starter problems continued...

82SC · 06:11 PM

Man what is it with this car...I am gonna hold back from going on a tirade...but I am getting pretty pissed...

so remember after i sorted everything on my car and had her running with 964 cams...got is smogged...fixed a leaky oil line...car was running beautifully...got to go see my signal orange targa...life is good...

the starter started going crazy...while I was topping off the oil with the engine running the starter kicked in and would keep going even with the key out...so I pulled the neg cable on the battery

I tried it 5 hours later (too see if cooling would help) and same deal...and the starter sounded weak

So I got a hi-torque starter
Just installed it

use my quick disconnect on the neg cable to reconnect the neg cable and there is all this arcing!!! and the knob actually got welded so I couldn't unscrew it...so I had to pry the battery cable off of the battery!!!!

BTW no noise from the starter...

The knob is frickin WELDED on....the cable is hot, the quick disconnect is hot...WHAT!!!???!?!?!

so is this an ignition problem...and I bought a starter for no reason!!???!?!?!?! if so how the heck do I fix the damn thing!!! ARRRGGGG

I don't mind having the starter since it is a nice upgrade...BUT what is this!!!

What the heck is going on...!!! If I don't get some closure to this domino of problems I am gonna start bashing my car with a nerf sponge bat!!!!

come on I just want to drive the thing dammit!!!

ok...deep breath....

thanks

MJ

Tyson Schmidt · 04-19-2003, 06:41 PM

Sounds like you installed the battery cable to the starter with it touching the body of the starter, causing the main battery cable to be grounded. Not good. This is easy to do with the high torque starters due to their shape.

You'll need to loosen the nut on the starter and move the cable so it isn't grounding out anymore, and retighten the nut.

82SC · 04-19-2003, 06:43 PM

hahaha...my hero...thanks man

I owe you a beer

MJ

82SC · 07:36 PM

awww sweet sweet success

in a tribute to Pelican...question posted...33 minutes later answer....40 minutes later...success (plus the 40 min includes 15 minutes of warming the car and adding oil!)

So yes tyson was spot on...thank man
(I ended up adding 5 qts!!!!)

The hi-torque starters have the connectons in different places then the OEM

I had to undo one of the brackets that hold the battery cable to get some more slack to reach the starter.

a tip to future installs...put the alternator wire on first...then make sure the battery cable has the FLAT part of the connector towards the starter...the crimped part of the line juts out and if installed the other was just making contact with the body of the starter...I put a star washer between the 2 wire for added contact and some space

The high torque starter does make a cool sound on start up...neato...

well when I have some time I decided to dismantle my old starter to find the culprit...and maybe to a starter rebuild article...keep a look out!!

MJ

BTW I had to do this install with minimal hand tools and in the dark!! the car is starnded at my apt and all my tools are at my parents garage...I have no flashlight on me either...my apt garage has only overhead lights

so I did the starter install by feel...that went smooth, but 1mm of clearance between the wire and starter was all I needed

I needed to check the wires...borrow a neighbors flashlight...no batteries...arrggg...what came to the resuce...the light on my Porsche key...niceeeee.....

Tyson Schmidt · 04-19-2003, 08:59 PM

Glad I could help out a little bit. I know how frustrating these things can be, especially in those working conditions!

Congrats. Now go have a beer, you've earned it!

makaio · 04-19-2003, 09:17 PM

Good job MJ!