Porsche Repair: Windshield washer pump replacement, windshield washer pump, blown fuse

Question
I own a 1977 911 porsche whose windshield washer pump has quit working.  Rather than pay the dealer a couple of hundred dollars to troubleshoot the problem I was thinking of replacing the pump as it only costs about $25.  I'm not much of a mechanic so is this something I would be able to do or does it require a tear down of the front compartment?

Answer
Hi Steve,

I apologize for the delay in responding to you.  I was notified this morning the response I wrote on the 14th had not been delivered to you.  Again, my apologies.  Here's what I said then:

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I love the audacity of an owner having second thoughts about taking a 911 to his dealer.  You realize of course that if you diagnose and correct the wiper pump malady yourself several of the dealership's employees may not be able to send their children to summer camp this year.

Here's the drill:  check to see that when the old pump should be pumping there's 12v+ arriving at the + terminal on your old pump.  If there's 12v+, and the pump's not working, then check to make sure the - terminal's wire is fastened to a clean/good ground.  If there's not 12v+ check for a blown fuse.

Take two lengths of wires and connect the ends to the battery and the other ends to the old pump's terminals...as briefly as possible.  if the pump pumps or if it is silent make the connection for a bit longer time...to confirm pumping or silence...to prove to pump's OK or dead.

If there's 12v+ at the pump but its toast, replace it...every step to take it out, is reversed to put the new pump in.

I can't coment on how much of the car you'll have on the garage floor to perform these tasks...I work on 356's...much simpler.  My reference manual says the pump is located "in the transverse lock panel near the battery" (sorry that's not helpful to me either).  All it confirms is that the pump and the reservoir are separately located.  Typically the pumps are held in place by some sort of strap.  That's it.

Write back to let me know waht you find.

Dave