mbonner

I have this problem with my 83 944, sometimes it's cranking to start, then there is a thunk, sometimes a noise that seems to be the motor firing in the wrong place. I fried my original starter in my barn, you may remember, the new starter has a 951 part number, and it's smaller than the old one.
In Panorama, came last week, Georege Beauselinck,in Tech Q&A, says the newer starter motor has a stronger magnetic field and it fools the flywheel sensor into firing even when the piston is still in the middle of the compression stroke. Well, that is certainly happening to my car and I'm sure it can't be doing anything any good. Everything stops dead.
The fix is 944.101.320.00, sleeve and 944.101.321.07 bracket. A new flywheel sensor bracket and a sleeve around the forward sensor to shield it from this stray magnetism. Iv'e ordered the parts and hope thay are still available other wise I'll get an old one and have it rebuilt. Anyone ever hear of this problem?
Mike

Dilberto

Dont be misled by the magnetism part- its HEAT thats the problem. Which then leads to the solenoid plunger thunking about, trying to mesh-up with the flywheel. TIP: When you hear that dull thud- switch the key off and pull it out. Then, re-insert key, turn to ACC to juice-up the fuel pumps, and feed cooler amperage to the starter again. Keeping the key on START while the solenoid hesitates contacting the flywheel, will start the car eventually- but now look at your voltmeter....forcing the solenoid plunger to engage with a spiking of amps, is murder on the charging system. Look at the voltage regulator shoes- they look very ground-down, considerably.

Zach

Rock

the only help i can offer is that im using a starter with a 951 part number too. THe early starter is big as hell and made the car sound like a truck when trying to start up

KuHL 951

I've been using a fat body starter on my 951 for over a year with no stating issues except heat soak on multiple errands (hot days) or runs under serious boost on fun runs. I do not have a heat shield, never did, so it's my fault. I've run a small body 951 starter on the 83 for over 2 years now and it starts everytime. I could switch them but I'm lazy, besides they both have lifetime warranties so if either one fails I get a new one.

pa944red

Anyone know if the part numbers listed in the OP would come stock on a '86 951?

Thanks
Tom

F18Rep

Bringing back the ghosts... here's a pic of the sleave though. This is from an 87, not sure when the sleave was introduced. I still haven't solved this on my car. Its on my todo list. The problem occurs more often in winter. Changed starters (a different small body starter), sensors no help. I hope to fix it by cleaning up my grounds. I noticed today on the sensors that there is what appears to be a grounding surface at the base of the sensors, maybe cleaning up that and the bracket will help with shielding. Bruce

DarylJ

For what its worth, I changed to an early starter a few weeks ago because of other issues. My thunk was probably every 4 to 6 times I tried to start the car. It's been a couple weeks of almost daily driving, and it hasn't happened a single time since the starter change.