Mystery no start issue resolved.

[Akira28]

Hi Folks,

Another expensive lesson ended today. Figured I’d share.

On my way out to lunch yesterday I made a hard corner to avoid a kid who ran the light at a T intersection. The car hopped a few times when I whipped the wheel and did an impromptu hockey stop at speed.

I was under the impression all was well until we came out of our usual lunch spot and the car wouldn’t start.

Symptoms:

Key turned
The fuel pump primed
Headlights came on
All lights and accessories worked
Fan came on
No obvious fuses blown
Battery was putting out voltage.
Car started with a push (took a few tries due to compression)
Ran perfectly as long as you didn’t shut it off.

Got it back to the house and dove in with the multimeter. Everything topside checked out but the battery was very low on fluid. Discovered a battery leak so I replaced it, but it did not change the situation.

I decided to climb under and test the voltage at the solenoid but was unable to find it, I marked it down as pure inexperience and that I’m a mainframe computer tech by trade (thus mechanically retarded).

Now I’m sure that’s a pretty funny thing that I wasn’t able to find the starter, considering the knowledge expressed here on the board, but I’m being honest in saying that I’m learning. I could use the excuse that I’m a little too physically thick to fit under the car, but that’s more a matter of buying some jackstands tonight after work.

Now for the funny part.. I push started it and took it down to the local mechanic and quickly received a phone call.

Mechanic- “Yes, sir can you tell me where the starter is?”

ME- “If I knew I would have tested it myself. I took it to you guys-for that exact same reason”

Mechanic- “We don’t have it, is it in the car?”

Me- “I would assume so-but I couldn't find it to test it”

Mechanic- “Well, It looks like your entire starter is missing. The mounting bolts are broken off and the unit is not there for us to test either”

$560 bucks later the bolt fragments were removed, holes retapped a new starter installed and I’m back on the road.

So .. Lesson learned Be careful what your looking for, you might not find it..LOL

Akira28
_

1983 911-SC Targa 3.0
1984 944-NA

[Pazuzu]

OUCH.

You're double lucky that the big torn exposed cable that feeds the starter didn't start grounding out on something important, like a fuel line!

[Rot 911]

That is certainly a new one on me!

[teenerted1]

so was the HOP you running over the missing starter?

[Akira28]

Well, I can't really explain why it "hopped" other then inertia, that's never happened before (usually slides into a partial fishtail or bootleggers corner) and I didn't hear anything hit the underside of the floorboards or the wheel wells. Granted I had the wheel cranked all the way over and was doing about 30-ish, with my Co-worker (passenger) screaming like a little girl. Porsche shop looked for additional damage (suspension or otherwise) and didn't find any.

Pazuzu- They didn't say anything about the connecting wires, thanks for bringing that up I will look to see what was replaced when I crawl under there tonight. Akira28

Akira28
_

1983 911-SC Targa 3.0
1984 944-NA

[equality72521]

Sorry about your luck but that is funny.

[dshepp806]

That has to be the most incredible story I've yet to read here,..holy cow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doyle

[Talewinds]

Holy crap! I wasn't expecting THAT ending to the story!

[Red Clubbie]

Did you go back to see if was lying in the gutter?......

Cheers,

Geoff.