Need help form Air Cooled brethren! Starting

[gerry100]

'86 3.2 Carrera, 122k miles.

Kept at lake house for summer use, during winter the battery brought home and car 'stunk up' in garage to keep critters out ( seems to work)

Few years ago I started having intermittent no start issues - click, hum, no crank.
When it did crank it fired right up and ran fine.

At first, jiggling the ignition key or the POs battery connection worked. Eventually that was not reliable enough to the point that any drive was garage to garage without shut off.

Since then-

Cleaned all grounds and connections

Replaced electrical part of ignition switch

Had battery ( 7 years old) checked last summer at parts store - voltage good.

Thought I had it licked when I was stranded for 30min in a hot parking lot, where it finally started.

After the hammer tap on the starter seemed to work, I decided it was time for a rebuild. Had the starter rebuilt locally at a reputable shop.

Charged the battery ( took a while), put the rebuilt starter back in and -

Click, hum ( fuel pump?) but no $%^&^% crank!

Ideas, theories appreciated

[darrin]

does it crank/start if you jump the battery? 7 year old battery (especially if it's discharged completely before) sounds suspect to me

[jwakil]

if jiggling ignition key helped it before, sounds like a ignition switch issue. Squirt a bunch of WD40 into the key hole and turn the key several times to loosen up the parts. Worked for me like a charm on my old car.

[gerry100]

Just replaced the old battery

No difference - click, him , no crank

[Arne2]

Originally Posted by jwakil

if jiggling ignition key helped it before, sounds like a ignition switch issue. Squirt a bunch of WD40 into the key hole and turn the key several times to loosen up the parts. Worked for me like a charm on my old car.

+1 - sounds like a switch problem to me.

[gerry100]

Originally Posted by Arne2

+1 - sounds like a switch problem to me.

Ignition switch turns easily to start position and clicks solenoid , so I'm doubtful

[wwest]

Engine ground braid needs clean-up / tightening.

Check the integrity of the battery chassis ground.

[wwest]

I take that all back, buy a battery.

[cabmandone]

I'd verify grounds then move on to the battery (7 years is old for today's batteries I had one that started 3 times in a morning and on the 4th try it was gone) Have you checked all of your fuses for good contact? I had a fuse recently that looked good but checked bad.

[gerry100]

Originally Posted by wwest

Engine ground braid needs clean-up / tightening.

Check the integrity of the battery chassis ground.

Did it before, but you're right, I will recheck

[gerry100]

Originally Posted by wwest

I take that all back, buy a battery.

Done today

[Hendog]

So you say it clicks and hums, but no crank. When it "hums" does it sound like the starter is turning but not engaging the ring gear? I've had to replace my ring gear in the past (some flip it around). Your ring gear may have worn or broken teeth so that your starter may "land" on a vacant "hole" and not catch anything but air.
When this first happened to me it would sometimes start and then other times not. It progressively got worse where I had to rock the car while in gear to move the ring gear until I got it fixed.

[T77911S]

i thought the "hum" was the poster saying "hum"

if the starter is turning as stated above it could be the ring gear. you need to get a flash light and look at the ring gear. have a helper turn the engine over buy hand.

[gerry100]

Replaced the tranny ground strap/ old one a little ragged.

Click/hum no crank

Battery/starter cable ? Or did the rebuilder miss the solenoid.

Any ideas appreciated

[cabmandone]

Have you jumped the starter? That will tell you pretty fast if it's the solenoid or not I'd think.

[gerry100]

If you're a hack garage floor mechanic you at need patience and an attention span

Excited to test my rebuilt starter and get out from under the car, I somehow forgot to connect the power cable

Real PITA to recheck so I opted not to.

Thanks to those that tried to help.

Empathy, derision, and sarcasm expected and appreciated

[DaveMcKenz]

Sounds like something I would do. Glad you figured it out.
Good luck,
Dave

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by gerry100

If you're a hack garage floor mechanic you at need patience and an attention span

Excited to test my rebuilt starter and get out from under the car, I somehow forgot to connect the power cable

Real PITA to recheck so I opted not to.

Thanks to those that tried to help.

Empathy, derision, and sarcasm expected and appreciated

Sometimes installer error has to be added into the mix. Glad you got it figured out.