Starting problem '86 951

NoYouRelax · NoYouRelax's Garage

Tried to start the car on Saturday and just got a click, and then no power to dash or auxiliaries. Then I jumped it and it started fine so I took it out to see if it would charge. When I returned and tried a restart, click, no start no power to all dash, aux or anything. Tried to start with another jump, but click. After the click, all auxiliaries are dead. I checked the amp draw on the battery and all seems fine. I searched for the alarm box (both locations) and can't find it. I think the PO must have removed it.

I checked Clarks troubleshooting and of course my symptoms hardly fit the trouble shooting guides. I guess I need to get at the ignition switch and ground inspections next. The battery is new via PO and I found loose post connections with similar issues.

Has anyone experienced that "click" followed by loss of power to every auxiliary component and lights?

Thanks in advance for any insight and guidance.

NoYouRelax · NoYouRelax's Garage

I am going to go after the starter first and work back to the ignition switch. Hopefully it is just a bad starter or selonoid wiring contact issue. Either way I will work it backwards from there.

TrailRider · 05-23-2017, 10:34 AM

yep, does sounds like a starter issue so good place to start. Keep us updated!

DannoXYZ · 05-24-2017, 04:22 PM

Bypass solenoid and connect +12v input to solenoid directly to solenoid output. Does starter spin?

PaulHunt · PaulHunt's Garage

Try checking the amps and volts at the starter.... Have someone turn the key while you check.... you could have a bad wire to the starter. I have seen the ground wires corrode and cause this.

Pauld_94S2 · 05-24-2017, 07:06 PM

Check and clean the wires and lugs at the battery terminal posts.
Rust and corrosion are not your friends.

NoYouRelax · NoYouRelax's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pauld_94S2

Check and clean the wires and lugs at the battery terminal posts.
Rust and corrosion are not your friends.

Agreed and this solved the problem. After replacing a starter, that probably did not need replacing, I went to the batteryna dcleaned things up. The PO just replaced the battery, but let someone else do it for him. It had a quick disconnect on the ground lug and I removed. It had signs of being a high resistance termination, rather than a pure conductor. In the future I will troubleshoot the cheapest and simplest area first.....argggggghhhh