Intermittent Starting problem
 

The last couple of days I have had starting problems on my 88 928. It cranks fine and has always just started immediately. Two days ago it just cranked and cranked no start, then started fine an hour later, then drove for 10 minutes. Stopped the car, got in to restart and again cranked without starting. Seemed like a fuel problem. I got the car home was getting ready to replace the fuel pump and filter (had a spare), and she fired right up this morning. Anyone experience this before? Advice?

The Jim Bailey rule is check the relay first.

fuel pump relay going out?

I would check the relay first. Try swapping with the horn relay when it refuses to crank. If the horn then does not work or cranks right up, you have part of the answer...

BTW, pulling those relays is a bear. I keep two paint can openers in the car for just that purpose. Of course, disconnect the negative battery terminal in the trunk, or else you will have bigger problems.

Problem seems solved
 

Guys thanks for the help. I did charge up the battery over the night. Prior to this the battery would turn over the car but seems to have not been as high as it should have been. I read several sites and one of Wally's sites mentioned a low battery could cause a similar problem. I have run it a lot today and problem seems to have gone away. We will see... Hope this is a good FYI for others.

good to hear. now, why is your battery low?

The car had been sitting a while and yes I think there is a gradual drain (maybe a glove box light or something similar). What was strange is that it did crank fairly well. But according to the article I read, we do get a voltage drop when the starter is cranking, and this seemed just enough to effect something else, perhaps the fuel pump relay. Or I may have some dirty contacts on the relay that are adding the the need for high voltage. I have a lot of contacts to clean. Thanks again everyone for your help

Two big offenders for draining the battery; door pin switch is dirty and thinks the door is open, and interior light switch above the rear view mirror can get a short in the wires.

I had the same problem, would go away now and then. Swapped relay out, seemed to work, but later no-go.

Turned out after a good cleaning of the fuse mountings as well the problem went away for good.

So realy & check the fuse mountings are corrosion free.