Magic 911!!

[MDrive]

For those who where somewhat following my starting woes for my 86 Carrera:
1. Yesterday (had starting problem all 4 times I attempted to crank her up) I purchased a DME and a rebuilt starter motor.
2. This morning, the car started up and has done so ever since.

So, do I know what the problem was? NO!
Do I know it is gone for good? NO!
Have I learned anything? NO!
Do I have a starter motor I don't need? YES!

I give up.

Any thoughts? Dear god help me.

Should I pull the old starter and have it bench tested somewhere? Manual show dissassembling with tools that need to be machined so you can bet that part is not for me.

[Superman]

Poppycock. I'll bet I can dismantle one of those starters. But I'll also bet I'd rather just take it to my local electric motor repair shop and have it rebuilt for $100.

It sounds like your new parts are still in the bag, or on the bench. I'd still strongly recommend the tests I suggested earlier, so that you will know what the problem is/was. I have used you method before, and I can warn you that replacing parts as a troubleshooting strategy is probably more expensive than just taking the car to the dealership for repair.

[Early_S_Man]

DME-ECU or DME Relay?

Any Bosch starter can be disassembled with hand tools ... done it dozens of times! Bushing replacement, which requires, or, at least is made easier by using an oven, is also a DIY operation!

[sewell94]

I bought a starter for my 930 form auto zone for $60, they also have the CV axles for less than 100 rebuilt, i think they have a few other mistakes in there computer

[MDrive]

Well I am 5 for 5 right now (5 attempts to start, 5 starts!). I will pull this weekend regardless and pull it all apart and test it. I also have plans to clean the fuse block connections and change a bunch of fuses (found my brakelight fuse was blown). Also going to redo all wire terminations associated at the starter solenoid and battery positive terminal.

New DME RELAY coming, should be here tomorrow hopefully. Starter is still in the box, in the passenger seat and will stay there as a reminder to "her" until further notice.

Just can't get over the fact that this only occurs when I drive to FL which can mean one of two things: Long trips or salt air. I have taken it to Cincinnati before (8 hours) but it was during quite cold weather......well, I will just have to wait and see.

Many thanks to all who have posted advice! Your help is greatly appreciated.

[john70t]

Starters draw a lot of current and the grounds have to be continuous (a voltmeter put across the connection while cranking will show any reistance). Try and avoid those "star"corrigated locking washers if you have them-there's not enough surface area- and double check the tranny ground.

You could bench test it when it's out: A good thick wire from the starter case to the negative, a thick wire to the positive terminal on the solenoid, and a small 16 guage from the battery positive to the flat "s" terminal on the solenoid to activate the solenoid.

The little gear should pop out and then spin at high speed. You can get an idea of how smooth it is, but it's no indication of how it holds up under the load of compressing 6 cylinders.

If you can get one of those inductive ammeter pickups to attach to your DVOM(digital voltage ohm meter) you can see how much the starter is drawing (i.e. weak) while cranking.

It does sound like there is an intermittant open in the start circuit-column switch, grounds, terminal connections that's causing that.

[Superman]

Here's a tip. If you decide to test the starter while it's out of the car, put it on the floor and hold your foot on it. Starters have a great deal of torque, for a 2-horse motor (they can push your dead car off the road while also battling the engine's compression). If you don't hold your foot on it, it will jump. Pretty exciting if you're not expecting it.