Shawn Stanford

The Monday after Frenzy, the Randy's son came by to retrieve the car Randy lent me. He got in and turned the key and all it did was click. The car ran like a clock all weekend.

I checked voltage at the jump post and at the battery and it showed 12.4v. I put it on the charger and the next day it still showed 12.4v. Same no-start with a click. Lights are strong, everything else works as it should.

I hooked the car up to my Cayenne, jump-post to jump-post and it was showing 13+v across the post. Same thing: just a click.

So, is 12+ volts enough to start the car? It seems like it ought to be. And if it is, what's the likely culprit? Grounding strap?

I know the missive about checking the last thing you changed, but literally nothing changed. I parked the car on Sunday, unloaded our stuff, and on Monday it was like this.

Mrmerlin

replace the starter relay
If not good then to start the engine
put it in neutral or park,
Turn the key to the run position.

separate the top half of the 14 pin connector from the lower half, ( note dont take the back cover off the connector the pins can fall out, just pull the top from the bottom half ) and touch the pin thats closest to the front of the car and the closest to the fender to the hot post,
this will bypass the starter circuit ,
the engine will crank if the starter is good.

NOTE if the starter clicks then you need to check the starter wire connections or the replace the starter.

Shawn Stanford

Thanks, Stan. I'll report back.

Shawn Stanford

Okay, no change.

I swapped the horn relay (IV for XII) and no change, still just a 'click' on the key turn. Then I pried to cover off the 14-pin connector, put the key into 'run' position and touched a wire between the forward-most, right-most pin and the jump post and got nothing. Not even the 'click'.

On to the starter?

Majestic Moose

Try giving the starter a couple taps with a hammer. It may be at end of life but that could free it up for now.

Mrmerlin

Umm no you dont remove the rear cover of the 14 pin .

you pull the connectors apart so the female socket section is anchored to the hot post bracket,
the male section will have the pins facing to the ground.

then follow the directions I posted

Shawn Stanford

Oh, I see. Okay. I misunderstood the instructions the first time. I'll give it another try the right way.

Thanks for your patience, Stan.

Shawn Stanford

Okay, I did it right and nothing happened at all. I'll move underneath and get a look at the wiring and whatnot.

Mrmerlin

tap the starter with a hammer dont smash it you will crack the magnets

Shawn Stanford

Okay, I finally found a few minutes and got to the garage last night. I gave the starter a couple whacks with a mallet and the car fired right up. I shut it down, tried it again a couple more times and it was fine. Went out this morning and it didn't turn over. I talked to Randy (the owner) last night (he was on his way to a DE at Summit Point in his 996), and he's got a starter on his parts car. So, at some point I get to do that.

I'm leaving for Boston tomorrow morning, so it looks like I'll be in the Boxster.

Stan and Alex: Thanks for the coaching!

SteveG

And then, after Stan's post, relay, relay, relay. Also load test batt.