starter upgrade

Kevin Powers · 10-13-2002, 06:10 AM

the small selenoid looking device to the left of the starter was on the 73' that i bought. is this the item that some vendors sell to help cure hot start problems? is it worth the time to swap it over? now is the time to do it if i'm going to.

kevin

marksgerman914 · 10-13-2002, 06:49 AM

Kevin, My 74 has one of those on it. And I have a hot start problem sometimes.

Kevin Powers · 10-13-2002, 06:57 AM

check private email

unclerichy · 10-13-2002, 07:04 AM

It is an aftermarket relay. I put one on both my 74 and 73. It seems to have cured my starting problems.

Bruce Allert · 10-13-2002, 07:54 AM

When I turn my key (after the motor is hot and turned off) I hear the fuel pump but nothing else other than, what sounds like, bubbles being blown into a glass of water, somtimes, (coming from the front ?) after 15 to 30 minutes the starter will turn and start the motor as normal. Is this anything like what y'all are experiencing? I can't decide if it's the starter or my ignition.
bruce

marksgerman914 · 10-13-2002, 08:06 AM

When mine is warm and I turn it off the fuel pump runs and the engine cranks. But it wont catch. So my mechanic did something and that went away. The car runs like crap. But the problem went away. He said that I need a manifold pressure sensor. So I put a different one in and the problem came back. I then put the old one back in and the problem went away again. A check of part numbers told me that the old mps that is in the car is for a volvo.Go figure. The new one I tried to use is the correct part number. And with it the car runs great, for a little while. Then dies and wont restart. Or wont restart when warm. Any ideas?

Brad Roberts · 10-13-2002, 10:12 PM

I'm surprised nobody pointed out what type it was (Ford).

Ford trucks and cars (early) didnt have a solenoid on the starter (because it sucks for hot starting) so.. they had this little jewel pictured mounted to the fender in the engine compartment.

Its a Band-Aid guy's. Replace the starter with a new one (notice I said NEW one and not rebuilt).

Or step up to the plate and get a nice gear reduction unit.

B

porsche914gt · 10-14-2002, 05:55 AM

Why not get an SR68X, and never have to worry about starter problems again?
I saw one on Ebay a few weeks ago, that got no bids.
I couldnt believe a 914er didnt snatch that one up for cheap.
Call around to some starter shops for prices. ($75-$100)

porsche914gt

Bruce Allert · 10-14-2002, 06:30 AM

Does the SR68X just bolt right up with no mods? What does it normaly fit?

porsche914gt · 10-14-2002, 06:58 AM

Bruce,

Its a direct bolt in - no mods.
Its a Bosch 911 starter, stock mid 80's (not sure of the exact years), much higher quality and torque.
Best 914 upgrade there is.

porsche914gt

Bruce Allert · 10-14-2002, 09:25 AM

I've never heard of FLAPS. Is there a site or are they strictly California?

madd_dogg_914 · madd_dogg_914's Garage

FLAPS = Friendly Local Auto Parts Store

i.e. Kragen or Napa, or the like. Not any one company.

sammyg2 · 10-14-2002, 11:01 AM

The item in the picture is a Ford solenoid as Brad says. The reason for adding this to a 914 starter circuit is because sometimes the ignition circuit does not supply enough current to engage the starter when hot.
Several reasons this can happen:
1) ignition switch may be bad and making bad contact
2) ground strap/connections might be bad
3) connections at the relay board or starter could be bogus
4) starter or solenoid could be worn out and partially grounding or sticking.

If the car doesn't crank when hot but does when cold, first check all grounds including ground strap.

second, check all other connections.

Third, pull the starter and have it checked out at your FLAPS.

If everything else is good, replace the start switch.

Many of us add a hot start relay to cover up one of these problems and it usually works, but it is a band aid like Brad said.

I used a tilton gear reduction starter on a V8 914 and it worked like a charm.
I also added a second ground strap to the starter mounting bolt just in case, never had another hot start problem.

bander · 10-14-2002, 11:59 AM

I also went to a FLAPS (Autozone) for a starter and paid about $60 with a lifetime warranty. It lasted 1 year and when I went in to replace it, it came up NLA. They gave me my $60 back and kept the core. Then I had to pay $120 elsewhere. I had a free starter for a year, but in the end, had to pay real money and wait a week.

The Starter has been the last of my worries this year.

-Brett

Bruce Allert · 10-14-2002, 12:02 PM

I cleaned my ground strap at the frame but couldn't get to the bolt at the back of the tranny. Cleaning the ground at the frame made my turn signals work 100% better! I just checked with the local Discount auto Import parts for a new starter. All they carry is Bosch rebuilts for $124. I think I'll look at the starter once it's out and check the connections.

Brad Roberts · 10-14-2002, 07:58 PM

The 911 starter will work great.

I have to remember most of you guy's dont care about saving weight (the gear reduction unit is much much lighter) the 911 starter weighs about 4 pounds more than a 914 starter.

The 911 starter is 1.5 Hp and the 914 is something like .75

B

Kevin Powers · 04:36 AM

SR68X (reblt) $185+c+shp.some high torque for $269+usual.no core so that has to be eaten. pelican prices. i think i'll try the tech art. suggestions first and not put the "band-aid" on. if it fails to turn over when i'm 100 miles from home i'll call brad,have him "step up", and have him push start me. another entry for the "why did the p engineers do this" list. man, essentialy $300 for a starter, i have to figure out how to explain that one to the wife.

kevin
"ego trip? i just want my car to start"

Brad Roberts · 10-15-2002, 11:57 AM

Kevin..

Pick up a HotVw's issue.. those gear reduction starters can be had for 189.00$ Dont pay the markup from Performance Products and others.

B

914timo · 10-17-2002, 12:09 AM

Can you really use those VW aftermarket gear reduction starters in 914 ??

Ron Meier · 10-17-2002, 05:18 AM

The "gear reduction" starter is really a DENSO or HITACHI (I never remember which) rice rocket with a custom nose. I believe R&B Performance can make them.

If you purchase a starter from your local FLAPS and it doesn't say "Robert Bosch Rebuilt" it was more than likely done by A1 Cardone out of Philadelphia (especially if you get it from AutoZone, Kragen - large chain stores)

The solenoid on the SR68X has the start and run spade terminals in a different position. This 1.5 HP starter sells as a rebuildable core for $45.00 ~ $75.00 as a "good to go" used unit and ? for rebuilt.

A stock 914 - SR17X - is 0.8 HP.

I posted the OEM numbers for both in another post on this board. The OEM is stamped on the case.

And as far as a "lifetime guarantee" for cheap - How well do you think this starter was rebuilt? I guess it doesn't really matter.