Name my 944 problem
 

I am literally about to sell this thing and get a 911! I'm that frustrated!

It's a 1984 944.

The problem is that when I turn the key it makes a clicking sound like a bad starter, even if I charge it over night. So I put a new starter in. Same thing. Also, when I bump start it it runs poorly, has very little power, and won't idle.

I think all of this might have something to do with the connector above the brake booster that has the starter and alternator wires. Nothing I do to it seems to make it work.

Any advice or insight into this would be greatly appreciated!

Jackson

Ha, it's the 911 guys that resort to a 944, not the other way around. Even a poor condition 911 will fetch 3 times what the average 944 will.

Anyway, sounds like you have a possible vacuum leak and/or idle control valve. Couldn't hurt to start there.

Its strange beacuse I just pulled the intake and did the AOS seals and the vac lines and that stuff. I think its an electrical problem, as rasta brought up it might be the exciter wire. also, the starter will not turn.

Running rough should have nothing to do with your starter but sure, an electrical problem could cause an issue. Best of luck.

Check engine grounds. May have floating ground issue(s).

Common on all the older German cars pre 2001

later.

Is the "exciter wire" one of the Ignition Switch wires?
Ignition Switch could be bad. Cheap fix.

GL
John

^+1

Also, how are your ground straps? It's worth it to put in new ones, and run one ground strap straight to the engine from the batt negative. It's truly amazing how many problems magically vanish when the grounds are good.

wait, can the engine turn over?

Thanks everyone!

The engine will run if I start it by popping the clutch but a fully charged battery will not turn it over.

try jumping ths starter motor. put it on a hoist or something, get jumperleads and connect pos to pos on the startermotor and neg to neg/ground and connect it to a battry and see if that will turn the engine on.

Check your ingition switch if it is cracked it will do this. Had same problem on an 84 also. hope that is it.

Thanks!
Was it the the plastic electrical connector part or the metal body?

Usually the plastic switch insert. I chased this in my 83 944 after the car decided it wouldn't start - at random. Embarrassing...

I had a similar problem and it was the earth cable on the battery (short one that goes from the earth battery pole to the body). It looked fine but once it was replaced - all OK.

So I pulled the ignition swithch and it has a tiny little crack forming. I don't knoe if this is enough to actully do anything. I'm going to replace it anyway.

The weird thing is is that when the alternator is taken out by either removing the belt or other ways it will run just fine.

i'm so confused

I've never heard of this with a 944 but I've seen it with a ATV, check your voltage with the car running, it may be overcharging. If the voltage is over around 14.5 volts it may be causing your ignition system to do wierd stuff...

The crack should be at the pin on the side , correct? It won't be much of a crack but will cause all kinds of headaches. Replace the switch. If that is not your problem it will soon be.

From Clark's Garage.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1294498063.jpg

Still seems strange that the alternator would make a difference in it running good or not. Might be worth checking your engine ground also. Put a digital volt meter set on dc volts across the ground post on the battery to the intake manifold and see if you get more than .2 volts.

its junk. Sell it ! think 951