Need a new starter, but not YET

[reachme]

Was on my way to visit a friend, new oil change and was looking forward to an hour plus long drive with the top down in my 88 turbo cab. Had her less than a year and been enriching Pelican ever since.
Turned they key and heard the dreaded -click-
Tried a couple more times and no joy so I put it aside. I did mess with the tranny a but during the oil change, maybe I jarred the ground?
Tonight I cleaned the grounds around tranny, battery which I hadn't done before and they needed it. -click-, no starter.
Checked battery, good. Put her on the lift and got full power to the solenoid. Cleaned all contacts on the solenoid carefully (because I didn't disconnect the battery-trying to do it in one shot). Turned they key and only -click-. Rats, need a new starter. Now.
One more hunch I clipped one wire to 30 (power) and brushed the other side to 50 and heard the first grind. Yes!
Down the lift, turned the key and she sprang to life. Had to go for a short drive with the top down. In a light rain, at night.
I'll replace this winter when I drop the engine this winter when all Boston convertibles go to sleep and carry a wire to jump it if needed until then. Maybe it wont happen again until then.
Maybe I'll rebuild myself, anybody recommend a rebuild of a high torque starter or just buy one?

[j930]

i had mine rebuilt and it lasted a year. i ordered a brand new one(not rebuilt) works great

[JFairman]

You see used starters in the classifieds now and then and probably on ebay too.

A 930 motor is probably the easiest 6 cylinder engine on starter motors porsche ever made because it's the lowest compression motor they ever made. It doesn't take much to spin it over.

[reachme]

Ok, maybe I'm not so fixed yet.
Went to start and nothing but the -click-

I'm getting 12.4 on the battery posts, and 12.4 on the black power wire (30) but with key turned to start only getting 9.6 on (50) which is likely not enough to start. I know from above if I cross the 50 to the 30 I get start so I assume solenoid/starter is fine.
My ignition cylinder was replaced last year to try to fix stalling issue so I don't suspect that. I see 88&89 connect that same ignition circuit through A/C [compressor/blower I think] before going to starter.
I now suspect wiring between ignition and starter. Can anyone suggest the easiest way to move forward.
Corroded connections between ignition and starter?
Check for issues on A/C connections (are they buried deep in a harness?)
Voodoo ritual involving a matchbox car?
And I know I can bypass but really want to fix not bypass.

Thanks all for suggestions/ thoughts

Matt

[speednme1]

Matt are you hearing the fuel pumps on start up? Buzzing sound?

[reachme]

Yes on hearing the fuel pumps.
If I jump 30 and 50 the starter starts ( not sure about gear engaging)
Then I hop in, turn key and she starts up ( did last time at least) but when I think I'm past the problem it happened again
Could be a funky alternator I guess but there shouldn't be that large of a voltage drop between black and yellow on startup should there so that was my focus. Am I wrong?

[Daniel930]

I have a good used starter from my 85, pm if interested. Thanks'

[reachme]

turns out it was a bad crimp on the yellow ignition wire behind the dash. yes it came with a factory alarm which had been torn out and those connections can get weak intermittently. forced me to finally go digital in my ohmmeter-yeah old skool I know.

[T77911S]

this will give you something to do

SOLENOID and STARTER rebuild......finally