Rust. There's no such thing as a rust-free 914. If you've found a totally rust-free 914, check again. Chances are you'll find rust somewhere. Particularly prone are the battery tray (check for it having been replaced) on the right hand side of the engine compartment, everything below that (which includes the right-rear suspension!), the firewall in front of the engine, the jack points on the sides of the car, longitudinal members of the frame (the inner rockers), the rear of the rear trunk floor, and the lower channel where the windshield sits are known trouble spots.
Body Flex. You can check for flex with the "Big Butt Test." Get someone of large size (>200 lbs) to sit in the passenger's seat (the side with the battery!). With the door closed, roll the window up. Then try to open the door. If the window sticks at the top or back edge, the body is flexing. Also try the driver's seat. Body flex is fairly bad news. It can be cured, but it is generally time-consuming and expensive.
Oil Leaks These are relatively common. Some of the cures are cheap in parts, but expensive in labor (e.g., oil cooler seals). The oil pressure idiot light sender, on top near the distributor, can leak. Push rod tube seals commonly leak, but can be replaced with the engine in the car! The aforementioned oil cooler seals, the galley plugs, and the front or rear main seals are also not uncommon leaks. The engine may need to be removed to fix these.
Bad Shifting The 914 is known for transmission shifting woes. Sloppy shifting is part of the car's character, especially on the pre-73 cars. Replacing the shift linkage bushings can help; these parts are plastic and can wear quickly. Most cars will crunch going into first gear; this is generally regarded as "normal", except for a brand-new transmission. Some will also crunch going into second. This may mean a rebuild is in the near future.
Broken Clutch Cable Tube Another source of "transmission" grinding noises is the clutch cable. Specifically, the tube in the center tunnel that the cable goes through. Rust and time can cause this tube to break loose from the tunnel
wall, which will keep the clutch from fully disengaging. This causes grinding when shifting gears.The tube can be re-welded, but it may require cutting open the tunnel.
Top Leaks Take the car to a hand spray wash and see if water gets into car. If so, check for signs of previous water damage.
Taillight Leaks The taillights can also leak water into the rear trunk. Look under carpet for rust.
Broken Hinges The hinge pivots for the rear trunk lid can break off.
DPO Mods Lots of 914s have had significant modifications performed by the Dreaded Previous Owner. These modifications can be good, but more often, they totally screw the car up! Have someone knowledgeable check the car for condition
and originality. Know what you are buying. |