Car won't start easily, Ideas ? Options

[Stef914]

Hi All,

The 914 won’t start easily—please see the attached videos.

I had to do some work in the garage today and wanted to move the car. The engine was cold (I mean, it’s hot as hell in there), but the car hadn't started for a solid week.

Well, it took me well over 10 attempts to finally crank the engine (I started recording a few more attempts before you see the 8 in the video).

https://youtu.be/2e1Zta4ima0?si=XTANkf5B-IJE2HTc

I rolled the car out of the garage, took care of some business for about an hour, then went to turn it on again. Same story, but it took 14 attempts before the engine fired (this time recorded in full on the second video here).

https://youtu.be/5chyRhp0ykg?si=icUl87HgEzDkPIlx

I've noticed this issue sporadically over the last year or so, both on cold and hot starts, but it has never taken more than 3 attempts before it would actually start.

I always disconnect the battery when I park the car. By the way, the battery is basically new—a red Optima with a reading of 12.47 (see the attached photo hopefully) and a WOS Performance Starter Motor that’s brand new (less than a year old).

Is this a sign of a bad ignition switch? I know it could be hundreds of different things, but I’m trying to narrow down the issue here. If you’ve had or seen something like this happening with your cars, any insight would be greatly appreciated.

If it is the ignition switch, can anyone point out where to get one? If a reproduction even exist... I can’t seem to find it on pelican parts or PMB performance... Also, what else would you check or address that might cause this?

As always, thank you very much in advance!

Stefano

[technicalninja]

I'd attack it differently at first.

Hawks right about dropping voltages and the need to use a DVOM but

First I'd connect the negative terminal of the battery to the engine case with the negative side of a pair of jumper cables. Leave the positive side of the cables discoed from anything.

You're improving the ground cable alone here.

Try it.

Same shit?

Disco the starter solenoid wire and jump that to the battery terminal on the starter.
I'd use a bump starter.
https://www.harborfreight.com/1224v-remote-...AiABEgKHgvD_BwE

A small section of wire will do in a pinch.
One member here used a quarter once.
All you have to do is give that solenoid good 12V power.

Still doesn't work?
Verify the voltage at the bat term on the starter doesn't drop off significantly when you're doing this (first use of DVOM) and if the voltage at the bat term stays strong (12+) replace the starter.

I'd also look to whatever is making the "grr" noise when it fails to turn. Is that coming from the starter?
It sort of sounds like it's in the passenger compartment to me.
Where that noise is coming from would be a "first step" after I'd verified the started can be manually made to work.

Now, if it IS the starter making that noise, I'd look to the starter itself. Broken bendix is what I'd expect.

Now, as soon as it really engages the motor starts instantly which is great!
Makes the diag easier...