82 944 won't crank over

[Kiwi944]

The latest trick my 82 944 has decided to pull (I think it hates me!) is it now won't turn over on the starter. When I turn the key, all the warning lights come on as they should, in the start position I can hear the fuel pump running, but there is no life from the starter, not even a click from the solenoid. I tried a new battery and I happened to have a new ignition switch on the shelf which I have now fitted but this made no difference.

Any suggestions on where to go next?

[dgcantrell]

take the starter off and have it tested at AutoZone, Pepboys, or Advance Auto. It could be dead.

[GreenWater]

Or the switch is broken. It happens a lot on the early cars.

I had the switch go bad on my late 944 and it had the same symptoms. I checked the battery, then removed the started and checked it. Then checked the cables. Everything was fine. Then I checked the back of the switch, and that was the problems. The early switches are cheap and easy to replace. My switch wasn't broken, but the contacts were not making a good connection. I was able to take my switch apart and clean the contacts and reassemble. And the car started right up.

There is a write up on Clarks-garage about how to check the switch.
Ignition Switch and Wiring Test
Ignition Switch Replacement

[Kiwi944]

I've put a new switch in... that didn't fix it

Originally Posted by GreenWater

Or the switch is broken. It happens a lot on the early cars.

I had the switch go bad on my late 944 and it had the same symptoms. I checked the battery, then removed the started and checked it. Then checked the cables. Everything was fine. Then I checked the back of the switch, and that was the problems. The early switches are cheap and easy to replace. My switch wasn't broken, but the contacts were not making a good connection. I was able to take my switch apart and clean the contacts and reassemble. And the car started right up.

There is a write up on Clarks-garage about how to check the switch.
Ignition Switch and Wiring Test
Ignition Switch Replacement

[sausagehacker]

Fuel pump should not be running unless the engine is spinning...double check.

[Kiwi944]

Found it! In a previous life there car has had an alarm, which has since been (mostly) removed. The wire from the ignition switch to the solenoid had been re-routed via a relay in the battery box.The relay had failed.

[dgcantrell]

I hate those aftermarket alarm systems. The 88S I just aquired had one in it. I promptly removed it. They had cut one of the main power wires in the harness just below the steering column. I barely had enough room to splice in a length of wire to reconnect it. Ridiculous alarm horn was just laying over on top of the A/C dryer. I can't blame the PO though. He did live in a high crime area of the state at the time.