RedShadow

I think I’ll start from the beginning with no more assumptions. I’m new to DIY.

My car (1984 Carrera 3.2) was having hot start problems which could be solved by push-starting the car. At which point it would run fine. As it wasn’t a huge problem and I let it slide - just pushing the car when I needed to. But then I didn’t drive it for a week and tried starting it, but no go whatsoever and push-starting didn’t work either (boy did I try). I didn’t have time to check anything before I went away on holiday.

While I was away the battery went flat (1 week). So I connected a battery booster and tried the engine that way. The motor will turn twice (usually), seems to lose battery power and then nothing happens. As I understand it, if it’s the battery this could be got around by push-starting - which isn’t working anymore.

If checked all the groundings and fuses and they look normal (except the one under the car – not sure if I can find that and the car’s sitting in a cold puddle of water). :-(

I bought a new DME relay and changed it, but it made no difference. Should I try changing the fuel relay as well?

The engine’s definitely not spinning – but I haven’t checked the sparks as I don’t know how. I’m not sure I have the tools to reach the sparks or torque them properly after. I’ve got bugger-all tools here in the UK and I have to wait until weekends until I can do anything because it gets too dark here at night.

It’s breaking my heart to see her just sitting useless in the drive. Should I just take her to a garage or is this something I can fix myself with the right diagnostics, tools and attitude? I’d really like to solve it myself with you and the Bentley manual’s help!

As far as I have gathered so far, my options are:

Check the groundings (1 down, seems ok– but not cleaned yet – what do I use to clean it? Wire brush?)
Check the grounding under the car. Can it be reached/seen without a jack?
Check power to solenoid with multimeter (to be purchased)
Check starter motor (how???)
Check fuel relay
Check fuses (all look fine)
Check DME (bought a new one and swapped no difference)
Check sparks
Starter fluid – looks like I wasn’t doing this right so will try again this weekend

I need a multimeter and a decent, safe jack.

Adrian Streather seemed to believe the problem may be immobiliser related?

Thanks fellas – I REALLY appreciate the help!

madmmac

Take your battery out of your car and charge it. Then take it to your local auto parts store and get it load tested.....it sounds like your battery is about gone, do you know how old it is? A battery going dead in a week is not a good sign, you either have a bad battery or a ground somewhere. I am thinking battery. While you are there, buy your electrical multimeter, they are inexpensive and are always needed.

A dead or very near dead battery will not start a car when pushed, just not enough oomph to get it fired.

Clean the ends of your battery cables, wire brush and dielectric grease them.

It really does sound like your battery at this point, but you really need to get it started or at least 12+ volts to check all the other bits with your new multimeter....Good luck, report back.

Mike Murphy

Agreed. This is definitely where I would start. The reason why the car wouldn't start, even with the battery booster, is because the booster does not have enough current to supply the starter. A starter can generate well over 100 amps, even more than 200 amps of current. Very very few battery chargers can actually start cars if the battery itself is shot. Having the Battery slow-charged (24-48 hours) and then load-tested will certainly prove the strength of the battery.

I would bet $20 right here and now that your battery is shot, because when a battery goes dead, it drains 10-20% of permanent life out of it. I used to run a high-end stereo system out of my truck. I would routinely drain and then charge the battery. My batteries only lasted 6 months with this abuse.

Mike Murphy

By the way, I checked the temperature in London and it is only 5-9C (41-48F) this week. The lower the temperature, the less power (CCAs or Cold Cranking Amps) the battery has. Also, the lower the temperature, the more amps the starter requires to turn the engine over. Finally, the lower the temperature, the more susceptible the battery is at failing sooner with a partial charge. I have seen brand-new batteries get destroyed in 1 day by allowing them to freeze when they have not been properly charged...

RedShadow

Ok, some progress was made last night. I charged the booster for 30+ hours and tried the car again. At first she wouldn’t start but I left it for a while and tried again turning the ignition fully for a loooong time and she finally caught! She ran a little raggard at first and I took her out for a long drive – about 40 minutes. Came back tried her again and she wouldn’t start (but the electrics came on). So, after all this it looks like it’s the battery after all. I had taken it to a battery specialist but they told that because I could crash/push start the car it wasn’t the battery which, I guess, led me down this wild goose chase.

I’m going to buy a new battery this weekend, however, in a week or two the car’s going to be laid-up until they stop gritting the roads.

Any advice? Preventative maintenance I can do? I don’t want to waste a new battery…

(You guys are great and very patient by the way! THANKS!)

RedShadow

By the way, your car is gorgeous. White's my favourite colour for impact bumber 911 targas (then black). I nearly bought a white one last summer to tour Europe with and I'm still hoping to do that sometime soon. And is HAS to be a white targa. Can't imagine a cooler car to tour Europe in Summer with.

Mike Murphy

Wow, thank you, I usually get some compliments but never "gorgeous." I think that all Porsches are good looking

RedShadow

Post some pics, mate.

RedShadow

I am coveting my neighbours wife. For sure!