Starter issues
 

Hello,

Well, my starter... did not start.. I had a scare about 1 month ago, where I took the Lady out to a nice restaurant in the 1980 Targa, and upon exiting the restuarant, the car would not crank... I had to ask some passerby (and the Lady) to push to start the car.

Last week, same thing happend (first the starter started, but then, no way to start it anymore, I had to push start the car). So I ordered and installed a new starter... BUT TO NO AVAIL! it still does not crank.

The battery looks ok (it is less than 1 year old and around 12.5V).

When I turn the key to on, I can hear the fuel pump. When I put in to ignition, I hear it getting slightly less loud (some draw on the battery), but no "clack" and no "Wrr Wrr Wrr!!!!"....

Ho wises ones in this forum! What and where would you advise me to look to make my car work again???? :-)

As far as I can tell, battery Voltage is getting to the starter, with one of the 2 small leads showing 12V and the other one showing 0V, regardless of the key being in "ON" or "start" position.

Thanks so much for you help (in advance)!
Cyrille 1980, SC, Targa

There are quite a few posts about no start conditions. Most guide you to check and clean the ground connections as these are very sensitive to proper grounding. I had a similar issue (engine would not turn over but car ran great if push started) and it ended up being a bad connection for the positive battery terminal connector. I cleaned up some corrosion and re-clamped to the wire.

Good luck! I hope you find and fix the cause soon!

When your car is running the voltage should be 12,3-14,2 volts if less you have problem with the alt.
For starting, 1st check your main ground between the transmission and body..once you do this get back to us here...
ground on the trans.looks like this..loosen the 13mm head but on the body spray with some lubricant and mait tight again.The connection on trans.is most likely ok.

https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/101_Projects_Porsche_911/87-Starter_Troubleshoot/87-Starter_Troubleshoot.htm

A sitting battery should have at least 12.5v or more in order to start an engine, cold weather this may not be enough. But12.5v is a weak battery that may or may not be enough amps left to turn over in warm weather (the manual says to depress the clutch all the way in before engaging starter in cold weather).
Clean and firm connections are important too, they can come loose over time.
There’s no absolute that a year old battery can’t go bad, even a faulty battery tender can overcharge or undercharge too if you use one.
The standard “load test” can confirm a battery condition. And a good inspection/cleaning of all grounds and connections front to back.

Try jumping the car with another car and heavy jumper cables. The additional current from the second car while it is running should be more than enough to turn over the starter in your car. If it does not, then you have a weak battery or a poor connection between the battery and the starter.

Hello,

Sorry it has been that long since I started this thread, the car is at the country house, so I am not always next to it to try things...

Anyhow, it is still not working.

I checked the battery from right to left (well, positive to negative), the ground strap is OK, the positive to the starter is also OK with no voltage drop from battery to starter.

However, the yellow wire always reads around 9v (disconnected from the starter)!, it does not mater if the key is in "ignition" or "start" position, the reading stays the same...
The fuel pump noise however seems to change slightly between the 2 positions...

So I am thinking about a bad contact somewhere on the starter signal wire, but I have no clue where to look (where are the connections)... does anyone have pictures so that I can follow the wire and hopefully figure it out (911 SC 1980)?

I have tried a different battery, and the starter engine is new BTW.

Thanks,
Cyrille

I'm thinking it may be your ignition switch. For one thing, your fuel pump should not run when the ignition is On, only at Start. Unless the safety switch behind the air box is bypassed.

I think that yellow wire should have 12V when you turn the switch to Start. Check out this video, it may be helpful:
[Guide: Starter Diagnosis - Faulty Ignition Switch 911SC]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDFDjfa9a2E

Mark

Have you changed the battery to a newly purchased unit ?

Try that first.

Remove the rear fuse panel 14 pin connector.
Clean pin one on both male and female sides (do them all) using contact cleaner.
Pin one is the starter yellow wire.
Reconnect and see if the voltage at fat yellow wire goes up when key is in crank position.
I believe the Fat yellow goes to top terminal on your starter. Make sure that is correct.
Designation for the correct terminal on the starter is 50. But likely impossible to read.

On the SC starter, the heavy yellow wire goes to the lower connection, the yellow/blue goes to the upper connection. The heavy red and heavy .black meet on the large terminal
Bruce

Hello,

Thanks for the pointers....

Unfortunetaly, the 14 pin connector snapped in my hands when I tired to disconnect it!!!!!

Do you guys have a part number for it?

Thanks,
Cyrille