Starting issue

[Bazzer]

Hi guys could somebody shed some light on a starting problem I have with my 77 911sc.
I was caught in traffic on the M4 at the weekend and shut the motor down as was going no where, when trying to re-start the car the fuel pump fired up but the next turn of the key did nothing, on the 2nd try she fired.
Thinking I must not have turned the key properly and all was ok I waited till I left the Motorway and tryed again, she fired up no problem, getting a little confused I waited till the safety of my drive and switched the motor off once more, this time as before the fuel pump kicks in then nothing on the final turn of the key, totaly dead, I know its not the battery so could this be the red starter relay or is there something more sinister, any help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks Baz

 

[wblackw9]

Are you getting a click when you turn the key all the way or nothing. If your getting a click then this could mean the starter is sticking?

 

[nervy]

Hi Bazzer

I too have a Nov. 1977 SC, and recently had the same problem whilst in France.
We had traveled to a hotel not far from Reims, with no problems at all. Stopped in the hotel car park to unload the cases, 5 minutes later decided to drive out to find a restaurant, turned the key and nothing happened. Luckily we were on a slope so we bump-started it. My friend said, "reverse up the slpoe and try starting it again". It started on the key first time. Next time we stopped it would not restart. This carried on, sometimes starting, sometimes not. We drove into the Porsche garage on the edge of Reims. It was Saturday afternoon, and luckily the foreman engineer agreed to have a look at it right away. The car was put on a hoist and he looked at the starter motor. He found the problem straight away. The solenoid casing had shattered. The positive terminal was hanging off, intermittently making a connection.
They couldn't get a starter motor until Tuesday, and as we were only there for the weekend, we had to keep bump-starting it until we got home.

As the price for a new starter was € 430 and was fitted at the Porsche Factory only 7 years ago, I decided to get a rebuilt Bosch replacement from my local Porsche Specialist for £150 + vat.

Hope this helps

Nervy

 

[Bazzer]

Thank's for your help guy's, to answer your question wblackw9, no there was not a single noise at all from the starter area, but what nervy has said sounds identical to my symptoms as yesterday afternoon I turned the key again and she fired first time without a hitch so will now start looking at a few of the possibilities, can you tell me what happens when the red fuel relay stops as have read on the forum these can also be a problem.
Much appreciated for your replys, once again the forums been invaluable !!!

Baz

 

[Bazzer]

Thank's for that John, I will check out all the options.

Baz

 

[bones]

sounds like starter to me too.

 

[Andy Rodgett]

I had a similar problem several years ago when after a long run it would refuse to start except after an interval at rest. Again turned out to be the starter solenoid.
Andy