Car won't start after sitting about 2 years

[porsche9441987]

I tried to start my parents Porsche 944 after it was sitting for about 2 years.

We replaced the battery, starter, and can't get the engine to turn over. It cranks a little bit, acting like a weak battery. I got a stronger battery out of my truck which powers my truck, and the car did the same thing. I can manually crank the engine so its not seized. What could be wrong?

[zedsn]

Did you clean the starter connections and the battery terminal connections? Did you put in a new starter or a used one?

[porsche9441987]

The connections aren't dirty. Also the starter I bought is used, but works. The old one also works. I tested the old one after removing it. It disengages, engages, and spins.

[mytrplseven]

Why did the car sit in the first place? Was it because there was a broken belt and caused the valves to hit the pistons? Is there oil in the crank case? Is it possible that the weather got into the engine through an open oil fill tube or a flood? Are you trying to start this motor in Neutral or the clutch pushed in?

[zedsn]

just because the starter spins like it should does not necessarily make it good. I would take them and have them load tested at an auto parts store that tests these things.

[porsche9441987]

The car had no issues when we let it sit. Didn't have a flood, or snow. Last year we had snow, but not much, and this year its been a mild winter, yes I tried it in neutral, and park. Its an Automatic.

[kfray]

The main cable from the positive terminal of the battery to the starter could be be defective and or the ground from the negative terminal of the battery to the back of the engine block could be defective.

[alan6272]

Really sounds like a bad connection to me, a little corrosion is all it takes.

[salvator12]

The main cable from the positive terminal of the battery to the starter could be be defective and or the ground from the negative terminal of the battery to the back of the engine block could be defective.

[TibetanT]

First and foremost, there are a few things you MUST check to get this car started.

1: Spark
2: Fuel
3: Compression

Is there spark at the spark plugs?
Is fuel getting to the cylinders via the fuel injectors?
Is the compression at an acceptable level?

If your battery is not at 12.5Volts, this car will not start due to lack of voltage to the fuel injectors. Another reason that spark will not happen is if the speed and reference sensors are not working. (The ECU/DME computer brain sends signals to the fuel injectors via the electrical signals it receives from the speed and reference (TDC) sensors.) These sensors are at the back of the engine near the top of the bell housing.

When was the last time the timing belt was changed? Are there any records with this car? If there are records, READ them and try to determine what needs replacement. Such as: when was the last time the car had a tune-up, wires replaced, spark plugs replaced, rotor and distributor cap replaced?

Clarks-Garage has many troubleshooting procedures to help with these issues.

ALSO, very important, if this car has been sitting for two (2) years, then did you put new gas into it? I would suggest draining the old gasoline out of the car and providing it with new gas.

Another thing to know is, that gasoline will turn into varnish after it sits for two (2) years, so your fuel injectors could possibly be plugged and not able to fire.

Check all electrical connections for corrosion and CLEAN all of your ground wire connections. This will help a great deal with your troubleshooting.

Hope this helps, and keep us posted on your progress so we can continue to help.

Good luck.

[porsche9441987]

Thanks, found out it was a bad ground connection. The nut was lose behind the engine block.

[TibetanT]

EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!
I have always said when these cars don't start, "it is always something fundamental."

Now that you have it starting and running, how does it run?

This is the best time to check the maintenance list of "things to do." Just so you can keep it at peek performance and not have any surprises crop up.

Check list should include: (at a minimum)
Spark plugs and wires (when were they last changed?)
Rotor and distributor cap
New gasoline
Ensure correct timing (check OT and TDC)
Oil change

Major check list should include: (at next service interval)
Timing Belt
Balance-shaft belt
Associated rollers and oil seals
Water pump and gasket
Tires

Spare parts to purchase A.S.A.P.:
DME relay
Reference sensors (when $$ allows, since they are expensive)

Have fun driving and be safe.

[944Larry]

I'd add fuel pump and DME (buy them used) to my list of spare parts if you plan on any long trips.

[adamb100]

Really sounds like a bad connection to me, a little corrosion is all it takes.

[porsche9441987]

Originally Posted by TibetanT

EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!
I have always said when these cars don't start, "it is always something fundamental."

Now that you have it starting and running, how does it run?

This is the best time to check the maintenance list of "things to do." Just so you can keep it at peek performance and not have any surprises crop up.

Check list should include: (at a minimum)
Spark plugs and wires (when were they last changed?)
Rotor and distributor cap
New gasoline
Ensure correct timing (check OT and TDC)
Oil change

Major check list should include: (at next service interval)
Timing Belt
Balance-shaft belt
Associated rollers and oil seals
Water pump and gasket
Tires

Spare parts to purchase A.S.A.P.:
DME relay
Reference sensors (when $$ allows, since they are expensive)

Have fun driving and be safe.

Thanks for the check list. The plugs, wires, distributor, rotor was all changed before it sat. Should just need new gas.

The car was misfiring like crazy, and smoking up the neighborhood, but thats from spraying wd-40 under the spark plugs to lubricate things thinking that would do the trick, cause the engine turned really easily without plugs in, and didn't hesitate which is strange that the ground didn't effect that. Also the ground was very corroded, but nothing steal wool couldn't fix.

[mytrplseven]

If you put some gas in it, I'd opt for an additive along with the first real load of high test gas. someting that will disolve varnish and any other floating stuff in the gas. after a full tank has run through with the additive, replace the filter again because you may have dislodged any crap the old fuel accumulated. It's a cheap and effective way to be thorough.

[xsbank]

When you first hit the starter, the voltage will spike to hundreds of amps. This transient only lasts a very short time as the motor spins up but is the hardest work the starter will have to do, getting the engine to move from rest. The bad ground will not be able to pass this amount of current and the voltage will drop (if I remember Ohm's Law correctly!). However, if there is no load on the motor, the load is very low and a bad ground will be less evident. Electric motors have 100% of their torque available from rest.

Xsbank's #1 rule of car maintenance - go for the easy thing first; 90% of the time its electrical.

[xsbank]

Ps: the WD40 on the plug connections was not the cause of the smoke. Tons of unburnt crappy gas and probably oil in the cylinders did that.