Clicking solenoid

[PiroProdigy]

Hey i have a 68' 912 that has some aftermarket stuff on it (dellortos, bursch exhaust, msd 6a...) that has always been pretty reliable, but lately it has been clicking alot when i try to start it. Im not too experienced in the way of the porsche, but i am told that the starter (brand new) is not getting enough power from the battery (also brand new). I tried cleaning up the ground connection from the battery, and it worked for a while, but now it is doing it again. Sometimes I will go out and it will start in half a crank 20 times in a row, and other times i will go out and click it for 10 minutes, go inside, come out in half an hour and it will start right up! Are there any ground connections or anything i could clean up? Could it have something to do with the msd? Please get back to me soon, im all ready to go get it painted!

[chickybok]

I had the same problem. It wasn't the ground connection... but the live feed which was loose.

I would jack the car up, support, and have a good look at all the connections on the solenoid / starter. If these are ok... then follow the wires back and check.

David

[craign]

Does it happen more when the engine is hot?? If so it is the classic "hot start" problem easily fixed by installing a hot start relay.

Here is some info on that, I have it in my 69 and have never had a problem since.

http://type2.com/bartnik/relay.htm

Craign

[GavinJ]

Common earth to forget is the bulkhead to gearbox strap, it is often bad as its exposed to the elements 24/7, maybe not your problem but thought I would mention it anyhow.

[912s]

Originally posted by GavinJ
Common earth to forget is the bulkhead to gearbox strap, it is often bad as its exposed to the elements 24/7, maybe not your problem but thought I would mention it anyhow.

When I bought my car a couple of years ago this fixed my starting problem.

[tronman]

I just had the same problem on my 69...after a lobng drive it would not crank from the key, it would just click. After several hours with good test equipment I went throught the entire wiring harness and discovered that it was not anything between the ingition switch and the starter, it was the 12 supply to the ignition switch, this wire carries quite a bit of load supplying all of the accessories and stuff whenever it is in the on position. I installed a new heavy guage wire from the battery to the switch and no more hot start problem...this also made all of my dash lights brighter and solved the perpetual problem of both turn signal indicators flashing. Might be worth looking at.