Starting problems with a 75 1.8

Ray Morgan · 07-09-2003, 01:42 PM

Okay -- looking for someone who may have had this problem before. When I turn the key, the relay located under the passenger's seat clicks -- but the car won't start. I've heard about the seat belt thing that won't let the car start until they're buckled, but I have never had a problem with that -- looks like someone's already bypassed that. I can pop the clutch, and the car starts right up.

Anyone had this problem before? Any advice for a new, highly inexperienced 914 owner? Thanks!

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Are you sure that the Dreaded Seatbelt Interlock Relay has been bypassed? Check to make sure that the two fat yellow wires going to the relay (yes, the one under the passenger's seat) have been spliced together.

The relay is definitely one suspect if that hasn't been done.

After that, look in the Tech Articles section of this website for a "Starter system troubleshooting" article. Lots of good info there!!

--DD

Ray Morgan · 07-09-2003, 03:13 PM

I think my seat belt relay has been bypassed (disconnected, or something). I have never needed to wear my seatbelt for the car to start -- the guy who had the car before me took care of that little problem.

Any other relays or issues? When I turn the key on, I have full battery power, but there is only a clicking sound coming from the passenger seat -- no clicks or thunks from the starter.

cshogen · 07-09-2003, 03:27 PM

Ray,

Push in on the switch (not too hard!) when you turn the key. Sometimes that helps. If not you have an electrical gremlin somewhere I bet.

dtam914 · 07-11-2003, 09:31 AM

Had same problem. The Seatbelt Interlock Relay bypass was OK. Grounding strap turned out ok. The problem turned out to be a cracked plastic housing for the ignition switch where the key goes in.

Try to check it out to see if it fixes your starting problem. Good luck!

kevinseven · 07-12-2003, 08:09 AM

My 1.8 did that a month or two ago. The battery had plenty of power for lights and radio but would not engage the starter. Just dead. I jumpered the seatbelt relay but nothing worked. I had it towed to a shop and it fixed itself overnight. Hasn't had a problem since.

I'm sure it's waiting to fail again the day I'm late for a meeting :-(

Ray Morgan · 07-14-2003, 09:57 AM

Well, it's fixed. Just in case anyone wanted to know -- there was corrosion in the relay box that caused the starter relay to make poor connection.

And I was looking for a complex cause...

Kenny Powell · 07-14-2003, 04:20 PM

Ray,
you'd be surprised the people that run these cars(all Porsches) without the relay board covers...........914 Poltergeist can and will run amuck! corrosion in the relay board is bad medicine