88 911 will not start - lights on ignition but last key turn does nothing.

[geoff_k]

Hi Guys and Girls,

Please help me with the next step.

Have an 88 CE that when you turn the ignition key, I get the lights but the extra turn when it suppose to start the starter motor, I get nothing...

I changed out the battery out, no joy,
swapped out the start motor...no job...

and today spent 3 hrs under the dash swapping out an ignition switch. I must still have blood where it should not be as spent so much time head first in the foot well....

Finally got the switch swapped out and same result..
Not even a click, just nothing on the last turn of key

I haven't searched the forum as I .....stuffed and cant think straight.
(probably an earth.... but I guessing)

[proporsche]

well? start with the basics....ground next the to front fuse box, ground behind the fuel filter, ground between the trany and body,..
Look at the yellow wire from the ignition switch if anybody before you have installed any kill switch or alarm ..and report;-)

Ivan

[Targalid]

Make sure the battery posts and the battery cable connectors are bright and shiny. Dirty battery connections will not pass enough current to run the starter.

[Driven97]

Did I miss the part where you tried your spare DME relay?

[proporsche]

DME has nothing to do with engine not turning over...

[strictly]

I dont know the 3.2, like the earlier cars, but in the earlier cars, you can operate the startermotor from the engine bay, using the YELLOW wire in the engine harness. Put 12v to it, if the starter works then chase backwards to the front of the car, if the strater does not....check the wire has not popped off the solenoid or is not corroded at the connection. This may not apply for a 3.2 (check the wiring manuals), but certainly for a SC and earlier, you can use that method...

[john walker's workshop]

Is the yellow wire on the top starter solenoid terminal or the bottom one?

[geoff_k]

Hi,

Have finally got back to car. (working on another)
Have 12v constant to starter
No voltage on yellow wire when ignition switch is turned

Checked ground to alternator - all good.

Noted that only two connections to starter in the big red and the yellow. There is a spare spade connector at bottom of starter motor.

Going to start on ignition switch next week as well as check for break in cable from ignition to starter.

[cabmandone]

Gotta have voltage at the yellow wire to engage the starter solenoid. I'd track the yellow wire back to the source which should be the key switch.

[john walker's workshop]

Does it have an aftermarket alarm? You could stick a pin in the yellow wire right at the ignition switch and give it 12V. If the starter works, then it can only be the switch assembly. The tab in the mexhanical switch that turns the electrical part often breaks off.
Another recent issue I found was a poor connectoin between positive battery cable and where it was factory crimped in the clamp. Had voltage but lacked amperage enough to work the solenoid. Squeezed the crimp area with big visegrips and it all came back.

[BER]

I had this same starting problem with my ‘84 911 right after Thanksgiving. Panel lights came on, but the switch was “dead” in the last “start” position.

Checked all the usual suspects...grounds, battery connections, starter voltage, etc. Turned out the ignition switch was the culprit.

After replacing the switch, all was good again. Good luck!