Notices
928 Forum 1978-1995
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: 928 Specialists

My first no start

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-07-2008, 02:45 PM
  #1  
bigred1001
Pro
Thread Starter
 
bigred1001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Haslett, MI
Posts: 508
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default My first no start

Went out today and got nothing but rapid fire clicking noise. Lights still came on inside as well as warning lights. Could it be the starter, or a low on juice battery?

I would try the search, but I am at work and internet use is frowned upon.



Thanks
Patrick
Old 10-07-2008, 02:58 PM
  #2  
SharkSkin
Rennlist Member
 
SharkSkin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Boulder Creek, CA
Posts: 12,620
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

Charge the battery and try again. Don't leave the battery dead for any length of time or you will kill it.
Old 10-07-2008, 03:30 PM
  #3  
bigred1001
Pro
Thread Starter
 
bigred1001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Haslett, MI
Posts: 508
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

it did sit for approx 10-12 days due to weather and work. Ill try charging tonight.
Old 10-07-2008, 03:43 PM
  #4  
Jim bailey - 928 International
Addict
Rennlist Member

Rennlist
Site Sponsor

 
Jim bailey - 928 International's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Anaheim California
Posts: 11,542
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

disconnect the battery before charging !!! The 928 LH Brains do not tolerate power surges well at all !! If the battery is more than 2 1/2 years old it probably needs to be replaced.....
Old 10-07-2008, 06:20 PM
  #5  
928autobahndreamer
Rennlist Member
 
928autobahndreamer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Plano, Texas
Posts: 1,698
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

I had this exact same problem after I first got my car. Someone on this list posted and said. "It is your ground strap. Clean the ground strap in the hatch of the car by the wingnut until it shines. Your car will start, I guarantee it." (That is not an exact quote, but was the jist of the post.) You know what. I cleaned the ground and the car started right up.

So, start with cleaning your grounds, especially the strap in the year.
Old 10-07-2008, 06:56 PM
  #6  
no doubt
Rennlist Member
 
no doubt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Alabama '88 928 Automatic
Posts: 608
Received 25 Likes on 19 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 928autobahndreamer
I had this exact same problem after I first got my car. Someone on this list posted and said. "It is your ground strap. Clean the ground strap in the hatch of the car by the wingnut until it shines. Your car will start, I guarantee it." (That is not an exact quote, but was the jist of the post.) You know what. I cleaned the ground and the car started right up.

So, start with cleaning your grounds, especially the strap in the year.


Always great advice to clean as you say above (and to quick charge only with the battery disconnected). With the ground strap and positive cable off of the battery, that's also a good time to use a quality contact enhancer like Stabilant 22a or "Corrosion Block," too.

Once the straps are back together on the battery terminals, you can use an insulting gel like sparkplug dielectric or vaseline *on the outside* of the metal bits to protect against corrosion. Just don't put such insulating gels in between the ground strap and battery terminal. Outside coating, yes. Sandwiched in between metal strap and terminal, no.



I've got a NiCad powered trickle charger in my glove box, too. If you need to jump start your own semi-dead battery when you are dead on the road, you can just plug one of those (Coleman makes a cheap one, and Schumacher makes a better one) into the cig lighter socket and wait for ten minutes to try starting up again.

When you get home you plug the trickle charger into an AC outlet to charge up the on-board NiCad battery so that it will be juiced up for a future jump start again.
Old 10-07-2008, 07:26 PM
  #7  
bigred1001
Pro
Thread Starter
 
bigred1001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Haslett, MI
Posts: 508
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

What would one clean the ground strap with? Are we talking baking soda and water, or sandpaper?
Old 10-07-2008, 07:32 PM
  #8  
no doubt
Rennlist Member
 
no doubt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Alabama '88 928 Automatic
Posts: 608
Received 25 Likes on 19 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by bigred1001
What would one clean the ground strap with? Are we talking baking soda and water, or sandpaper?
Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009OMY92


...and this: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...4&ci_sku=81119
Old 10-07-2008, 07:34 PM
  #9  
Louie928
Three Wheelin'
 
Louie928's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Mosier, Oregon
Posts: 1,611
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes on 7 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by no doubt
Always great advice to clean as you say above (and to quick charge only with the battery disconnected). With the ground strap and positive cable off of the battery, that's also a good time to use a quality contact enhancer like Stabilant 22a or "Corrosion Block," too.

Once the straps are back together on the battery terminals, you can use an insulting gel like sparkplug dielectric or vaseline *on the outside* of the metal bits to protect against corrosion. Just don't put such insulating gels in between the ground strap and battery terminal. Outside coating, yes. Sandwiched in between metal strap and terminal, no.

I've got a NiCad powered trickle charger in my glove box, too. If you need to jump start your own semi-dead battery when you are dead on the road, you can just plug one of those (Coleman makes a cheap one, and Schumacher makes a better one) into the cig lighter socket and wait for ten minutes to try starting up again.

When you get home you plug the trickle charger into an AC outlet to charge up the on-board NiCad battery so that it will be juiced up for a future jump start again.
I think the lighter socket isn't "hot" until the ignition is switched on. Then you'd be using more juice than the trickle charger supplies.
Old 10-07-2008, 08:13 PM
  #10  
no doubt
Rennlist Member
 
no doubt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Alabama '88 928 Automatic
Posts: 608
Received 25 Likes on 19 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Louie928
I think the lighter socket isn't "hot" until the ignition is switched on. Then you'd be using more juice than the trickle charger supplies.
LOL! It's always good to see rain on a parade.
Old 10-07-2008, 08:25 PM
  #11  
Mrmerlin
Team Owner
 
Mrmerlin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Philly PA
Posts: 28,306
Received 2,476 Likes on 1,393 Posts
Default

to clean elex contact I found the best way is with a pink eraser, buy one in the writing section, get 2. The ink eraser also is a good cleaner on the more corroded parts, disconnect the battery first and also clean the hot post connections , take the 11mm stud out and clean the pins on the 14 pin connector thats above the hot post wires.
Also you should have a cover on your hot post ,a cover from a 1988 S4 fit perfect
Old 10-07-2008, 11:25 PM
  #12  
bigred1001
Pro
Thread Starter
 
bigred1001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Haslett, MI
Posts: 508
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Got home tonight and checked out by the battery box. The ground strap is mint and I recleaned it anyway, and the battery looks brand new. Think about this though;
The lights come on strong, and everything works inside. The power seats work fine as well. Think of a toy machine gun, thats the noise it makes. Rapid fire clicking noise. Would it do this with a weak batery that is still strong enough to power everything inside?
Old 10-07-2008, 11:34 PM
  #13  
Mike B
Done With Sidepatch
Rennlist Member
 
Mike B's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Calgary
Posts: 3,846
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

My truck had the same symptoms...thought it was the starter. Replaced the starter...turned out to be the ground cable. It looked perfect from the outside but was corroded inside. My neighbour came over with a booster and put the negative on the block...she fired right up.

Just a thought.
Old 10-08-2008, 12:24 AM
  #14  
WICruiser
Burning Brakes
 
WICruiser's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chilton Wisconsin
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

Clicking noise could be a relay not locking in when the key is engaged.

You say that it has good electrical power but the starter doesn't engage, spin, or make any noise so best guess is that the signal from the key switch to the starter that says "turn on" is not getting there.

Any way you can isolate where the rapid fire clicking noise is coming from, CE panel area or under the hood?
Old 10-08-2008, 01:03 AM
  #15  
bigred1001
Pro
Thread Starter
 
bigred1001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Haslett, MI
Posts: 508
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Its definitely coming from under the hood. Its just me out there though, so I could not look under the hood at the same time. Louder with the hood open too.


Quick Reply: My first no start



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 07:22 AM.