarize some of the driving preparations that can help avoid early season inconveniences. Of course, if the Porsche was driven all winter, normal routine maintenance may be all that is required. However, if the Porsche is in a semi-stored situation after last fall���s driving, and dates back more than 10 or 15 years in age, then it may be worth while to review some of our past experience to achieve an uneventful return to warmer driving conditions. And even on the daily drivers, it is often a good idea to check out the systems used only in warm weather, such as air conditioners and cooling systems to make sure they will work correctly when needed. To assist in the review, we have briefly summarized eight of the normal mechanical areas previously identified (Reference 1) for most older Porsches. Most, if not all, can be checked by the owner ahead of time. Normal maiNteNaNce issues 1. Engine compartments. Fuel lines and flexible fuel lines and hoses should be in good condition, leak-free and there should be a positive return spring action on the throttle plate (if the Porsche is old enough to have a mechanically operated throttle). There should be no engine oil leaks; engine drive belts should be in good condition and correctly tensioned along with electrical wiring properly located and safely secured with good connections. 2. Batteries. Storage batteries need to be fully charged, securely fastened to the battery support and have no leaks or cracked caps. Note that a normal full charge is 12.8 volts in the static condition. A trickle charger is an important aid to keeping the battery ready to go in a car that has not been driven regularly. Connections to the main power leads and the body ground should be clean and tight. 36 April 2011 3. Tires and Wheels. Tires should meet minimum tread requirements, all be of the same brand and model and have no cracks or damage. Asymmetric tread tires must be mounted with sidewall arrows in the correct rotation direction. There should be no cracks or bends in the wheels. Tire pressures with normal street tires should be no less than the factory recommendation and maintain the factory recommended front/rear pressure bias. 4. Brakes. Under continuous pressure, the brake pedal should hold a steady position at least 2 inches above the pedal stop. Brake fluid should not be discolored and have at least a current DOT 4 rating (more on this later). Brake pad and rotor thicknesses should exceed factory minimums for the particular model. 5. Suspension. Front wheel bearings should meet Porsche factory tightness specs. There should be no looseness in the steering components. Lower control arms on 944s should not have any cracks. Ball joints should be in good condition. Inner and outer CV joint bolts should be tight. 6. Interiors. Seat belts should be in good condition and properly attached. Seats should be firmly attached to their tracks and have solid seat backs. Windows should be in good condition with functional opening and closing mechanisms. 7. Lights and Turn Signals. These should all function properly, including the brake lights. On the new models with ignition immobilizers, make sure the brake pedal light switch and/or clutch pedal switch will allow the Porsche to be easily started when the car is parked, as we described in last November���s Spiel (Reference 2). 8. Suspension Integrity. All primary suspension components and attachment points should be free of damage with good joints, bushings and solid body attachments. None of the above requirements are particularly unusual and will be met by any stock Porsche maintained to factory standards. The normal requirements represent no more than a minimum of what