S2 starter problems fix!

[Neil Haughey]

Guys, it has been a subject on here a lot recently. Anyways you guys may remember I had bizarre dash gauge problems, cutting out electrics, and mega slow starting that eventually became no staring.

I got under the car today and the big earth type cable that bolts onto the starter motor was just sitting there all loose. The damn nut had come off at some point. Anyways all 3 cables that connect are bolted down at the same point and the other 2 connections on the starter motor where also very heavilly corroded.

I cleaned up all the connections with wet and dry sand paper which takes ages to clean of the corrosion from the 3 earth type cables (assuming this is a common ground point could be the other way round), and replaced 2 of the nuts and some washers. I used an entire sheet in about a half dozen sections to get all the corrosion off.

The car now starts quicker then at any time I can remember over the last 7 years. To put it into context it starts as quick or quicker then any of the 944's at last weeks dyno day, and until 2pm today this car wasn't starting at all, and for years was very slow to crank.

If you have an S2 that turns over slowly and you know the battery is OK then you know what to do.

I have also replaced the alternator regulator and cleaned up the engine earth strap.

Now my car reads a steady 14v on the dash gauge when running and 12+ with the engine off, just as it should. The other gauges seem fine but unfortunately this hasn't stopped the ABS light from coming so thats next on the list.

 

[sawood12]

Good stuff, interesting to note that your in-dash volt gauge is now reading correctly. I'll have a peak at my earth cables at some stage.

Have you also noted an improvement in the performance of other electrical devices such as electric windows and windscreen wipers? I seem to remember reading that those lucky enough to have installed the IceShark HID kit that included an extra earthing strap experienced improvements in the window and wiper operation suggesting that poor earthing might be the cause.

 

[rcsalmons]

Aren't those 3 "earth cables" actually +ve cables?

Rich

 

[zcacogp]

Neil,

Very glad you got to the bottom of the problem.

The only point I can add is that 'dremel'-type hand-held tools with a small wire brush on the end are very useful for cleaning up poor connections on cars. I don't have one, but used one extensively in similar fault-chasing on a friends' 928, and it was worth it's weight in gold.


Oli.

 

[Neil Haughey]

Good suggestion about the Dremel, would have saved a lot of time and certainly less pain in the arms since it is pretty cramped under there with the front of the car on jacks stands.

The 3 cables are black sheathed. The critical connection point seems to be at the top of the starter solenoid bit where the 3 fairly hefty cables all bolt down on the one post.

I think this part of the car should be a maintainence item given how exposed it is down there to rain and grime.

 

[Neil Haughey]

Can't really tell if any other electrical devices are working better but the car drives 1000 times smoother then 3 weeks ago when it kept dieing on me.

I still have the ABS light though which could be some other duff connections to get at.