On the way back from the wcc after 5 straight hours on the 5 I stopped for a late dinner in Gilroy, when I came back out the biach wouldn't start, plenty of juice but no crank. I got it push started with some local help. When I got home I restarted twice so I thought...hot start problem....but no.....when I tried to start it yesterday am it was the same as in Gilroy, juice but no crank. Sooooo, where do I start to look, the starter, loose wires, which wires? I guess the car just found out I'm gonna get the body and paint done and couldn't stand ti anymore.....three years down the drain....spoiled a perfect record. Help! Thanks, Jim

sounds like a bad starter (EDIT) Solonoid.....it triggers the start of the motor....buy new starter...mine did it twice...two starters later and i'm fine. First one was el cheapo starter and only lasted few weeks....

So you've ruled out the hot starter solenoid problem, as it acted up when cold. In addition to what Britt said, also check for a worn out ignition switch. That can cause an intermittent start problem.

Replaced my original starter with a '68 911 starter I foouind at the German wreckin yard. $15 It looks exctly the same as the old one but seems to have more
P O O P Cranks everytime

.......b

There are quite a few threads on this. As for me, I would not start throwing parts at it until I knew what was wrong. Bad connections are a common cause and cheap to fix. On my 914 it was a cracked ignition switch, which seems to be pretty common on these cars.

I ruled out the starter, solenoid, battery, connections, etc., in one minute by putting the car in neutral and doing the screwdriver trick on the starter (put shank of screwdriver on hot post and slide tip into solenoid contact where large yellow wire connects). It cranked, so I knew it had to be the ignition switch or a fault in the circuit between switch and solenoid.

If it doesn't crank this way, then check for 12v at the starter. Clean connections at braided ground strap. Clean the battery terminals. There's more, so check a couple things and let us know what you find. Good luck!

QUOTE (Bruce Allert @ May 4 2005, 09:38 PM)

Replaced my original starter with a '68 911 starter I foouind at the German wreckin yard. $15 It looks exctly the same as the old one but seems to have more P O O P Cranks everytime .......b

Of course it looks the same. It IS the same. The Cap'n

Ok, I got under there, every connectionseems clean and tight, I went to cross the terminals with the screwdriver and wtf, no big yellow wire terminal, mine looks different. See pic, what in hell is the little square box? Is it a "hot start fix"? And if so, is that where I try to make it crank? Oh, and last of all, do I need to have the key on while doing this? Thanks guys, not so bright when it comes to auto electrics, sorry. Sorry to keep pounding away on this but I'm driving to San Diego on Friday 5/13 to have Dr Evil help me get the car GUSSIED UP...DO YOU BELIEVE IT??? Thanks. Jim

Jim,

What time are you driving down? I'm leaving for Vegas Friday night or early Sat via I5...

Jim? Were you going to post a pic so we know what you've got?

I'm trying to resize the photo so it will load properly, this sucks, Im a poor mech and not too good with the computer either...

one more

Looks like you've got the "ford soleniod hot start problem fix". Same one I have, works perfect. My guess would be a bad sarter/solenoid. Get a new bosch unit & call it done.

first day i bought my car it had this, it had a burnt spot on the winding and when it was over those spots it wouldnt start. About every fourth time it wouldnt crank. Jump start it then it would be fine for awhile. NEw starter then wala, fine.

Looks like yer band aid has done it's job.....get a Bosch SR 68X and move along.

The previous owner had installed a hot start relay in mine as well. It was the first thing I ripped out. Fixing the connections and ignition switch made everything work like new without the band aid.

The PO installed one of those in my 912 and it had a 15a fuse in there somewhere. I blew a fuse and thought I fried the starter, so I got ready to replace the starter, got under there and found the fuse... it took about 2 minutes. so check for fuses.

Thanks to everyone, I got it out and called my FLAPS and they said no problem for a 1973 914, I was amazed and only 79.95!! So I drive to pick it up....no joy, everything is the same except on the end that engages with the flywheel, theirs was about 1 1/2" longer. HPH tomorrow. Oh well. Jim

Sometimes if you whack the starter with a wrench it will work for a while. I remember this from years ago when my Ghia failed to start everyonce in a while...that "fixed" it every time.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

I just sold my yellow 72 914 to Ben. he posts here. From SD, he drove up to Solvang, stopped for a pit stop and got hit by hot start after driving through the night. Never did it to me. She must not like the new ars in the driver's seat. We even talked about hot start issues before he left

It seems like a hot start issue. it happened at 2 pit stops on the way. then i get home, and it starts every time since. i actually think it could be related to something else, but i will have to take a pic of that later to show what i am talking about.

I also had the hot start issue, even with all new items, i.e starter, ignition switch and new wiring. So I got the little Bosch hot start relay fix device on ebay and now I no longer have any of the hot start issues.
I can't find the link sorry.......

QUOTE

do I need to have the key on while doing this?

No. The large cable goes straight to the battery. It's always hot. The ignition doesn't need to be on because you aren't trying to start the car this way, only to see if it tries to crank. One quick tap and release between the main power and the solenoid will tell you. If it tries, you'll be pulling back instantly and know that your starter, solenoid, power, ground, etc. are all likely good. If it's dead, then check for 12v.

A more comfortable way to test this is to make a couple heavy gauge test leads... alligator clips on each end, a push button switch in the middle. Then you can hook one alligator clip to the power terminal, another to the solenoid wire (big yellow wire - if not on solenoid, then at the relay). Hit the push button and see if it tries to crank.

Anyway, sounds like you're replacing parts. Please let us know what the fix was.

BIG emphasis on making sure it's out of gear....

Or go even one better.
Japanese reliability and gear reduction. None of the heat related, or reliability problems
And the price is right. $120.00.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...7973287779&rd=1

It's all better, I got the new starter and it works....all is well. Thanks to all for the support, damn I wish I was a better mechanic...especially with electrical issues. Oh well.... Jim

Jim,

This same thing happened to me over the weekend. I drove to a picnic. About 5 hours later I go to start and nothing. Fuel pump is pumping, etc but it won't turn over. Had to get a push start. I had the same problem a couple of months back that 'corrected itself' for at least a couple dozen starts.

I guess I'll give the screwdriver trick a try tonight. It now seems like an intermittant problem, and definitely not a hot-start issue so I'm thinking some bad connection somewhere.. ?

I hope this isn't a dumb question but do you have a "fresh" braided ground strap from the tranny to the body installed. Clean connections? This is absolutely nessesary.