Erling G-P

Started the car normally this morning on my way to work, but after 300 m, the engine cut out and won't start again. Car is a 1991 GT.

Have had a couple of forewarnings; died once before while driving, but started right up again. Died once last week while idling right after a cold start, but started on 2nd attempt and have been running since, until today.

Ran through the fuse list, and the only suspect I could find was the fuel pump/oxygen sensor/heater fuse, but it appears fine.

Towing situation is hopeless here today, thanks to an ongoing strike at the biggest auto-help company. Is there anything you guys could think of I could do/check on the spot, to get going again ?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Cheers,
Erling

Niels Jørgensen

Did you have other indications of potential problems such as dimming interior lights/dashboard? If so, I'd recommend checking the battery (replace with known good battery). If it starts with a new battery, I'd check the generator.

Do you have an aftermarket alarm system? Might want to check that too (I have a POS DEFA which suddenly decided it'd be fun to randomly cut the power while driving).

Where in DK are you?

928DK

That happend to me also once .. it was the fuel pump relay.

Try swapping it with the horn relay

Cheers
Bernhard

Erling G-P

Thanks for the replies guys !

Niels: Haven't seen any dimming of dashboard or interior lights, but then I haven't driven much in darkness so may not have noticed. Don't think it's the battery, as I've been able to try starting it again numerous times.

Car has a keyless entry system that caused some trouble on my homejourney from Germany (car wouldn't start at dealership). When activated, all the turn indicators were flashing, which they aren't in this case. Got it set to manual and haven't used it since, so wouldn't think it's the culprit. I'm in Vejby, close to Tisvilde in Nordsjaelland.

Bernhard: Thanks for the idea. Was trying to look at the relays, but not sure how to remove them. Do you just pull them out, or is there some release mechanism you need to activate ?

Cheers,
Erling

Niels Jørgensen

Just pull, but they are not always easy getting out. For the fuses, some cars come with a little fuse puller (at least, mine did, it's a yellow plastic thingy sitting just above the fuse box).

Other things to try if the fuelpump relay checks out: Can you hear the fuelpump? Do you have spark? (I assume the engine turns?). How did the car idle before it died?

Would love to help out, but Tisvilde is a bit far for me to take a detour this afternoon (I'm in Nyhavn, and home is in the exact opposite direction ).

928DK

If i have problems getting a relay out i use my relay tools .... 2 small screwdrivers where iv'e bent the ends

marton

Are the injectors chattering? Could be LH ecu if so

Look at www.jdsporsche.com for help to diagnose

Marton

Erling G-P

Thanks again guys for the help.

Just tried swapping relays. Very difficult getting the fuel pump relay out, but finally succeded. Relay smells burned, which according to my mechanic is a good sign that it's bad... Plugged in the horn relay, and the car started. Died again after a few seconds idling unfortunately, and now I can't restart it because the battery is too drained from all my previous attempts

Marton: Not sure about the injectors; I'm a very new 928 owner, so still plenty of unfamiliar sounds in the car for me.

Cheers,
Erling

928DK

Well, for a start charge the battery 12 hours atleast, and when trying to start again use a start helper.

My 928 wouldent start/run unless is had at least 11.5 volts, and then i even had to rev it a bit to keep it running the first minute.

Have replaced the generator (refurbished) and battery, that helped alot.

Cheers

Bernhard

Erling G-P

Thanks again for the suggestions; much appreciated.

Have borrowed a battery booster and a charger from my workshop, but can't find the bloody battery. I know it's somewhere in the back, but when I lift the carpet, I have the spare wheel and compressor kit in the left, and a smooth bottom plate in the right, with a sticky carpet patch covering a round rubber plug, which again covers something that definitely don't look battery like. Can't spot any obvious panels or the likes to look behind.

Also know there's a couple of points in the engine bay where you can connect start-help boosters/batteries, but not sure where they are, and I'll probably need to drive with the booster hooked up anyway, to get the car the 300m home.

Before you ask; my workshop has managed to misplace my instruction book, so can't check these things in it.

Any help in getting to the battery will be very much welcome !!

Cheers,
Erling

928DK

The battery is under the spare wheel, under a plate

Cheers

Bernhard

Erling G-P

Thanks a bunch Bernhard

Found it, got the booster hooked up, started the car, holding it a 2000 rpm for about ½ a minute and was able to drive my little, 1580kg wide-assed baby home without further interruptions.

Charger is working on the battery now, so hopefully it's back in shape tomorrow morning.

Can I run the car for longer distances with the horn relay, or do I need a special one for the fuel pump first ?

Relays look quite different; the horn relay was similar to the ones in the first photo, with metal houses carrying the number '53'. Fuel pump relay on the other hand has a black plastic housing with a small green LED, seen in 2nd photo.

Btw, wasn't it your shark that got rear ended recently ? If so, how's the repairs coming along ?

Thanks again all for the suggestions and input; it's been a big help for me today

Cheers,
Erling

PorKen

Nothing special about the relay, it just has a fuse tester built into it.

928DK

Pleasure helping you.

Shouldnt be a problem driving around with whe other relay for years, though i would want a new relay that has'nt been used for years(better contact surface -less resistance - quicker starts)

Yeah my 928 got rear ended, repairs are coming along nicely, it's been on the bench the last 2 week's (+Disassembly) and today the car was transferred to the painter (all repairs paid by the opposing insurance company, and they're also paying for paint on the back-end up till the doors)

Found a colour that is a bit different than the original but close enough - wanted another colour that is more modern and wouldent look strange when opening the hood (warning! - aston martin) : http://www.autosportdesigns.com/Sale...s.aspx?ID=1382

Cheers


Bernhard

Erling G-P

Thanks guys,

PorKen: Thanks; guess you learn something new every day...

Sterling: Fuse is fine, so I hope it was a question of the relay being worn out.

Bernhard: Intend to get a new relay for the fuel pump, and put the horn relay back again. Good to hear that repairs are moving along on your car. Very nice color - are you paying the difference yourself for having the whole car resprayed ? (Btw, did anyone notice the 928 in the background of one of the pics ? )

Cheers,
Erling