Starter Just Clicks

[qawse]

I have a 1985, late model, porsche 944 that just makes a clicking sound make I turn the key. I put a new battery in it and had a new soleoid installed in the starter. When I put jumpers to the starter it works. The engine is not siezed, does anyone have an idea what the problem is? all electrical parts seem to work

[nynor]

bad ground? bad switch? sounds like the starter is not getting enough AMPs.

[qawse]

How can I find out if it is not getting enough amps?

[qawse]

What are 911 fuchs, nynor?

[nynor]

Originally posted by qawse
What are 911 fuchs, nynor?

my 944 has fuchs that originally came from a 911. i also have the cookie cutters which are mounted with snow tires.

[qawse]

where is the electrical part of the ignition switch?

[dmsog]

Originally posted by qawse
I have a 1985, late model, porsche 944 that just makes a clicking sound make I turn the key. I put a new battery in it and had a new soleoid installed in the starter. When I put jumpers to the starter it works. The engine is not siezed, does anyone have an idea what the problem is? all electrical parts seem to work

Barring anything out of the ordinary, the bushings in the starter are seizing or the brushes are just about gone. A free-run test of the starter means next to nothing. Listen to me - this is the voice of experience talking. 28 years (so far) as the ASE Certified owner of a starter-alternator rebuilding business.

Doug

[qawse]

Thanks alot Doug, I will take your advice.

[bazar01]

Try this quick test.
1. Trace the solenoid wire. Remove it from the starter solenoid
2. Get a 5 foot jumper wire and hook one end to the solenoid. Leave the other end free and and let a friend hold it close to the battery (+) but not touching!
3. Put car in NEUTRAL. Engage parkbrake.
4. Turn ignition switch to ON.
5. Tell friend to hook up jumper wire free end to battery positive (+)
6. If car starts, your ignition switch starter positive contact is bad.
7. If car does not start, starter is bad or seized.

Hope this helps.

[Cebu]

If the solenoid has been replaced..and there is still just clicking from the starter, then it is likely that the field/armature winding are bad in the starter. Or, the power cable from the battery to the starter is corroded internally causing high resistance and low starting amperage to the starter.

[qawse]

the car still just clicks and I put a new starter in.

[jm951]

Check the GROUNDS!!!

This is the usual cause for this problem and extremely cheap to fix- like free if you do it yourself.

[qawse]

grounds, on the battery? all other electrical componets seem to work would a bad ground the battery allow these things to work? What other grounds could it be?

[jm951]

Check the ground from the engine block to the firewall (located just below the cam tower) and check the ground from the battery to the car. If there is just a little corrosion, sometimes not enough to see, or if the connection is a bit loose, you'll get these exact symptoms. And yes, the other electrical systems in the car draw far less current that the starter motor, hence, they can work, while the starter just clicks.

[qawse]

thanks for the advice jm951 I'll try that and see what happens.

[AFJuvat]

weak battery...

AFJuvat

[qawse]

the alternator is dead!!

[frankzoolu]

I had this problem and it turned out to be a bad ground

[misty]

I had a similar problem. It turned out to be a short circuit on the cold start/thermotime switch circuit. What does your battery voltage read when you turn the ignition? does it drop considerably?

[qawse]

where is the cold start/thermotime switch circuit