Engine doesn't start
05-17-2015, 08:33 PM
#1
Advanced
Thread Starter
Engine doesn't start
Hello guys.
I have a 1986 911 Carrera and sometimes, it randomly refuses to start. It's been going on for quite a while and it's driving me nuts. My battery is new, the DME is new, I have a new alternator as well.
Here is what's happening: I drive the car for a month without any problems. I stop somewhere, turn off the car and when I get back in, nothing. I put the key in, the radio comes on, everything seems fine, but when I turn the key the engine doesn't turn over.
I have to have someone push me and I start the car in second gear. Then it works fine for a while.
I had an old Clifford alarm and I had it removed thinking this was the problem but it happened again 5 weeks after that.
Has anyone dealt with this type of issue? I will really appreciate any help.
Olivier
I have a 1986 911 Carrera and sometimes, it randomly refuses to start. It's been going on for quite a while and it's driving me nuts. My battery is new, the DME is new, I have a new alternator as well.
Here is what's happening: I drive the car for a month without any problems. I stop somewhere, turn off the car and when I get back in, nothing. I put the key in, the radio comes on, everything seems fine, but when I turn the key the engine doesn't turn over.
I have to have someone push me and I start the car in second gear. Then it works fine for a while.
I had an old Clifford alarm and I had it removed thinking this was the problem but it happened again 5 weeks after that.
Has anyone dealt with this type of issue? I will really appreciate any help.
Olivier
05-17-2015, 10:53 PM
#2
Instructor
Hello guys.
I have a 1986 911 Carrera and sometimes, it randomly refuses to start. It's been going on for quite a while and it's driving me nuts. My battery is new, the DME is new, I have a new alternator as well.
Here is what's happening: I drive the car for a month without any problems. I stop somewhere, turn off the car and when I get back in, nothing. I put the key in, the radio comes on, everything seems fine, but when I turn the key the engine doesn't turn over.
I have to have someone push me and I start the car in second gear. Then it works fine for a while.
I had an old Clifford alarm and I had it removed thinking this was the problem but it happened again 5 weeks after that.
Has anyone dealt with this type of issue? I will really appreciate any help.
Olivier
I have a 1986 911 Carrera and sometimes, it randomly refuses to start. It's been going on for quite a while and it's driving me nuts. My battery is new, the DME is new, I have a new alternator as well.
Here is what's happening: I drive the car for a month without any problems. I stop somewhere, turn off the car and when I get back in, nothing. I put the key in, the radio comes on, everything seems fine, but when I turn the key the engine doesn't turn over.
I have to have someone push me and I start the car in second gear. Then it works fine for a while.
I had an old Clifford alarm and I had it removed thinking this was the problem but it happened again 5 weeks after that.
Has anyone dealt with this type of issue? I will really appreciate any help.
Olivier
05-18-2015, 12:40 AM
#3
Advanced
Thread Starter
Good point Terry. I had the car up on a lift last week and I didn't think about checking the starter. The car starts without hesitation (I mean, when it starts at all). I will clean the wires and solenoid first. Thank you very much for your input.
05-19-2015, 11:31 AM
#6
Team Owner
Trending Topics
05-20-2015, 03:56 AM
#8
Burning Brakes
Did the problem exist prior to the new battery, DME, and alternator?
This may be unrelated to your problem, but I once chased down a similar-sounding problem for nearly a year on my '85. Intermittently, like one out of 10 times: Key to on, I hear a fuel pump, everything works, then when I turn the key to the start position, nothing would happen. Once I hit this 1/10 failure mode, I was stuck until I waited it out for a long time, or ... I found that hooking up jumper cables for a jump start would make it start immediately every time (no need to wait at all for the charging to proceed). I cleaned every related electrical contact I could find, replaced ground straps, tested starter components, and I forget what else.
Anyway, it turned out to be a faulty Optima battery that was less than a year old when the problems started. I could not believe it. But after replacing the battery (on warranty), the problem never occurred again.
Just a data point to consider.
This may be unrelated to your problem, but I once chased down a similar-sounding problem for nearly a year on my '85. Intermittently, like one out of 10 times: Key to on, I hear a fuel pump, everything works, then when I turn the key to the start position, nothing would happen. Once I hit this 1/10 failure mode, I was stuck until I waited it out for a long time, or ... I found that hooking up jumper cables for a jump start would make it start immediately every time (no need to wait at all for the charging to proceed). I cleaned every related electrical contact I could find, replaced ground straps, tested starter components, and I forget what else.
Anyway, it turned out to be a faulty Optima battery that was less than a year old when the problems started. I could not believe it. But after replacing the battery (on warranty), the problem never occurred again.
Just a data point to consider.
05-20-2015, 08:51 AM
#9
Team Owner
Did the problem exist prior to the new battery, DME, and alternator?
This may be unrelated to your problem, but I once chased down a similar-sounding problem for nearly a year on my '85. Intermittently, like one out of 10 times: Key to on, I hear a fuel pump, everything works, then when I turn the key to the start position, nothing would happen. Once I hit this 1/10 failure mode, I was stuck until I waited it out for a long time, or ... I found that hooking up jumper cables for a jump start would make it start immediately every time (no need to wait at all for the charging to proceed). I cleaned every related electrical contact I could find, replaced ground straps, tested starter components, and I forget what else.
Anyway, it turned out to be a faulty Optima battery that was less than a year old when the problems started. I could not believe it. But after replacing the battery (on warranty), the problem never occurred again.
Just a data point to consider.
This may be unrelated to your problem, but I once chased down a similar-sounding problem for nearly a year on my '85. Intermittently, like one out of 10 times: Key to on, I hear a fuel pump, everything works, then when I turn the key to the start position, nothing would happen. Once I hit this 1/10 failure mode, I was stuck until I waited it out for a long time, or ... I found that hooking up jumper cables for a jump start would make it start immediately every time (no need to wait at all for the charging to proceed). I cleaned every related electrical contact I could find, replaced ground straps, tested starter components, and I forget what else.
Anyway, it turned out to be a faulty Optima battery that was less than a year old when the problems started. I could not believe it. But after replacing the battery (on warranty), the problem never occurred again.
Just a data point to consider.
that is super rare ..
05-20-2015, 10:52 AM
#10
Rennlist Member
Could also be a ground strap issue, on further contemplation, or the "yellow wire" having a continuity issue. Odds are highest, it would be the starter, as a "wear item".