No Start (click) Solved!

[davidpsalt]

My 1985 911 Cabriolet has been exhibiting issues around not starting. Turn the key to on (not start) and everything sounds normal. Turn to starting positino and hear the click and hum but starter motor does not crank. Check all the usual suspects - easiest first. Battery check - ok. Pull the ground strap underneath from trans to body, clean both ends, no change. Replace the fround strap with new strap. No change. Replace the negative ground cable in the Frunk. No change. Wiggle wires on positive terminal - starts. Take a drive to pick up some things - no start.

I finally figure out that there is an issue with the positive terminal at the battery. I cut off the round termination ends of the accessory wires, clean them with a wire wheel, strip to good wire and re crimp to terminals. No change. I clean the positive battery post and terminal end on positive cable to starter, no change. I wiggle the cable and it starts.

Bottom line - over the years the plastic coating on the positive wire had shrunk back a half an inch or more and exposes the strands of wire and corrosion had set in on the stranded wire. I ordered a new terminal end from Porsche, cut off the old back to clean wire under the coating, stripped it back, and crimped the new terminal on - problem solved! Here are some pictures of the old and new:

[jimtweet]

I had a car in my shop couple years ago that had some crazy electrical problems, days of scratching my head, turned out new terminals on battery cables solved everything. Terminals and batteries can do funny things to a car man.

[Brian Cameron]

Hey Dave, what did you use for a crimper tool?

I have the terminal but have been procrastinating about putting it on since i don’t have the right tool

[john walker's workshop]

I've been suggesting that repair for years and nobody ever commented.

[Brian Cameron]

John, why do you think i bought the terminal in the first place?

Be not discouraged, some of us are listening!