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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 299
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Slow Starter - Electrical?
I'm stumped. Here's the situation:
New battery. Attempts to start car produce 3- 4 slow dragging pulls on the starter (as if it was a really weak battery). About the third or fourth attempt it will reluctantly grab and start. If I put the jump starter on it she fires right up on first try. Starts without hesitation if push started (on hill....etc). Battery re-tested and it is good and fully charged. I replace the battery with a new one anyway. Nothing changed. I cleaned absolutely every electrical connection that I could find, with the exception of the strap from the transmission to the frame....very hard to access......but that felt solid, though it is under a pretty heavy film of grease/dust/dirt/possumhair. Could the symptoms that I describe be attributed to a bad starter? Or have I likely missed a bad connection (ground?) or something? p.s. I realize I am a crybaby for wanting it to start on the first try...but this is like losing a golfball in the fairway.....I just HAVE TO FIND IT.....it's infuriating.
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'73 914 2.0 "Seriously Honey, the part was really really cheap...........honestly" |
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10-15-2002, 12:39 PM
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Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: chula vista ca usa
Posts: 5,700
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As you just guessed, it is probably the connection you did not do????? In addition to cleaning the connections, measure the voltage at the starter when cranking since the wires can be deteriorated internally. If they are over 4 or 5 years old then they might need replacement? If so, buy generic 2 or 3 gage wire for less voltage drop. Good luck.
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10-15-2002, 12:51 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Posts: 322
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trans ground strap is usual culprit for slow/weak starter
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10-15-2002, 01:12 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Jacksonville, FL., USA
Posts: 583
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Connect a jumper cable between the engine case and the chassis. If the starter turns over sharply, then you know that the tranny strap is not making a good connection.
Phil |
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10-15-2002, 01:21 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: NC
Posts: 81
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Tranny to trunk ground strap. 25 cent fix.
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'74 2.0 |
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10-15-2002, 03:34 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 299
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Whelp, I was able to remove the ground strap from the trunk "floor", clean up all the connecting points, and put it back on. Made no improvement to my problem. So I need to get the other side of the strap connection at the tranny cleaned and set. But how??? I was going bonkers trying to get to that nut.....and I just couldn't. Is there a trick to this? A special tool? Do I need to remove some component first?
If cleaning the tranny side of the strap does not help, would you suggest I replace the starter? I got one at Autozone for $40 (rebuilt Bosche)
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'73 914 2.0 "Seriously Honey, the part was really really cheap...........honestly" |
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10-16-2002, 05:20 AM
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Administrator
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The ground strap should just be on one of the studs that holds the rear cover onto the rest of the transmission. No big deal to remove the nut on that stud so you can pull the strap off and clean the connections...
Try the jumper cable thing first--it's an easy test. --DD
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Pelican Parts 914 Tech Support A few pics of my car: http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/Dave_Darling |
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10-16-2002, 06:11 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NH
Posts: 84
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I had the same slow start problem. It was the starter. Spend the $40 at Autozone (if you want to replace it again next and every year for the rest of your life). They can also test your old one. The current draw goes through the roof as they get old so they crank slow and drain batteries fast.
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10-16-2002, 10:37 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 299
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OK, I drove home like a maniac at lunch to try the jumper cable trick. No change. Problem still exists. Thus, I am leaning toward BANDER's solution.......new starter. Is replacing this as simple as it seems? Disconnect wires, remove two bolts, pull it out. Repeat backwards with the new starter. Really?
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'73 914 2.0 "Seriously Honey, the part was really really cheap...........honestly" |
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10-16-2002, 10:53 AM
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Yes, it's that simple. Just remember that you remove one of the bolts (actually the nut on the end of the bolt) from the engine bay side. It'll be obvious once you start; that's the bolt you can't get the f***ing socket to fit on. Then you get to feel real dumb when your friend points out the nut on the engine bay side of the bolt.
Oops, flashback to my first time doing that job, sorry....  --DD
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Pelican Parts 914 Tech Support A few pics of my car: http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/Dave_Darling |
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10-16-2002, 01:28 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 299
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Dave.........yup it WAS that simple. And even though you warned me about that bolt, I guess I forgot about your "heads-up". I went through the same aggravation with it and knocked the bark off several trees with my language.
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'73 914 2.0 "Seriously Honey, the part was really really cheap...........honestly" |
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10-22-2002, 02:17 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Boring, Oregon
Posts: 917
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.......and yet another enters into the "Replacement of the Starter" saga... "as the bolt (don't) turn"
as I was trying to turn that $#%!!! bolt (from under) it flashed into my mind what I'd just read but didn't absorb... the nut's in the engine bay" DOHbruce
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Sit'n here Hav'n a beer. Punkin's gone (sniff) Gotta mow the Lawn... |
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10-22-2002, 03:04 PM
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74 Porsche 914 2.0 
