[Bitte ein Bit]

Well, finally have an update.




After starting at point zero and buying a brand new battery I began tearing things down and checking grounds, connections, cleaning contacts, etc...

Under the car and after removing the starter I found the wire from the starter to the alternator (red) was exposed about 1-2 inches...friction or overheating I am not quite sure AND I am not sure if once exposed it was contacting anything (Bare contact with starter? Arching??? As you know the area up there is tight).

So I started from there.

I removed the AC relay in the smugglers box. Entire AC deletion complete now leaving the harness at this point. I am sure the relay for the AC wasn't an issue but since it's in the ignition equation wanted to remove all doubt.




Bought new:

Grounding cables/Ground strap transmission to chassis
Ignition switch (electronic portion)
Voltage regulator
New starter (replaced under warranty - thanks Pelican!)
Key FOB for new key to be cut (not an issue but reading so much on tumbler replacement etc...just wanted to start fresh)
New DME...



Cleaned, wrapped, etc. all electrical contacts from front to back starting with the simple stuff - battery cables, grounds up front...

Even took out and cleaned up the ignition coil (original black Bosch).

Taped up any and all worn or questionable wiring and wiring covers going to the engine bay and starter. ((Until the new harness gets here so I can move the car to my work area))

Cleaned and lubricated mechanical switch on ignition (Used Tri-Flow).
Cleaned all contacts in the wiring for switch under the dash (looked good actually).

Installed new parts one at a time, reassembled using my volt meter every step of the way... (hooking up battery checking...disconnecting battery, etc...).


Installed everything up to the starter. One last time with eveything connected got the results from the volt meter checking the black battery cable and the yellow ignition wire. Both were good.


Installed the starter at 2am, hooked up the battery (nervously -if you recall from the posts once I connected the ground the starter would fire.)

This time - nothing. Whew.

Got in and finally got to turn the key and she fired right up...alternator light went dim and it ran like a champ.




With timing and a family emergency (which cut into everything and made it hard to actually trouble shoot for root cause) over the past two months I wasn't here to test everything for formal results.

Early on I remember removing the starter for testing and by gut feeling reconnected the battery to check voltage with the wires to the starter. The cable from the battery lit up which was good, but the ignition wire/yellow wire gave me a reading also...it wasn't much but back then it made me wonder of there was just enough current to keep the starter turning even with no key in the ignition...(?)

So, we had an emergency and with airport time, and hotel time just kept bookmarking things from the internet, articles and of course this forum.




My gut says ignition switch - and it just wasn't cutting power to the starter. A short? Old? etc...there was some key slop and it for sure didn't feel as accurate/precise as the new switch...

Sadly - leaving in such a rush I just ended up ordering parts (from hours of reading posts here and owners with similar problems) as I was in no place to trouble shoot.

I really wish I would have kept notes and more photos because I feel like I didn't really find the gremlin/problem but for me I am happy at this point.




I am sure there will be heavy critics, oh the internet - but hopefully this can help others.



The break in continuity of trying to fix the problem really threw a wrench into things and I am the last person to just throw new parts at a problem (oil cooled BMW motorcycle and old Land Rover owner) and understand I/we need to properly diagnose the REAL cause of said issues.





Just wanted to thank everyone for responding, PM'ing me and the phone calls. Very, very grateful.

For the record -I didn't mean to write a book here, but man do I hate when these types of posts are never ended/finished or having a final outcome.




Lastly I am ordering a new harness for the engine, and voltmeter to be tastefully installed. I am paranoid a bit so will probably start looking at battery disconnect switches.


...terrible time coming out to a car in your garage trying to start on it's own - ha?


Happy New Year everyone!

Erik