Starter no worky.... ideas please

[RussianBlue]

Well stopped at a gas station to make my daily deposit to the economy... car would not start.

Absolutely no noise from down there, definitely NOT cranking.

Not being familiar with the wiring I do know that the big momma wire has power because I can weld with it.

I have a relatively new high torque starter not only that I hooked up an original starter and no joy.

What should I do next.

The car can be push started so no problem if I need to drive it into a wall.

1972 STOCK 911T 2.4 MFI

Many thanks....

[slodave]

My '84 911 died for about a 1 1/2 months last summer... Would not start, no noise from starter at all. Electrical worked... Had it on a flatbed to my mechanic, started right up. He and I drove it for a week with no sign of problems... Finally told him to start replacing every relay and fuse - Mine is DME controlled and turned out that the dual relay that controls the DME had cracked every solder joint - was original part. I know you don't have a DME - but....

Dave

[Fishcop]

Might be something simple like the ignition switch...

There is no real way to get a quick fix here (other than the obvious check of all contacts). As Warren will tell you, grab a beer, some time, a multimeter and a circuit tester... and remember to breathe when you get p!ssed off

I still have an intermittent starter failure after 5 years of searching, and I have a sporto - so no push-starting

[randywebb]

if there is no click & if 2 different starters do not work....

then the problem is before the starter somewhere

trace the yellow & red wires to see if they have voltage

[RussianBlue]

Thanks guys....

I do have the double yellow wires and the one heavy red wire to test....

Do I need to test these in the "run" position (someone cranking on the key)??

Seems like that would be the case..... I do suspect the iginiton switch for some reason.

Oh well need to find some hot babe to trun the key - but that's not gonna happen... so I'll ask a local butt ugly pelicanite for the second set of hands

I'll update soon as I find somethin'

thanks again

[Jeff Higgins]

I think the hot lead from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid must be grounded somewhere. Since the solenoid didn't even click, but the lights dimmed, there is a huge current draw somewhere. Since neither starter worked, it has to be "upstream" of the starter. Maybe the hot lead from the switch to the solenoid got pinched on the motor install. That would be my bet. I don't think it is the ignition switch itself; it appears to be doing its job in routing power to the solenoid lead, or the lights would not dim. Switch failure usually results in an open circut, so the lights would not dim. Check the smaller wire to the solenoid - I bet it pinched or chafed through somewhere.

[RussianBlue]

Well since you wanna bet then you gotta prove your end..... the car is on stands in Issaquah let me know when you figure it out.

HA!

I dunno, kinda hard to trace the wires forward from the starter but if you got time I need someone to crank the key... that way I can at least narrow it down to the yellow or red wire.

BTW I thouroughly enjoy swapping starters! Another shirt ruined.

[real550A]

Bad ground to the body is one of the most common failures.

[Jeff Higgins]

I'll have time early next week, probably Monday. We're heading over to Yakima in the morning. I'll give you a hollar when we get back on Sunday and see if you got it figured out by then.

[LakeCleElum]

Alex - Give me a call tomorrow (Thurs) and I'll come give you a hand. I even have a spare ignition switch I can bring....I'm just home staining wood trim this week. Need to take a break and go for a little spin....

[RussianBlue]

Fixed. Thanks Bob.

Well I tested the yellow and red wire.... yellow had 12.xx V
Red wire actually gets power from the big momma black (+) from the battery - it checked out accordingly.

Turns out that this kind of problem shows up commonly this time of year.

My miniature Odyssey battery simply gives up the ghost in the colder weather....

Bob hooked up his battery to my puny one and viola starter worky.

Time to get a bigger battery for winter.

Thanks again Seelye, B.