spchoiniere

Hi! So, I've read numerous posts about what to do in case the 928 does not start, but I want to be absolutely sure before I spend the money on a new starter. Here's the story so far: started the car in the morning, started okay, drove it to town, stopped, then restarted just as nicely, got it home, stopped. When I then tried to restart it perhaps an hour or two later, nothing happens except a single click. It should be known that I cleaned the grounds in the hatch area as well about a week ago.

1. Suspected it was a weak battery, charged it for several hours out of the car, tried again, same single click with no turning over. All dash lights, radio, etc. work with key in on position. (I'm still not ruling out battery, because i don't know how old it is, but still)
2. Switched relays (X and XIV i believe), with the horn relay, tried again, no go. Horn worked fine with relays switched so i figured that's good.
3. Took off 14pin, connected wire from yellow to the post, got a decent sized spark and a single click, no turning over
4. Got underneath car, Connected wire from large red battery wire on starter to smaller wire on starter solenoid, wife in driver's seat, turns key, again, big spark, single click, no cranking


Perhaps I'm still doing something incorrectly? A new starter is likely going to be beneficial anyways, but I would still like to be absolutely sure before I purchase one. Any thoughts? Is there any little fuses that would contribute to this problem, I was currently in the process of trying to get some dash lights working on the fuse box when this initially happened. I appreciate the input! Thank you!

Mrmerlin

Did you ever put a battery jumper cable from the negative terminal to one of the shock tower nuts and try cranking it?

spchoiniere

I actually have not tried this... So you want me to connect a normal set of jumper cables from the negative terminal battery post and connect the other end to a shock tower nut? are those located easily in the hatch area somewhere? Do they have a little round plastic cover over them? I think i remember seeing them.

I will try this first thing in the morning. If it does work, what might it tell me about my situation?

Thanks for your time and help.

Mrmerlin

This is to bypass your ground strap
dont mess with the ground strap just add the battery jumper cable lift the carpet to see the shock towers and nuts

Shark2626

After double checking that your ground strap is fine, to test if it’s your battery rather than the starter (or something else) you could either:

1. Take the battery to Walmart to get it tested, or
2. Jump start the car with another vehicle

Either one will give you clarity. If it turns out not to be battery related you can have your starter bench tested just about anywhere, and go from there.

Petza914

If you do end up needing a new starter, I'm a big fan of the hi-torque ones. Have one on my 928 and my 914 and the cars turn over super fast and fire right up. Had the one in my 928 for 6 years so far.

spchoiniere

update,
So i tried bypassing the ground strap but no luck. If the battery power is anything less than 12v will it not start? When i first turn the key, the battery gauge shows a little less than 12, I would've figured it would at least attempt to crank? Recharging the battery right now to give it another shot, otherwise i might bring it somewhere to have the battery tested before i continue trouble shooting. Thanks for your time!

spchoiniere

Nice! I would like to think that I will own this car for many more years so anything that extends it's driving potential is an A+ in my book. Kinda nervous how much a hi-torque might cost me though. I suppose if I have to replace it anyways, might as well get something good, so i don't have to do it again for a while. Thanks for the suggestion!

Mrmerlin

with the extra cable attached to the ground nut and the negative terminal then touch the #14 pin to the hot post
this will run the starter
if the starter runs,
then disconnect the ground wire you put on and try this again
if the starter doesnt run the the ground strap is bad

gazfish

Could be a stuck starter solenoid, a wack with a wrench while someone turns the key is the usual way of diagnosing

Rob Edwards

gazfish

That’s why I said wrench :-)

spchoiniere

Haha, well, I did try lightly tapping it with a wrench/hammer while my wife tried starting it but it still didn't go, i probably just wasn't hitting it hard enough, huh?

spchoiniere

So i just tested the battery at the auto parts store, the results were as such:
Voltage: 12.89V
Measured: 800CCA
Rated: 650CCA
Temp: 69*F

At this point i'm gonna rule the battery out as a possibility although i wish it was as simple as that. Thanks for the help.

spchoiniere

So I tried this yesterday before work.
Attached extra cable from negative to ground nut.
touched #14 to hot post (with the key in on position)
sparked and made it click once similarly to when I tried starting it normally before

Am I delaying an inevitable starter replacement or do you have any other things I should try first?
thanks so much for your patience.
looks like my Harlot (the name I gave her) is going to get a couple natural showers outside this week if I can't move her into the garage