Hi, I’m a newbie 914 owner and inept at mechanical repair. My 74 2.0 won’t start. I’ve had it several months and it always starts fine, albeit it cranks 4-5 time before catching normally. This evening I was cleaning the engine bay with Simple Green and a tooth brush and afterwards it wouldn’t start. It turns over strong but doesn’t catch. I could’ve disconnected something while thrashing around in the cramped engine bay while cleaning? The vacuum hoses are intact, I know that because I just replaced all of them. When I turn the key to position 1, I don’t hear anything (I think you’re supposed to hear the fuel pump). There is gas in the car.

Any thoughts on trouble shooting? I don’t think I could’ve sprayed enough Simple Green to have flooded the plugs, distributor etc. I was cleaning around the hole in the cyl 3/4 head (where the anti flashback hose connects) so some amount of cleaner did go into the head but I’m talking like a teaspoon.

Thanks for helping, I’m really clueless. I’m in San Francisco if anyone can refer and honest 914 mechanic.

Again, check your connections. Check your fuses too. There is one in your relay cover too so check that one too. I thought my fuel pump was fried but it was the fuse under the relay cover.

Check the fuse on the relay board. Does your relay board have a cover?

Not hearing the fuel pump run (assume you have fuel injection) is a key that the pump is not running when you try to start the car. If you don't hear that 2 second fuel pump run when you turn the key, no reason to try to crank it.

Thanks I’ll check the fuses. When you say “ connections” what are you referring to?

No fuel pump? First thing I would check is the three pairs of grounds at the top rear of the engine case. One of those wires is the ECU ground.

Thanks for our input. I’ve confirmed that the fuel pump fuse is ok and firing the main power relay does nothing and I’ve confirmed the control unit plug is okay.

So I think the white grounds are the next thing to Check you are correct. Excuse my lack of knowledge but where exactly are these white ground wires and after I locate them what exactly am I looking for?

Thanks!!!

On a bolt through the engine case at the top rear of the engine case. Under the air plenum.

Thanks Jeff. I found it and removed the male prongs and sanded. I also wire brushed the 3 female connectors off the white wires and reconnected everything. Still. Still can’t hear the fuel pump when I turn the key. Again the fuel pump fuse is okay. However when I plug and unplug the main relay with the key turned on I hear nothing, no FI firing or fuel pump. Could the relay be bad? Can I get the relay on a Saturday on SF anywhere? Any other trouble shooting suggestions? Thx

Update, I got the car started! Turns out it was the fuel pump relay. When I was activating the main relay, the FI’s were firing I just had the music on too loud. I repeat I’ll swapped the rear Defog relay and all is good.

Learned a lot today and gaining confidence that I can do these repairs myself and not pay $200/hr. Thanks to all of you for your help, especially Jeff B!

Thats what I am talking about! Congrats Gene. See...not that difficult if you study these cars a little bit and understand them.

Yes! I’m relieved and exhilarated. Thanks for your help!

To close the loop on this, I successfully got the car to start. The culprit was the fuel pump relay. I relied on George Hussey’s non starting flowchart in his book. Following these steps and also relying on forum member’s input and experiences helped me Fix the problem! Thanks again!

quote "To close the loop on this, I successfully got the car to start. The culprit was the fuel pump relay. I relied on George Hussey’s non starting flowchart in his book. Following these steps and also relying on forum member’s input and experiences helped me Fix the problem! Thanks again!" end quote

It is nice to see the loop closed on some of these threads (and this was a quick one). It seems I read or start a thread and then lose track until maybe days later it pops up again with ongoing issues. Wish I had a photographic memory. Will probably need this info at some time.