PeteL

Hi All -
Frequent poster on the 944 board. Through an amazing set of circumstances, I have become acquainted with a lady who has a 78 911 SC in her garage...unfortunately, it has not been started in a long time (years?).

It cranks (with a jump) but does not try to fire. Where should I begin looking for spark and fuel? It is fuel injected.

Thanks in advance.

Peter Zimmermann

1. Drain the gas tank, make sure that it's clean inside, add fresh fuel.
2. Install a new or fully charged battery.
3. Check, by removing and cleaning, all of the fuses/relays on the trunk compartment fuse box.

It would be helpful to know how the car ran before it was parked...

PeteL

OK -
Is there a good way to drain the gas tank?
Will charge the battery and clean the relays.
Need to know if the tach should bounce when cranking. Right now it does not move.

The car ran fine before being parked, always answered the call when called.

Thanks, and looking forward to more guidance. This car is a time machine..great interior and paint and only 92K on the clock. Well maintained, and cared for up until it was parked in my girlfriend's garage.

Cannot wait to get it started and on the road again. But first, the engine has to start.

Peter Zimmermann

I've always had a hoist to use, not sure how good a job you can do with a suction device. If you have a pump I guess that you can remove the fuel gauge sender and work through that hole. The other way is messy, there is an insert in the bottom of the tank that must be loosened using a large (17mm from memory) allen wrench, and letting the tank drain slowly into a container that can be transported to a hazardous waste site.

PeteL

Thanks will try and get the fuel out of it. Stay tuned. The saga begins.

theiceman

all good advice , hear is some more .

With the ignition on you should hear a distinctive whine from the rear drivers side of the engine compartment. tjis is the ignition CD box , no whine .. no start. I would personally keep it very simple and stick a plug in one of the spark plug leads and ground it, see if you have spark , if you do , continue with Petes advice.

PeteL

What/Where exactly is the ignition CD box? Just so I can look at it?

PeteL

Bump...still looking for more info on the ignition CD box referred to in post #6.
Going to take another look at the car this weekend. Hopefully get some new gas in, and check the plugs and relays....

theiceman

oops sorry didn't see your post .
pop the rear engine lid and look to your left, there may be a black plastic cover held in place with two wingnuts ( some are missing ) under the plastic cover you will see a big silver box ( about 4 by 6 ) , that is the CD ignition box. it has a distinctive whine when the igntion is on ( it is the big box with the cooling fins in it , looks like a large heatsink .. which it is )

There are other relays and fuses under there too.

i am sure ebay will have a pic of one.

good luck

PeteL

OK thanks. Will be with the girl, and the car Saturday. Will listen for the whine.

Oldtee

You don't know if you have fuel problem or a electrical problem.

I would first:
switch the red relay in the front with one of the black one. Try it.

no go.

I would remove the air filter cover and air filter and spry a little (emphasis on little) starting fluid there. If it fires you have fuel problem. If it doesn't you have an electrical issue.

If a fuel issue, I would break the fuel line then jumper the fuel relay to see if I get fuel to the back of the car.

Now I would have some targets.

Others may have another way.

PeteL

I know that is my dilema, not knowing if it is fuel or spark.
Will look at your ideas. I am completely comfortable working on 944s, but this is a completely different animal so I am going slow.
thanks

theiceman

Personally I would not start swapping parts or spraying stuff until I new more ( imo ) . This is why I suggested to see if you have spark first . Did you ground a spark plug lead to see if you have spark ? I assumed you did that already and had no spark , this is why you were asking about the CD box. If not go back and do that first. If you have spark move on to Petes suggestions with the fuel.

Peter Zimmermann

PLEASE DON'T spray starting fluid!!! The airbox could blow up in your face, or you could have a stray spark start a fire. Sorry, Oldtee, I had to say this... fuel delivery in a CIS car must be checked in a logical, orderly manner.

PeteL

No worries here, was not going to spray anything. Trying to take a systematic approach to this. Will verify spark this weekend. Then will move onto fuel delivery.
It is a learning process. Thanks for all advice.