Greetings all... having some starting difficulties

stampedetrail · 05-28-2005, 07:27 PM

Just bought a '77 924 & I'm trying to get it going. Last night I read through these forums for about 5 hours & found some usefull information that helped to a large degree, yet that car still is not running. Therefore, narrative as follows:

So the ad said "electrical problems" and that was no joke. Engine would crank but no spark. Plenty of electricity to the two poles of the ignition coil, but no spark when the key is in "start." So I went here, found out that the essential DME relay was missing from the car. Tried to find one in town, no luck, but I can order it. In the meantime, I jumpered the 2(20) -- 8(87) -- 4(87b) and viola-- sparks a plenty.

However

No start. The engine fires and runs while the key is in start, but as soon as it switches to run it's dead. Always there is juice to the coil. I tried jumpering the fuel pump relay, definitely heard the fuel pump energize, but still no start & the fuel pump relay seems to work. (It doesn't fire at all without the fuel pump relay plugged in, exactly like before the DME jumpering fix.)

Tried messing with the timing, but it definitely seems like something is cutting the signal to the distributor when the key is in the run position (for if it were timing there should be SOME type of response by varying it)

Tried starting it without the ignition switch: connecting {hot -- start} produces the same result as switching the key to start, that is, lots of chugging and ignition but no running.
Tried { hot -- all other connections on ignition lead -- start } with the same result.

thanks in advance for any useful advice, nay, any advice at all (except for "spray paint it & sell it for parts")

stampedetrail · 05-28-2005, 11:05 PM

Tried every combination of so-called DME relay with above jumpers in effect, no effect. Can't figure it out. Does anyone have a map or diagram of the ignition switch leads? Maybe I missed something while messing with those? It just doesn't make sense-- if the thing will start while cranking, why wont it run elsewise?

If I can't fix it soon, I am going to shoot it. Now loading rifle.

procon · 05:04 AM

Greetings

If you're sure the fuel pump is working, one might change fuel filters & check the injectors.
Do you have a Haynes manual?
If you intend to keep the car, do yourself a big favor & get one.

If a no start problem has you ready to shoot it, wait...
You'll find better reasons.

Might also check here: www.924.org/

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

You can find all of the early 924 electricals here:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/944/electrical/944_electrical_diagrams.htm

For the 78 but should be the same.

stampedetrail · 05-30-2005, 12:03 AM

Thanks very much, esp for the diagram! The good news is, I did get it to run, by jumpering from the battery straight to the ballast resistor. The bad news is, now that I have it running I can see a few minor problems... major oil leak looks like probably at the rear seal though I havent been under it far enough to confirm. Oil pours out from somewhere and fries on the exhaust manifold in great big blue plumes of smoke. Some nitwit sometime ago cut the EGR valve pipe completely & welded both ends shut. Little did he or she know that this will cause an oil leak in ANY car.

So I guess I need to figure out if its worth fixing this. Obviously it will require popping the motor & a complete overhaul, which while probably not beyond my abilities is rather time consuming and messy. Not to mention it will likely cost $1500-$2000 I'm guessing yet the car is basically a 4 or 5 (fair to poor I reckon). Don' get me wrong I think the design is beautiful but I just feel like I got ripped off to some degree. Oh well. Thanks again for the info.