rickjaffe

have another odd thing.

mostly when I let the car (87 S4) sit for a few days. sometimes when I turn the ignition; the starter won't engage. all lights go no but no ignition. If I wait a few minutes and fiddle around; then it will start.

is that an ignition wire contact issue?

Mrmerlin

it might be a starter relay, its a #53 so you can swap it. usually if you have had problems starting the car and held the key in the crank postion for a while then the relay gets hot and melts internally or the contacts wear out from the heat. I would look at the top of the CE panel for water leaks coming from the bottom of the blower box any fuses that are corroded should be replaced, any relays that are corroded should be opened, and cleaned/inspected, if you do see water trails keep the car dry till you fix thew blower box. the other potantial problem is the hot post this is time to remove the 11mm bolt and clean the wires with a pink eraser and clean the 14 pin connector as well and as always disconnect the battery before doing any elex work/ diagnosis fuse/relay chart www.928gt.com

WICruiser

You need to clarify if the starter doesn't run, it runs but does not crank the engine, or the engine cranks but does not fire. I am assuming the first (starter doesn't run) but it gets confusing when you throw in ignition wire contact issues because I generally associate ignition with the high voltage coming from the coils, through the cap and rotor, to the spark plugs.

rickjaffe

I'll try to be more specific. It started after leaving the car at the airport for a week or more. I turn the ignition key. lights in dash panel all light up, but the starter doesn't engage. no clicking sound nothing. I think I can't even get the pop up lights work, but the electrics seems to work, beside that.

since then, if I leave the car sitting for a day or two, once in a while same thing. dash lights no starter does not engage.

if I fool around with it, ie try a couple times, then I wait a few minutes, it starts right up.

recently. I was driving around. shut the car down for an errand, and same thing happened. dash lights, no starter sound. wait two minutes starts right up.

I was thinking loose ignition wire, but the relay is a good place to begin.