How do I get around this? |
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How do I get around this? |
N14 |
Jul 23 2007, 04:20 PM
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#1
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Out There Group: Members Posts: 78 Joined: 31-October 06 From: North Vancouver B.C. Member No.: 7,119 Region Association: None |
2 weeks back I took a 400 km drive from Vancouver stopping after 2 hours to walk the dog . The ignition would not turn over for 3 hours. On the way home I stopped once again but left the car running.......when I got home turned off the engine, tried to start it again - nothing. 3 odd hours later all was fine.
Is my starter over heated? Would it be the wiring? Help please |
McMark |
Jul 23 2007, 04:22 PM
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#2
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914 Freak! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 20,179 Joined: 13-March 03 From: Grand Rapids, MI Member No.: 419 Region Association: None |
New starter (I like the eBay mini starters) or new battery cable/ground cables, or both! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
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Coy |
Jul 23 2007, 04:37 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 352 Joined: 6-February 06 From: Salem, OR Member No.: 5,537 |
Along a similar vein, I turn the key and get nothing, not a click or a buzz, but the passenger light dims. a moment later I turn the key and it fires up. It'll do this both hot and cold. The dimming light tells me I'm getting a draw somewhere, so I don't suspect the ignition switch. The battery seems strong and when it's not doing absolutely nothing the starter starts strong...
I could try and cross the starter, but that doesn't tell me anything, because it might just start anyway. |
orthobiz |
Jul 23 2007, 05:35 PM
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#4
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,754 Joined: 8-January 07 From: Cadillac, Michigan Member No.: 7,438 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
Since I got my car, the only repair I made was to replace the ignition switch. So, therefore and thusly, EVERYTHING is a broken ignition switch!
Paul |
SGB |
Jul 23 2007, 07:30 PM
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#5
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just visiting Group: Members Posts: 4,086 Joined: 8-March 03 From: Huntsville, AL Member No.: 404 Region Association: South East States |
Is the ol' transmission ground strap there? Its a braided copper strip bolted to the rear of the transaxle and bottom of the trunk floor.
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VaccaRabite |
Jul 23 2007, 10:02 PM
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#6
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En Garde! Group: Admin Posts: 13,443 Joined: 15-December 03 From: Dallastown, PA Member No.: 1,435 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
Sounds like you are shorting out somewhere intermittantly. Time to start checking the wiring.
Zach |
Coy |
Jul 24 2007, 12:36 AM
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#7
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Member Group: Members Posts: 352 Joined: 6-February 06 From: Salem, OR Member No.: 5,537 |
Yah, but what's weird is I won't move... I won't get out of the seat and I'll just watch the lights dim, but on the third or forth try it'll fire off. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) ...Ignition switch?
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McMark |
Jul 24 2007, 02:16 AM
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#8
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914 Freak! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 20,179 Joined: 13-March 03 From: Grand Rapids, MI Member No.: 419 Region Association: None |
Coy, I'll remote diagnose a sick starter for you too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Seriously.
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Spoke |
Jul 24 2007, 05:17 AM
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#9
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Jerry Group: Members Posts: 6,978 Joined: 29-October 04 From: Allentown, PA Member No.: 3,031 Region Association: None |
Along a similar vein, I turn the key and get nothing, not a click or a buzz, but the passenger light dims. a moment later I turn the key and it fires up. It'll do this both hot and cold. The dimming light tells me I'm getting a draw somewhere, so I don't suspect the ignition switch. The battery seems strong and when it's not doing absolutely nothing the starter starts strong... I could try and cross the starter, but that doesn't tell me anything, because it might just start anyway. I had a similar problem which turned out to be an oxidated connection on the battery terminal. Car would start; car would start; car wouldn't start; no power. It took a couple of days to isolate the issue. Since a bad electrical connection is hard to measure without a load, one of the times it wouldn't start; I got the dim dash lights; I turned on the parking lights to create a current draw, then went looking for a voltage drop with my voltmeter. I'll find the voltage drop somewhere between the battery and the lights. Measured the battery on its terminals, not the clamps: 12V ok. Measured from battery terminal clamp to battery terminal clamp: 7V Yikes! It was the positive battery terminal. It looked ok, clamp was tight. Issue was a thin layer of oxidation/corrosion between the terminal and clamp. I used my battery terminal cleaning tool, retightened the clamps and my no-starts are gone. So for your issue, once it won't start, turn the lights on to create a load and go looking for voltage drops with your voltmeter. Don't have a voltmeter, buy one or buy a different car. Spoke |
Coy |
Sep 3 2007, 01:49 AM
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#10
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Member Group: Members Posts: 352 Joined: 6-February 06 From: Salem, OR Member No.: 5,537 |
QUOTE It was the positive battery terminal. It looked ok, clamp was tight. Issue was a thin layer of oxidation/corrosion between the terminal and clamp. I used my battery terminal cleaning tool, retightened the clamps and my no-starts are gone. I cleaned the battery terminals and went to get a voltmeter (12 years of owning Porsches, motorcycles and various old pieces of crap and never had to use one). A little over a month later... The situation has never happened again. Starts first try every time. I'm pretty sure Spokes was right... dirty battery terminal, even though it looked and felt clean. Of course I don't know for sure because it works all the time now and because I forgot the voltmeter... I got the oil & filters though! |
swl |
Sep 3 2007, 06:26 AM
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#11
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,409 Joined: 7-August 05 From: Kingston,On,Canada Member No.: 4,550 Region Association: Canada |
What year of car Andrew? Lots of good advise up there - particular the one about getting a voltmeter. Measure across the battery while attempting to crank. Then measure from yellow on the solenoid to ground. If there is a big difference then start working your way back to the switch. If the yellow is good try the big red to ground. If that is good then you've pretty much isolated it to the starter/solenoid.
Search on '+screwdriver +trick' to find an exciting alternative to the voltmeter. |
davep |
Sep 3 2007, 08:01 AM
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#12
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914 Historian Group: Benefactors Posts: 5,141 Joined: 13-October 03 From: Burford, ON, N0E 1A0 Member No.: 1,244 Region Association: Canada |
You need to define 'won't start'.
What, exactly happens? Do you hear the fuel pump run for a few seconds? Is there any clicking from the starter solenoid? Never underestimate the ability of the ignition switch to cause problems. If you have not replaced it in ten years, suspect it. It can short out and cause the lights to dim. It can open circuit and nothing happens. If you cycle the ignition switch on/off/on/off can you hear the fuel pump run? Does it gurgle with vapors or simply build pressure. If you hear it gurgle then you need to cycle it until the vapors are pushed through. Both the fuel pump and starter can get overheated. Usually this is caused by excess heat from the engine, the heater valves dumping hot air on the fuel pump (prior to 1975 models), missing air deflectors on the bottom of the engine firewall, or just poor attention to keeping the engine cool. Before buying big ticket items like a fuel pump or a starter, check out the wiring first. Every connection, every ground strap, fuses, relays and so on. You could even install the hot start kit, but I caution you that this is usually only a cover-up for fundamental problems. The hot start kit is just a big relay (50 amp maybe?) for the starter solenoid. It takes the high current for the solenoid away from the ignition switch. Basically I suggest using this only after installing a new ignition switch to give the new switch an extended life. In my opinion, the ignition switch carries too high a current through wires that are too long. |
So.Cal.914 |
Sep 3 2007, 09:18 AM
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#13
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"...And it has a front trunk too." Group: Members Posts: 6,588 Joined: 15-February 04 From: Low Desert, CA./ Hills of N.J. Member No.: 1,658 Region Association: None |
2 weeks back I took a 400 km drive from Vancouver stopping after 2 hours to walk the dog . The ignition would not turn over for 3 hours. On the way home I stopped once again but left the car running.......when I got home turned off the engine, tried to start it again - nothing. 3 odd hours later all was fine. Is my starter over heated? Would it be the wiring? Help please QUOTE You need to define 'won't start'. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) I am a little confused here(my wife would tell you this is not unusal) you say "The ignition would not turn over for 3 hours. " Do you mean to say the ignition won't work or the starter won't spin? Please advise. |
eeyore |
Sep 3 2007, 10:27 AM
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#14
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 889 Joined: 8-January 04 From: meridian, id Member No.: 1,533 Region Association: None |
Never underestimate the ability of the ignition switch to cause problems. If you have not replaced it in ten years, suspect it. It can short out and cause the lights to dim. It can open circuit and nothing happens. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) This was a problem on two cars I had. Once the car gets hot, the cruddy old contacts in the ignition switch can't flow enough voltage to trip the starter solenoid. Make sure you get a geniune Porsche part, which will be 2x as what is available on the 'net. |
orthobiz |
Sep 3 2007, 10:53 AM
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#15
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,754 Joined: 8-January 07 From: Cadillac, Michigan Member No.: 7,438 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
Since I got my car, the only repair I made was to replace the ignition switch. So, therefore and thusly, EVERYTHING is a broken ignition switch! Paul Never underestimate the ability of the ignition switch to cause problems. If you have not replaced it in ten years, suspect it. It can short out and cause the lights to dim. It can open circuit and nothing happens. I just KNEW I was maybe on to something! Paul |
PeeGreen 914 |
Sep 3 2007, 12:12 PM
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#16
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Just when you think you're done...wait, there is more..lol Group: Members Posts: 10,219 Joined: 21-September 06 From: Seattle, WA... actually Everett Member No.: 6,884 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Okay.... How many of you guys having this problem have a 74? This is a common problem on a 74 as the seatbelt safty cut off malfunctions. It is the thing under the passenger seat. If you turn the car on and try to start it the relay will stops the ground from getting to the starter. You just need to take the two BIG yellow wires and connect them byepassing the relay.
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