BKiller

This is my first post so take it easy on me. I have been reading the forum for about a month. I just bit the bullet and bought a 85 5-speed last week. Needs interior but paint and engine seem clean.
Drove the car last night for about 10 minutes to church. When I came out 1 hour later, the car won't start. It just cranks and cranks. The tach will swing like something is happening but it won't ever start. I did a lot of searches on the site about this condition. Tried spraying starting fluid in, nothing. Bypassed the alarm, replaced the usual relays. Still nothing. Havent got to pull a plug and look for spark yet.
Some say I should hear the fuel pump when I turn the key on, how loud is it? I don't hear anything from the back of the car.
What's next.? I love the car but a little discouraged since I am having problems in less than week.

Brandon

JHowell37

First of all, you have a 22 year old car and all 22 year old cars have issues. Second, don't spray starting fluid in it. Ever. Sounds like fuel delivery issues.

Bill Ball

If you got NOTHING from starter fluid, and I mean not even a cough, then chances are you have no spark. So work on that angle.

Mike Frye

Hey Brandon,

Welcome. My first one is an '85 5 speed too. Welcome to the asylum (you know we need pix).

If you've been lurking for a month you know the drill, everyone will be patient with you here and as long as you give the 'brains' here enough info, I'm sure you'll get it taken care of.

If yours is anything like mine, you should hear a humming when you turn on the key. The fuel pump is inside the top of the gas tank and you'll hear it in the rear cargo area.

You said you replaced the 'usual' relays, I assume you mean fuel pump relay.

You said you tried the starting fluid and it didn't start though, so I'm not sure it would be the fuel pump relay. I'm guessing you don't have spark, which would be the next thing to check. If you have no spark then you need to move up in that direction, if you have spark then you need to pull a plug and see if you're getting fuel into the cylinders.

I wouldn't assume the worst yet (like a 928 specific brain issue). I'd try the standard, my car won't start stuff first to see if you can isolate it to spark or fuel, then check back.

Imo000

Just as Bill said, I'm almost 100% sure that it is the igniton relay. If the engine didn't do anything with a starter fluid then for sure you don't have any spark at all. I had this problem before and did a write up somewhere on this board. Do a search on my name and you will find it.

But in a nut shell thsi is what I did:

Locate the ignition relay and jump it. Or remove the aluminium housing of the relay and squeez the contact points together with your fingers. At the same time have the key in the ignition and crank the engine over. I bet it will fire up. If it does, let go of the relay and if the relay is bad, the engine will die. If this is the case then as a temporary measure you can install a toggle switch on the jumper wire to turn the igniton system on/off.

I hope this helps!

fbarnhill

Am i the only one to suspect the TB? The reason i mention this is that is exactly what happened to my first 79. Drove it for 90 minutes, went in for a meeting, came out to drive home and nothing. The belt went just like that. Pull the cooling vent hose and look down the hole in the top of the timing belt cover. I will say a prayer that i am wrong but it should at least be checked.

Best of luck

Bill Ball

Ewww...

Namvet

Remove the Battery and put in on charge, ....Be patient.

When you see a Cat sleeping on the hood. ..Be happy!

Within a day or two, replace the BATT and tell the Cat to leave.

Turn the key!

Welcome to the Porsche Forum .

blown 87

And it is a good thing that he did not have spark. Starting fluid is bad Ju-Ju!

Imo000

That may be but it will tell you if there is spark!

Imo000

The engine is cranking so how would this be a drained battery problem. Even if the battery was low, the starter fluid would have gotten the engine running. Those sucker are extremely combustible, just a little spark will set it off.

fbarnhill

I think he was making a little joke

BKiller

Thanks for the good responses.
I didn't go crazy with the starting fluid. I have worked on cars long enough to know what is safe. I am suspecting lack of spark. I will try the ignition relay trick. That is one of the relays on the main panel right?
I have removed the battery and put it on charge. I have also started cleaning up the grounds on the car.
It better not be a TB, it was just replaced 10K miles ago.

Can't believe how many compliments I get on the car even though it isn't in that great of shape.

Brandon

Namvet

Keep workin..It will start!

but don;t ever believe me

so the others say!...LOL

blown 87

The effects of starter fluid.