Won't start Options

[Hammy]

Well we just got the 914 out of the shop and running right (When it started).
So I pull up in the driveway after driving my step mom around, showing her how good it finally runs, and I kill the engine going up the driveway (yes.. still learning the clutch)

So I go start it up again, and I get nothing. Turn the key all the way and you can hear the fuel pump running, but nothing else goes. This happened before, but our *old* mechanic did some sort of start wiring 'relay' I believe he called it. Well now that seems to be a temporary fix 'cause it still won't start a day later. What gives? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)

[Rand]

Deja vu. There have been a few posts on this. This is exactly what happened to me... drove my new purchase home and parked it in the driveway, only to find out it would start next time. Hooking up a temporary push-button switch between solenoid and battery (actually, 12v terminal at starter) got me running and into the garage.

In American cars, cleaning the battery terminals has fixed this for me more often than not. In 914s, I've had more problems with ignition switches.

Quick and dirty check: Stick a screwdriver on the hot terminal of the starter and tap the tip against the solenoid terminal (make sure car is in neutral of course - if you aren't comfortable with this, say so and I'll post photos)... does it engage/crank? If not, you have a bad ground, power source, solenoid, or starter (in order of likelihood, IMO). If it does crank, you probably have a bad ignition switch, or possibly bad connection in the circuit between the solenoid and ignition switch (particularly if you have the seatbelt interrupt junk under the passenger seat).

For me it was a bad/cracked ignition switch, which is pretty common with 914s in my experience.

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