No start in an 87 911

dorschman · dorschman's Garage

Saturday I drove it for cars and coffee and noticed I could "feel" but not hear intermittent engine hesitation only when accelerating, not on idle. A friend and I thought the fuel injectors might be clogged so I was going to try to run the tank near empty and then use some Techron to see if that solved the problem.

Well last night I tried to go for a drive. Had a little trouble getting out of the garage and then it just died and would not start again at the end of the road (about 100 yards). Will turn over fine, electricals work, just seems to be no gas.

On Saturday it seemed like the fuel was cutting out intermittently.

Any ideas?

Thank You

kodioneill · kodioneill's Garage

check for spark first. pull coil wire set it next to ground have someone turn over the engine watch for spark. check fuel pump relay in fuse box. the red one see if the terminals look ok. then try a dme relay (most likely the problem) if you want try this first.

KFC911 · 03-10-2009, 07:28 AM

There is no red fuel pump relay in the fuse box on an '87. The fuel pump relay is also housed in the DME relay under the driver's seat (two relays in one). A likely cause, and everyone should always have a "good" spare one on hand at all times if you have drive a Carrera.

MOMO3.2 · 03-10-2009, 07:55 AM

+1 on what KC911 wrote.

I have had 1 "no start" and 1 stopped running and "no start again" on my 87 Carrera. The first was the DME Relay. The second was a solder joint on my ECU.

Good luck.

Mike

Rob G · 03-10-2009, 07:58 AM

I went to pick up my car and it wouldn't start. Try'd a new battery still nothing. Changed the DME unit under the drivers seat and she started right up. ALWAY CARRY A EXTRA ONE IN THE GLOVE BOX. From what ive been told you could be driving down the road and if the DME goes bad, the car just dies. Hope this helps.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=911-618-154-00-OEM&catalog_description=DME%20Relay%20%28located%20und er%20driver%20seat%29%2C%20%39%31%31%20Carrera%20% 28%31%39%38%34%2D%38%39%29%20

Rob

dorschman · dorschman's Garage

sadly I have one in the glove compartment- just did not think of it. That is my project for tonight.

Rob G · 03-10-2009, 08:08 AM

They are strait forward in changing if you havnt done it before. Slide the seat all the way forward and you will see it.

Rob G

teenerted1 · 03-10-2009, 11:47 AM

fuel filter, check your fuel filter!!!!!!!

electricals fine but not getting fuel?
hesitation, now it wont start

fuel filter, check your fuel filter!!!!!!!

dorschman · dorschman's Garage

New dme no go, no change in symptoms.
How does one "check" the fuel filter? It is opaque. Do you mean replace?

Thank you

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

A bad ECU (as in a bad solder joint) will cause your symptoms. Also, if your speed and reference sensors aren't sending a signal, they ECU cuts off the fuel pump. Open up the ECU and check for bad solder joints.
See here: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=401982&highlight=ecu+solder

rick-l · 03-10-2009, 07:17 PM

Now you need to test for spark.

rick-l · 03-10-2009, 07:37 PM

You could also read through this thread.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=288567

This guy gives some good advice in the thread and the link.

scarceller

but again start simple...... Spark then if no spark DME power.

stlrj · 03-10-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorschman

Saturday I drove it for cars and coffee and noticed I could "feel" but not hear intermittent engine hesitation only when accelerating, not on idle. A friend and I thought the fuel injectors might be clogged so I was going to try to run the tank near empty and then use some Techron to see if that solved the problem.

Well last night I tried to go for a drive. Had a little trouble getting out of the garage and then it just died and would not start again at the end of the road (about 100 yards). Will turn over fine, electricals work, just seems to be no gas.

On Saturday it seemed like the fuel was cutting out intermittently.

Any ideas?

Thank You

Have you encountered any rain lately?

dorschman · dorschman's Garage

no rain in recent memory

stlrj · 03-11-2009, 04:44 AM

Your fuel pump may have died.

richemj · richemj's Garage

There is a good Carrera "No-Start" troubleshoot guide on the Technical Article forum... see below link....goes through the entire check list from spark, fuel, DME, etc. I found it very useful in my recent no-start troubles.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_carrera_start_troubleshoot/911_carrera_start_troubleshoot.htm

Wavey · 03-11-2009, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlrj

Your fuel pump may have died.

Mine did that - just stopped running. No symptons, no warning. I

tabascojohn · 03-11-2009, 06:22 AM

I had the same symptoms you descride last fall in my 87.
It turned out to be the fuel pump. It was intermittant at first.

How many miles are on the pump? Mine had 135K when it failed.
Do you have a bentley manual? In it it describes the procedure for verify a faulty pump.
You can energize the pump at the fuse panel under the hood with a jumper wire. ( I can't remember which fuse it is off the top of my head)
Let it run for a couple of minutes. Mine sounded fine for the first 20 to 30 seconds then would slowing die down.

If you want PM me with you phone number and I can walk you throught the procedure tomorrow night.

John

bklyn · 03-11-2009, 09:15 AM

Mine turned out to be a broken rotor, the spline that slides onto the shaft had broken.

dorschman · dorschman's Garage

Update- no spark- coil has power- 14.5 volts dc, power to distributor verified, no spark at holding a plug to ground. Gasoline smell from exhaust pipe when trying to start.

Tried new DME relay- no dice.

Next step evaluate ECU- is this relatively easy to remove from the car- like the DME relay but a few more steps?

thank you