docmirror

It's been one of the frustrating weekends. I'm just finishing up my front end work on the 88. Also included a bunch of other work on various things. Now, I've got the water in, the car on the ground, everything hooked up and tested. Fuel delivery, and tested for leaks. Fully charged battery -- jump in, turn the key and 'click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click'.

Yes, I have a good battery, but swapped it and same thing. Cleaned the rear ground, both ends, checked the engine-chassis ground, it's tight, checked the starter lug, it's clean and tight. Sigh, it's inside the solenoid. I might try swapping the ground lugs, but I don't think it's going to help. Pretty sure this one is in the starter solenoid. Starter has to come out. Car has sat for > 6 years, except for two starts when I unloaded it from the trailer, and one at John's house. I also might try using my jumper cable on the ground before and see if it changes. I hate working under the car on the ground.

drscottsmith

Taguid

I'd try jumping the jump post to yellow wire on 14 pin plug just to make sure.

docmirror

I think it's poor electrical contact at the solenoid. I can hear it slide when it clicks, but the contactor to deliver current to the starter motor must be corroded. I'm going to have it off today, and take it apart, see if I can clean it up and try again off the car. If it won't go, I'll have to get a rebuild. This is super frustrating. I want to get it on the road.

docmirror

That's a good idea too. I don't have to crawl under!

Catorce

Try the hammer trick first as suggested.

Wisconsin Joe

Ok, how close are 928 starters to 944 starters?

The reason I ask is that my 944 had the same problem you describe. Good battery, just a 'click' when I hit the key. No real voltage drop, no crank.

I pulled out the starter and took apart the solenoid. That's when I found out that the 944 starter has no bendix, that the solenoid slides up to push the drive gear out and also make contact to run the starter motor.

I cleaned out the contact area (both sides) and it's worked perfectly ever since.

If the 928 starter is significantly different, then...

Never mind.

docmirror

Well, that's my thinking is that there is no bendix, just the solenoid contactor, and that's where I believe the problem lies. The voltage at the starter lug checks out(can't check the current), and I used the batt to start a tractor engine a few days ago, but just the click for now. Pretty sure this is going to be corrosion on the solenoid contacts.

Wisconsin Joe

Well, FWIW, getting the solenoid apart & cleaned on the 944 was pretty straightforward.

There was a lot of "arc build up" inside. A lot of folks call it 'carbon', and it may be. But I thought carbon was a conductor, and this stuff prevented the contacts from making contact.

I scraped out most of it, then hit it with DeOxit and a bronze brush to get the rest of it.

It's worked just fine for maybe 3 years now. Lots of other issues with the car, but the starter hasn't been one of them.

docmirror

Carbon is one of those 'semi-conductors'. Depending on purity and grain structure. It is far more insulator than the copper-tin alloy of the contacts. Yes, it does arc on each start just a tiny bit. When the carbon is bonded with the oxides of a car that's been sitting, the resistance just gets too high to start. By design, the mechanical friction of the two conductors is supposed to keep them moderately clean by sacrificial removal of slight amounts of conductor. I think that's what's stopping mine. No friction, and now the build up is too high. I tried it again tonight and same thing; click-click-click-click. Also tried the yellow connector on the right engine wall, but same thing.

M. Requin

Dumb Q, for which forgive (3 gin & tonics to celebrate summer has left me only able to pose the dumb ones), but did you have someone else hold the key in the START position as you rapped on the solenoid?

docmirror

No, I'm working solo here. I want to clean it up right. I might get it to crank over, but I'll always wonder if it will happen again.

soontobered84

Doc, I've got a spare starter I can throw in the back of the car for you. If it doesn't work, you should be able to glean parts from it to make yours work. But then again, it may be just fine.

Come get it tomorrow if you want.

AirtekHVAC

skpyle

I have as well, Ron. However, on my 928, the solenoid would not come apart without heavy desoldering. I chose not to deal with it at that time. May regret it...