On the surface, this 1979 Porsche 928 with the desirable manual transmission looks quite good: just 50,000 miles, glossy red paint, straight body lines, and a very nice interior. However, it hides a secret that will likely lead to expensive repairs before you have the chance to drive it. Located in California and available here on eBay where bidding is over $4K but the reserve remains unmet, the 928 has sat for many years and has significant wiring damage caused by rodents that took up residence in the engine bay.
We’ll just get the bad news out of the way first. The engine bay does bear the trademark signs of rodent infestation, with debris strewn across the top of the fan shroud. The seller notes, “Vehicle has extensive rodent damage to engine and chassis wire harness and has been parked for many years. Not sure if engine even turns over but previous owner said it ran when parked.” Similar to the headaches of a flood car, re-wiring an entire vehicle or trying to find ways to fix just the affected areas are both time-consuming and frequently frustrating.
It’s a shame, because most long-parked 928s we feature usually don’t have such issues but do have trashed interiors and faded paint. My guess is this 928 was at least stored indoors, but unfortunately was started so infrequently that mice, rats and whatever else could inflict thousands of dollars in damage in relative peace. The 5-speed is seen far less frequently than the automatic in the 928, largely due to the car’s reputation as an excellent grant tourer. The seller notes the backseat was redone at one point and the front seats have been protected by sheepskin covers.
The seller says that with the right person repairing the 928, “…this can be a very respectable car.” I don’t necessarily disagree, but given the numerous horror stories I’ve read about repairing damage to wiring and engine harnesses, I hope the reserve is set at a reasonable level of offset the repairs. Of course, there’s plenty of DIY resources out there on sites like the Pelican Parts message board where other Porsche owners can walk you through the repair, but having a sense of how deep the damage goes on this particular 928 would be helpful for potential buyers.
I have repaired rodent damage in the past and it’s time consuming to run thru the wiring. I did it in a 60s muscle car god help the person with a modern day issue on newer cars.
If one buys it join a Porsche’s club to get help with other owners cars to look and compare their correct wiring non nibbled 👍👀
Oh rats! I’m not disappointed, there’s just rat damage I see.
One of the best almost supper cars ever produced. Yet dirt cheap and plenty available. Some day we will kick our selfs for not buying every sub $10k car out here. Learn to fix them and collect parts. Not much time till the collector car market covenants these masterpieces.
Looks like a good candidate to get the engine bay wiring harness from a wrecked car, even if it cost you a grand.
OR remove the engine, pull the remains of the harness and lay it out to make a new one. Yes, it will take lots of time and effort, but that body and interior condition make it worth it to the right person. I have to say I kind of wish I had that sort of money. Those bubble butt Porsches have had an appeal to me for years.
Who doesn’t like a big butt?!
I have seen this type of damage on 928’s before and it is as if they wiring they used is especially delicious to mice or rats because the chewing was extensive.
Honestly, it’d probably be a solid idea to rewire a 40-year-old Porsche anyway, so consider this one discounted simply to urge you along that path.
There are experienced Porschephiles out there who flinch at the prospect of a wiring job.
SBC…Interior…buff…done.
One of my favourite cars I have owned.
I miss my 85.5 S2.
Manual and low miles on this a nice upside if you can stomach the repairs.
Nice winter project.
My 06 Mustang GT convertible had 20k miles when I bought it in 14. I didn’t have wiring problems but I did find this mess when I removed the alternator. That reminds me to get rat poison for my garage this weekend !
Believe it or not, dryer sheets work good as rodent protection.
I’ve used them for years and never had an issue. I put them everywhere – on top and underneath everything.
I just found a couple underneath the seat of my wife’s Bug convertible while working on a seat cable.
The wiring harness is not such a bad fix. Cut the loom back, spread all the wires out and start soldering. The real underlying issue here is the engine – it’s going to need timing belts, water pump and all the seals changed (there’s more than one 😭). I’ve done them on Porsche’s before and they are a real pain in the ass. The brakes will probably need to be done and more than likely so will the fuel pump.
Some wiring is manufactured with peanut oil which makes the rodents think they found a buffet under the hood of your car. I do insurance claims and have seen them eat everything from Hyundais to Ferraris.
I know I had a Mercedes 320 Formatic wagon that a ground hog ate while I was sick for a few years. He got the wiring, brake lines and a lot of other rubber parts that have a similar oil used in the manufacture process. Totaled the car that was really useful to me. My insurance company said that they see between 5 and 10 claims a year for this reason and most of them are totals on even high cost cars.
Drop the mouse and install a rat motor. Don’t need no stinkin’ wiring…
Just a quick Google found engine harness both at a club site and ebay for around $750. Chassis wiring might be a bit more rare, but if you could get this for around 5G’s that would be a deal. If it wasn’t over a grand to ship I might piss my wife off and take a shot at this project.
ls swap!!!
I’ve done my far share of wiring harness rebuilds in my 50+ years in the industry, shorted and fused together, rodents, crash damage you name it. The worst one had to be a 3rd gen Rx7 that someone at the used car lot had managed to drill into the main front harness in a hidden spot. I think that was a 3 day search and discovery before the damage spot was located.
Rodents should keep munching away on it. I love the overpriced 911 can’t stand the yuppie 928. Advice to rodents. Keep munching away..
If it’s sat for a few years, check the timing belt before you even turn it over. If it pops, 4 grand to repair valves…………..
Then after the wireing………the problems will continue. …….as the 928 world turns. Tip if the iceberg!
Mine never let me down and was far from the best example so in my experience at least it was a reliable car.
However it was a few years newer.
I had one nice 82 euro with 95k well taken care of then sold it for college. Then years later had 3 really bad ones and will never own one ever again.
A quick Google found reman’d engine harness for about $750. This might be worth a look.
electronics 101 stuff this.