HELP CAR WON'T START!

[daz944nz]

Hi guys......

Have a wee problem with my 944 (85).

Recently my car developed a habit of not starting ......by that I mean I could jump in the car one day and she would start first turn of the key. I could then leave her parked up for 10 minutes and the car would fail to start again.

I have 2 sets of keys and thought maybe one of the keys was faulty but when the car did start it would start on one or the other key.

Anyways long story short......

When I turn the key I hear a noise in the rear of the car...........a soft electronic whurring noise and then nothing.....The engine does not turn over or fire up.

I've tried leaving the car in gear and rocking it.....query dodgy starter motor, I've checked the battery.......no joy.

Any help you could give would be great.

Many thanks

Daz

 

[Diver944]

The soft electronic whirring from the back of the car sounds like your fuel pump switching on. It should remain on for the entire time the car is running so the fact that it switches off sounds like your problem. The fuel pump is controlled by the DME relay and is one of the most common failure points of the electrical system so we always recommend that owners carry a spare in the glovebox.

There is lots of info at Clarks Garage here: www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/fuel-05.htm and shows you how to make an emergency jumper wire to test it.

New relays are under £20 from places like www.type911shop.co.uk and www.promaxmotorsport.co.uk

 

[daz944nz]

Many thanks Diver

I'm in New Zealand so I'll try and source one from here. So am I too understand that the relay could be my only issue?

I'll check out the other links once again thanks heaps.

Darren

 

[robwright]

The fact that it won't crank sounds like an immobiliser issue to me. Do you have one fitted?

 

[daz944nz]

Hi no I don't have one fitted but I understand how that might of been an issue.

Many thanks

 

[Lowtimer]

Mine was as simple as a complete and sudden failure of the starter motor.Although there was nothing intermittent about that - it burned out a winding.

 

[daz944nz]

My starter motor got into a condition whereby it would work fine when cold, but wouldn't operate when hot. I'm told this is a common failure mode. You could, if at home, see if hosing it down to cool it gets it working again! Do check the DME relay first though, using the jumper wiring referred to by Paul above.

 

[robwright]

ORIGINAL: Lowtimer

Mine was as simple as a complete and sudden failure of the starter motor.Although there was nothing intermittent about that - it burned out a winding.

Indeed it is or at least used to be quite common. The componenets expand and become heat seized. Mark 2 Astras were a bugger for it.

 

[Lowtimer]

Tell you what: with the brand new starter on it (yes, I know I am a mad extravagant fellow) it was amazing how much nicer and more modern it sounds when cranking, and how much quicker it turns over the engine too! I had thought mine was typical in having a fairly slow cranking speed, having read that "they all sound like that" . Maybe they all sound like that when they are 20-25 years old on the original starter, but mine is positively brisk now.

 

[daz944nz]

thanks guys I now have a starter and will collect a couple of DME relays on Wednesday. How easy are the starters to fit bearing in mind my car is stuck at home lol.

Am I ok to jack the car up and put her on axle stands......what sort of time should I allow for the job?

Many thanks and Merry Christmas from New Zealand.

Daz

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: daz944nz

Hi guys......

Have a wee problem with my 944 (85).

Daz It would be helpful if you could be precise about the non-starting . Is it that the engine will crank (turn over) but not start . or is it that the engine will not crank ( turn over ) and therefore will not start.
These are entirely differant scenarios .

If the engine will not crank (turn over) I would suggest you need to check
1.Battery is fully charged
2. Check battery earth point and battery terminals
3. Check 12v connection to starter solenoid from battery (large dia cable)
4. Check earth strap from engine to chassis (probably at back of cylinder head to firewall, try bypass with jump start cable to engine from battery positive terminal)
5. Check you have 12v+ feed to ignition switch from battery (small dia cable. )
6. Check the 12v+ supply from ignition switch to the starter motor solenoid (small dia cable)
If all these check out ok and you can hear the starter solenoid clicking when you turn the ignition switch your starter solenoid is probably shot .

Try wiggling the key in the ignition whilst starting as the ignition switch may be worn out. If you connect a bypass cable from the small wire connection on the starter solenoid to the positive + terminal on the battery and the engine turns over then you know the fault lies somewhere between the battery and starter via the ignition switch.


Now .... if on the other hand the engine cranks (turns over ) but fails to start then there is an entirely different set of componants you will need to check.
You need to give some feedback before I spend another hour of typing needlessly lol[]

The noise in the rear could be due to the fuel pump being unable to flow sufficient fuel to build up fuel pressure. Listen to the FPR (fuel pressure relief valve ) it could be faulty. Make sure that you have at least 3-4 gallons of fuel in the tank.

 

[daz944nz]

Thanks for that Nick

Sorry for not explaining myself well.

When I turn the key the engine does not turnover and I do hear a click........I thought it might be the starter motor and having read about the DME Relay issues I believe that relay isn't the issue. I'll try your awesome list of remedies and hopefully have her driving again before Xmas......the weather is way to nice not to go for a drive.

Many many thanks

Darren

 

[peanut]

Hi Darren . It isn't a list of possible remedies more like a troubleshooting checklist. If you follow the guide you will definitely find the fault and it may not be the starter motor . If you bolt a new starter on and it still doesn't crank the engine what are you going to do then ?[]

I would not buy a starter motor until you have checked everything in the list first.

My partner borrowed a 4x4 Pajero last week to get about in the snow. It failed to start.
A local garage recovery mechanic came out and managed to tow start it . After checking he said it needed a new starter motor at £345.00 fitted!

I wasn't convinced so I checked all the wiring and found the immobiliser was faulty.Took me a couple of hours to disable the immobiliser and re-instate the original wiring but it saved us £345.00

 

[daz944nz]

Nick

How much of an idiot am I.........my battery was tucker. I've only had the car 6 months ....and to be honest really haven't driven the car that much,......its now summer over here and time t put some Km on the car!

I thank you for your time and effort and rest assured I haven't paid for the starter yet......but I am going to the Porsche breakers tomorrow to return the starter and no doubt I will come away with some extra little bits. Last time I went I came back with red leather 944 turbo seats (front and rear).......as I told my partner it was a cheaper option then getting my originals restitched!

BTw Crewekerne is a great place.....I'm Cornish coming from Gweek.

 

[peanut]

thats excellent news ! nothing more gauranteed to put a smile on your face than driving your 944 after its failed to start !.

This thread will no doubt help another owner in the future so nothing wasted.

How is Cornwall these days? Wife and I spent a few months down there renovating St Agnes theme park in winter 97 . We stayed in Column major and our office workshops were in Redruth. We employed 26 locals who all seemed to be only interested in surfing lol. Boy it sure is windy down there in winter [] Just seen you are in NZ fabulous. Would love to visit one day