Starter doesn't have a lot of power on start
 

Here's the scenario,

Dropped my 928 with a valet for a lunch appointment (I was running late).

When they went to retrieve it, there was a strange sound coming out of the engine compartment when they went to put it in neutral or park (sound like a metalic howling). I immediately shut it down (valet says it made that noise when he started it).

I immediately shut it down. Opened hood, and with car in park, had guy start it. No problems starting.

Noticed tonight that when I went to start, the starter didn't seem to have a lot of power. It started, just not with the usual power that it had before today.

I'm taking a guess that the starter didn't dis-engage when he started it but wanted to let the board give their opinions.

Could it be something else or does it sound like a starter? If so, what should I do? Simply replace the entire starter or ???

Michael

Possibly. I hate to ask this...but I will. Have you checked your oil lately-?

Also, what do the terminals on the battery look like? And how old is that battery, anyway? Here in Florida they last about two or three years.

I suppose it is possible the starter Bendix didn't fully retract, and the starter remained engaged to the engine....turning some god-awful RPM once the engine started! It is good you shut it down right away if this was the case. The result could be cooked bearings or brushes in the starter itself. If it does this tomorrow, pull the starter and replace it. Pelican doesn't have many 928 parts, but they have starters I think, and 928 International always has decent used starters. You can also have it rebuilt by some local shop. I think 928 Motorsports has a special light-weight starter too.

Good luck!

N!

Normy's check the oil reference is I think to checking for thrust bearing issues.

I don't think the starter would sound like it was coming from the engine compartment, more like it was coming from below the shifter.

I would check all the belt tensions, as well as everything associated with the starter (wires, mounting, etc.).

The reason I thought starter is that it only did it when he tried to put it in neutral or park, not in drive. It sounded like it was coming from the rear of the engine. God awful sound though.

Of course this has never happened to me before. Had to be the one time since I've owned it that I let someone else drive it beyond a 928 owner. Starters aren't very expensive (in relative Porsche terms) so I'll keep an eye on it and see if it gets worse.

It's due for an oil change so may schedule a weekend to get that done.

Michael

Park and Neutral are things that happen exclusively back in the transaxle, nothing changes up front from the torque tube forward, except there is no load on the engine in park or neutral. Most nasty sounds leave some evidence, wreckage, behind. Nothing nice that could wait until it happens again is coming to mind either. I wouldn't drive it before I could inspect it.

True

However, the car can only be started when the transmission is in Park or Neutral. If the starter thought it should be starting, wouldn't it only occur when you put tranny in neutral or park (i.e. that's when it would kick in and then be spun much faster than would make it happy). I might be reaching her but logically this made sense to me.

It hasn't happened again and to me, the noise came from the engine compartment and sounded metalic and like something was spinning faster than it like (wickedly faster).

Michael

It sounds like the starter solenoid didn't retract the gear. Mine was doing weird crap too. I removed mine and the shaft (bolt) that holds the teeter fell out. I put a bolt in and it works just fine. I almost bought a new starter, but was able to save mine. That noise sounds like it got stuck forward.

As the previous owner of a 240z the sound of a funky starter is burned into my brain. Its a grinding sound, and damage happens FAST.

If your ignition (starter) switch was bad (always on, or on sometimes when it shouldn't be) then yes shifting into N or P would make the starter run.