Saga continues... Driver Door Harness

[PSU_Crash]

This car is full of surprises at every turn!
I've been sick with Covid since wednesday and finally feeling a little better today. Thought I'll just get that door harness fixed up and reinstalled. It was cut up and just laying in the door when I bought the car. After all, working windows and mirrors are nice to have.


I knew this connector went to the mirror. I did not understand why it was cut off. As I had the solder station ready to go, I'm glad I looked closer to see that it doesn't fit through the hole. At least that kind of makes sense. I would have de-pinned, but that's just me apparently.


Pulled the mirror assembly off and had to look up how to get the glass out. NC944er to the rescue! Only problem was that I couldn't get the mirror glass to tilt any way I pushed on it. Luckily I was able to go through the hold in the bottom and release the glass, or so it seemed. The ring turned, but the glass wouldn't come out. Using a plastic trim tool for some (a lot) of leverage it popped loose to reveal this.



At first I thought, why would there be RTV all over!? Nope, much worse. Fairly certain that's seam sealer since it's hard as a rock. This has the electric movment all 100% glued in place and no way will it move. Great ....

Corrosion, my favorite. These connectors were difficult to remove and the wires are toast.


Time to hunt for a part number for the electromechanical part. Doesn't appear to be one on it. Maybe Ebay for the whole assembly since the black plastic surround/bezel is in rough shape anyways.


Also move proof that it was not resprayed the correct color as I was told by the seller. I do have a reciept for the paint job that was done in February that simply states "Color change - silver". I think I'll give them a call on Monday to find out what paint code this actually is so I can at least fix some of the real bad spots and match


Every screw or bolt in the mirror assembly was wrong and a few were missing. I still have zero regrets for buying this car. It desperately needed someone to love it. I'm just being forced to learn the ins and outs a little faster than anticipated

[PSU_Crash]

After a lot of researching I found what I need on the Ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/389187022420

Sure, the whole assembly is available new from Pelican. At almost $500 though. No thanks

I also noticed I am missing this gasket on both sides. Not sure how vital that really is though. Mirrors are tight and "break away" as intended.
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/ ... M6jK8mWHTS

[blueline]

Good find on eBay - the seller's photo makes it look new.

Regarding the gasket, wouldn't it keep water out and protect the paint somewhat?

[PSU_Crash]

Good find on eBay - the seller's photo makes it look new.

Regarding the gasket, wouldn't it keep water out and protect the paint somewhat?

Agreed, it would help to keep water out of there, which is always a good thing. I'm suppose I'm just being cheap. For $30 each I think a rubber washer from my stash would do the same thing and few (if anyone) would ever know the difference.

While I was at it I ordered the mirror to door rubber seal. Both of those are also missing. Then remembered my broken fog lenses, so while at Auto Atlanta I grabbed a pair of those in polycarbonate. Plus a rear hatch seal and upper window seals. That got expensive in a hurry, Merry Christmas to me I suppose

[Tom]

I must say, the previous owner of this car was quite the hack. Almost like he cut the harness out of spite -- what do you accomplish by leaving live wires cut like that? I'd say at least he was thoughtful enough to store it in the door for you, but I'm guess that was just closer than his garbage can/heap... The Porsche gods are smiling on you for bringing the car back to its former glory.

[PSU_Crash]

I must say, the previous owner of this car was quite the hack. Almost like he cut the harness out of spite -- what do you accomplish by leaving live wires cut like that? I'd say at least he was thoughtful enough to store it in the door for you, but I'm guess that was just closer than his garbage can/heap... The Porsche gods are smiling on you for bringing the car back to its former glory.

Of course the BaT listing said nothing about the windows, mirrors, radio, fogs, hatch, wipers, etc being inoperable. Hack is a nice way of describing him! He knew what he was doing. Clearly a quick flip for a few bucks.

The harness wasn't cut with live wires exposed. It was not run out of the door to the firewall at all. The entire hacked harness was laying inside the door and plugged into nothing

Quite a few areas where the wires had obviosly been pulled against a sharp metal edge with insulation removed and copper showing. I repaired the harness, loomed it up and installed a new boot between the door and body (there wasn't one there) Then ran the harness through to test functions. I expected to find at least one window switch or motor to be bad. Nope. Both windows went all the way down and back up!! The passenger side definitely needs some TLC though. It's pretty slow and jerky. Should be an easy fix there. Even the speaker worked!

Now I'm at the point where I'm not sure how the harness is supposed to run through the body and up to the connector on the firewall area. I ran it down from the plug behind the hood release cable and behind/under the hood release, then through the hole in the bottom left as you are sitting in the car. It seems ok where it is. Google research didn't get me any quick answers. Lots of information on how it's ran inside the door which is kind of self explanatory. Up with the clips to the switches and back down with the motor wiring. Piece of cake. Not much on how it routes inside the car.

I sure hope the Porsche Gods are proud ... I'll try to route some of their love your way with that coolant leak Tom!

[Tom]

I must say, the previous owner of this car was quite the hack. Almost like he cut the harness out of spite -- what do you accomplish by leaving live wires cut like that? I'd say at least he was thoughtful enough to store it in the door for you, but I'm guess that was just closer than his garbage can/heap... The Porsche gods are smiling on you for bringing the car back to its former glory.

Of course the BaT listing said nothing about the windows, mirrors, radio, fogs, hatch, wipers, etc being inoperable. Hack is a nice way of describing him! He knew what he was doing. Clearly a quick flip for a few bucks.

The harness wasn't cut with live wires exposed. It was not run out of the door to the firewall at all. Then entire hacked harness was laying inside the door and plugged into nothing

Quite a few areas where the wires had obviosly been pulled against a sharp metal edge with insulation removed and copper showing. I repaired the harness, loomed it up and installed a new boot between the door and body (there wasn't one there) Then ran the harness through to test functions. I expected to find at least one window switch or motor to be bad. Nope. Both windows went all the way down and back up!! The passenger side definitely needs some TLC though. It's pretty slow and jerky. Should be an easy fix there. Even the speaker worked!

Now I'm at the point where I'm not sure how the harness is supposed to run through the body and up to the connector on the firewall area. I ran it down from the plug behind the hood release cable and behind/under the hood release, then through the hole in the bottom left as you are sitting in the car. It seems ok where it is. Google research didn't get me any quick answers. Lots of information on how it's ran inside the door which is kind of self explanatory. Up with the clips to the switches and back down with the motor wiring. Piece of cake. Not much on how it routes inside the car.

I sure hope the Porsche Gods are proud ... I'll try to route some of their love your way with that coolant leak Tom!

I'm routinely tempted to bid on BAT cars but I worry about exactly that kind of thing. Now I'll never be able to bid... Is there some kind of seller rating system on BAT for people who 'forget' to mention all the issues?

[PSU_Crash]

I'm routinely tempted to bid on BAT cars but I worry about exactly that kind of thing. Now I'll never be able to bid... Is there some kind of seller rating system on BAT for people who 'forget' to mention all the issues?

I don't think there is any kind of seller rating, BUT BaT does offer "buyer protection". I'm not sure exactly what that entails and I know you have to act fast with documentation after the sale if you hope to get anywhere. I do believe the BaT crew is there to help and honestly wants to make sure you get what is represented. Maybe it's worth sending them a heads up email, just as a "FYI, this guy blatently misrepresented the car on purpose. Not only are there many undocumented cosmetic issues, but it barely ran and was dangerous to run in that state" I probably should have done that back in April.
My advice would be to send someone to actually put eyes on a car you want before bidding, if you can. My uncle lives close to where my 944 came from and offered to go check it out. I said, nah, it looks fine. Lesson learned. I likely would have still bought it, there just would have been more negotiation.

In my case is was a sale outside of BaT. The winning bidder went to pick of the car and said, nope. So BaT contacted me as the next highest bidder and offered to put me in contact with the seller. Stating this will be a private sale without and protection through BaT. I was giddy like a school girl and jumped at it! Plenty of guys I know have bought all kinds of cars through BaT and had a great experience. Don't let my one bad apple ruin it for you.

Any advice about that harness routing? I'm off and plan to hit the shop soon to button it up.

[Tom]

I'm routinely tempted to bid on BAT cars but I worry about exactly that kind of thing. Now I'll never be able to bid... Is there some kind of seller rating system on BAT for people who 'forget' to mention all the issues?

I don't think there is any kind of seller rating, BUT BaT does offer "buyer protection". I'm not sure exactly what that entails and I know you have to act fast with documentation after the sale if you hope to get anywhere. I do believe the BaT crew is there to help and honestly wants to make sure you get what is represented. Maybe it's worth sending them a heads up email, just as a "FYI, this guy blatently misrepresented the car on purpose. Not only are there many undocumented cosmetic issues, but it barely ran and was dangerous to run in that state" I probably should have done that back in April.
My advice would be to send someone to actually put eyes on a car you want before bidding, if you can. My uncle lives close to where my 944 came from and offered to go check it out. I said, nah, it looks fine. Lesson learned. I likely would have still bought it, there just would have been more negotiation.

In my case is was a sale outside of BaT. The winning bidder went to pick of the car and said, nope. So BaT contacted me as the next highest bidder and offered to put me in contact with the seller. Stating this will be a private sale without and protection through BaT. I was giddy like a school girl and jumped at it! Plenty of guys I know have bought all kinds of cars through BaT and had a great experience. Don't let my one bad apple ruin it for you.

Any advice about that harness routing? I'm off and plan to hit the shop soon to button it up.

I'm not sure I followed what harness route you need. If it's something I can go take pics of, let me know and I can do that. My car isn't going anywhere soon. ;(

And, your right about one bad apple -- I know two people who bought Porsches on BaT and those cars were both as good or better than described.

[PSU_Crash]

I'm not sure I followed what harness route you need. If it's something I can go take pics of, let me know and I can do that. My car isn't going anywhere soon. ;(

I hate that for you Tom!

Where it's routed behind the carpet in the left side of the driver's footwell. Right after it goes into the car from the door boot. Then how is it routed up to the plug in the back top left of the footwell. I have it back together now and it seems fine, so no need for pics. Even if I did it wrong it works and no one will ever know