why won't it start????
 

my 1984 won't start, yesterday it ran fine, today , nothing. i hear the starter morer spin, but when it is in gear and i turn it over the car moves.if the starter moter was bad would it still move the car?? please help i need it to go to work

Broke the timing belt. Pull the dist cap off and have someone run the starter while you watch the rotor.

Or if it sounds like an old Singer sewing machine now you broke the timing belt, bent all of the exhaust valves and some of the intakes. No compression no cranking resistence.

timing belt is ok, it sounds like the starter isn't engageing(wizzing sound) it makes no other noise

Put the car in 5th grar and roll it slightly. then try to start it again

It sounds like your solenoid on your starter is fried.

AFJuvat

thanks will try now!

just tried, still the same wizzing sound. i also have a 85.5 with a crapomatic trans, the starters look the same, will it work to swap them??

Swap em.

AFJuvat

Huh?

Your statement; "but when it is in gear and i turn it over the car moves". This implys that the starter is engaging the flywheel and turning over the engine. Turning over the engine with out much resistence from compression.

Now you reply with; "timing belt is ok, it sounds like the starter isn't engageing(wizzing sound) it makes no other noise."

So which is it?

i pulled distributer cap and belt appears to be ok. belt was replaced by VERY reputable shop 3 months ago. i don't know what is going on with the car that is why i am here

"i don't know what is going on with the car that is why i am here"

This is the reason all of us are here. Don't get tweaked by the demand for exacting information. There are reasons to be detailed.

You cranked the engine and watched the rotor? It turned around?

Tensioners have a strange habit of coming loose letting the belt jump cogs. Just as distructive as breaking a belt.

But let's look at other faults. There are 15 test points in the Porsche documentation. 12 of these are listed for non-starts or starts with poor idle no performance.

The most common cause of non starts in the early 944's is the DME relay.

You can do a quick check to see if the relay is kicking in. With the key on you should get battery voltage to one of the two pins at any injector. You should also get 12 vdc at one of the terminals at the coil. Not the one with the green wire as this goes to the DME (electronic brain).

The same voltage that goes to the injectors also goes to the DME to power it.

The second set of points in the DME relay are closed by the DME logic as it sees the engine rotate. These second DME points run the fuel pump.

If you lean out of the car and crank it you can hear the fuel pump run for a second or so after you release the key.

Check for spark by pulling a plug and laying it in the engine. If you can hear the fuel pump run then most likely you have fuel pressure.

Did some troubleshooting in the chat room.

Looks like he joined the order.

AFJuvat

belt is toast,time to do some work

didn't mean to come across that way , just frusterated

"crapomatic"? Then you can't crank it in gear as there is an inhibitor switch, also no auto in the world will move the car even if you could crank it in gear.

1. Get someone to turn the key to the start position and watch the alternator belt. If it turns the engine is turning, so the starter is good.

2. Look in side the inspection hole that's directly above the dist cap.
Get someone to turn the key to the start position and see if the cam pulley turns. If if does great, if it doesn't bad $$$$$$$$.

3. Get someone to crank the engine, listen for the injectors "clicking"
if not, install new suel pump relay pt # 993 615 227 00 and see if it starts. If there is clicking you need to get the manual out.

4. Pull the dist cap off and make sure the rotor arm screw hasn't fallen out; f it has, install a new one and find the old one!! it can fall into the timing belt cover if the dust shield is missing.

i have 2 944's a 84 5 spd(apparently w/ a broken belt) and a 85.5 w/ a crapomatic

Me thinks it's time to take it back to the shop that did the belts.

There is a bit of responsibility there.

Keep us posted on the outcome.