1989 951 Will Not Start

[rdoine]

Arrived at my home airport tonight. Went out to the parking lot and got in to start the car. I stepped on the clutch and turned the key. The car jerked twice like the clutch was not fully engaged. Then I put the car in neutral and again stepped on the clutch and turned the key. The car turned over but would not start. After about fifteen minutes of trying, waiting, and trying again, I got the car to start but it would not stay running. When I stopped using the accelerator to hold the idle up, the car would die. Now it will not start at all. It just turns over. I had to have it flat-bedded to the house.

I'll start looking into it tomorrow. Any ideas?

Thanks

[kens_74_911s]

Sounds like fuel delivery but you really need to look closer. A pain but its good ( bad for you now) to catch it in fail mode, evaluate carefully.

Fuel delivery
Spark
compression
needed items

K

[rdoine]

Thanks. Now if the rain would just stop I could get outside to take a look.

[thomasryan]

Try drying out the inside of your distributor cap.

[rdoine]

1. Ordered new dme/fuel pump relay - Due this coming week.
2. Pulled all plugs. They look good and have only been in there since last November.
3. Can't see a spark when I turn the ignition with the plug in its wire.
4. Plugs were not wet. I thought they might be if I turned the engine over without it starting.

Was going to try Thomas' suggestion that I dry the distributor cap. Can't get my big hands in there to get a stubby driver to the bottom retaining screw. The individual wires would not pull off the cap easily so I didn't force it.

I'll see what else I can think of between now and when the new relay arrives.

Thanks for the suggestions.

rdoine

[944tothefloor]

Did the 951 get rain while you are gone? That can make a big difference. Otherwise, key thing to remember here is that it was running completely fine when you parked it, right? That's your biggest clue.

To elaborate on the rain issue, my 951 had the same starting problem you described when it was parked during substantial rain ... something just got too much moisture I guess. I checked the dme + klr and those were fine.

[rdoine]

Yes, it rained pretty much all week. Car was running very well prior to leaving it for five days at the airport. I haven't looked at the dme itself. Guess I'll go find it and see if it's dry.

Thanks

[rdoine]

DME/Fuel relay should arrive today or tomorrow. In the meantime things have gotten really strange.

Passenger floor is wet. Its been raining off and on over the last several days. Got home from a trip to the airport Tuesday evening and my wife tells me she hears a motor running. I told her it was likely the cooling fan on the 996 Turbo that runs for a short period after shutdown, at certain temps. She says no, it sound like it's coming from the 944T. Sure enough, there is something in the engine compartment cycling on and off for a few seconds at a time.

Remember, the car is just sitting there and there is no key in the ignition. So I disconnected the battery. Something must be wet. Looks like a flat bed ride in the very near future.

[campbelljj]

Likely the turbo auxiliary water pump running. It cycles based on hydrothermal switch on coolant pipe from turbo in front of intake manifold. Also your leak is likely due to battery tray corrosion. Pull battery and clean area, get in car under passenger dash with flashlight and have someone pour a bottle of water in the battery box area. You will likely find a hole or two. Good luck!

[rdoine]

Campbelljj, but what would make the pump run when the car hasn't been started in 8 days?

I'll pull the battery and check that out. That would certainly drop water onto the DME wouldn't it?

Thanks

[944tothefloor]

Clues are pointing to water issue ==> electrical issue ==> do not attempt to solve ==> dry engine bay

*but surely check for rust holes anyway

[rdoine]

Got the new DME relay and installed. No change.

Battery tray looks brand new. No rust of any king. Poured water into tray and it gushed out the drain underneath. Saw no evidence of leaks inside under the dash. Guess it could still be the sunroof drains.

No more self-diagnosis. It heads to the shop via flatbed tomorrow.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll let you know when the problem is sorted out.

[dp951]

Double Check if the computers got wet .

[968 GUY]

Leak around windshield? Battery tray still is a possibility.

[Phantoms]

I wouldn't rule out the battery tray either. Mine looked fine too, until I left it parked facing downhill in a rainstorm, which turned out to be the perfect storm. The hole wasn't visible when looking from above, I had to feel for it along the side of the bar that goes down the middle of the box. I ended up having to replace my Alarm Control Unit because it was located directly below and filled to the brim with water.

[rdoine]

Update: Had the car flat bedded to the shop about 80 miles away. They did find the modules in the passenger footwell wet. When dry, the car started. They are looking for the entry point for the water. It appears to come from the top. Either sunroof or rear hatch. While diagnosing, they found a parasitic drain of more than 80 milliamps (I think). Alarm module was drawing 37. Antenna amplifier was drawing some more. Removed the alarm module and fixed the antenna amplifier. Draw is down to normal now. We're checking a few other things out while there. The MAF conversion done some 25 years ago being cleaned up. Looking at rerouting the cold air intake that seems to get wet and cause poor running until dry. At the least the car has been started and does not seem to have suffered anything serious. Owner of the shop said he wants the car if and when I decide to give it up. Not happening anytime soon, lol.

[grendiers]

Congrats! I too have an '89 951, with 66K miles on it, store it summers in AZ while we're in WI. The battery gets disconnected for long storage. Can't wait for winter~!

[dp951]

YEP
Thats the usual

[944tothefloor]

rdoine, even excess moisture in the air cause cause the modules in the passenger footwell to fail.

[rdoine]

Car is still at the shop. Insurance covered the water related issues. Of course, will not cover the cause of the leaks.

The 25 year old Autothority MAF, intake, etc. has sorta crumbled (plastic parts) so now we're waiting on an update to a Lindsey Racing MAF, chip, and injectors. The car dynoed at 281 horses with the Autothority setup. Might be interesting to see what the Lindsey Racing provides.

A simple "no start" situation is starting to add up to $$'s.