Hi folks. I have read and read and read.....
heres the story.
1987 S4. 160,000 miles
bought it from 4th owner. all major maintenance complied with..It got parked for almost 2 years with someone occasionally starting and driving it.
I had it inspected, some work done, and drove it 400 miles home...no problems.
this was a month ago. some general issues with window switches etc.
Anyway, last week no start.
Jumped the relay, good start.
Bought 2 new relays. replaced, all is good this mornin.
ran it today. parked it, 3 jhours later no start, i didnt hear the fuel pump, changed to the second new relay...no start....jumped it....Still no start. fuel pump is working...it is about 15 degrees here so no more troubleshooting tonight.


Any suggestions??
Also my locking system has a mind of its own...should i name the Car Christine? haha

 

About 15 to 20 hours of searching-out and cleaning the ground points and CE panel would be a good start.

What are you calling major maintenance and when?

 

Carefully clean the battery terminals and connections, especially for the medium-sized red wires on the positive post.

I am assuming that the relay that you are referring to is the fuel pump relay. Swap one of the good ones into the injection relay and then the ignition relay. Any of the three will kill the engine.

The alarm system can cause major problems...

 

You might want to take a look and the LH/EZK diagnostics from the WSM. Link is in my signature.

 

It is obviously temperature related. Moving the car to Florida would help the most!

 

A little chilly there today, though?

 

I wouldn't think this suggestion would be intermittant, but if Wally and Andrew's suggestions are cleared, I would check fuel present at the rail. If no pressure, perhaps you have junk in da pump? If you have wires from the tank, (other than sender) you have in-tank pump + exterior pump. The interior pump has a short rubber connection inside which deteriorates.

 

Ignition switch? Related to the locking problem? Just guessing!

 

The first step on these test plans is clean the grounds.
Amazing how that part gets sidestepped.

 

Buddy....
Been running heaters, the stove, and making homemade biscuits in the oven...
STILL have yet to see 65 degrees in the boat.
Just checked the weather... High of 84 and a low of 74 in Grenada.
I'm selling everything - and have I got a deal for you!
LMAO....

BTW - you might try having someone else cranking while you thump your EZK and LH relays with the yellow screwdriver handle in your tool kit. Don't ask how I know....

 

thnx guys..will try all sudgestions.....
I also have a 924S....and i am hip to cleaning the grounds points....I just went out to try again to see if it was just messing with me yesterday...no she is serious...i did find a really bad fuel pump fuse...changed out no joy... i do plan on checking rail pressure and all of the other issues. I was just hoping to try a few quick things...i only have about 5 spare minutes a day right now. HAHA.


anyway....after i turned the key and tried again...i hear this clicking noise behind the glove box for about 10 seconds after key is removed.this noise has been present everytime i had a no start..i dont ever remeber hearing that before during normal start procedures..i will get new relays for the other mentioned items too. i dont think my car has an alarm...[I] havent really had the time to get to know her yet. i just got a tranny modulator and after i build my shop monster ramps i intend to get to know her....i just want to get her in the garage for now...lol snow coming..thnx again

 

Does the horn work?

In my '89, the transport company couldn't start the car when it arrived.

Their process was:
1. Unlock driver's door with key
2. Try to start - no crank. Aha, they realise - flat battery.
3. Open hatch with key, replace battery with known good.
4. Try to start - no joy.

They reported clicking under the dash.

I went to the yard and added:
3a. Close all doors, and lock with key.
3b. Unlock with key
Car started fine.

The fresh battery provided juice to the factory alarm which defaulted to "immobilise" - the clicking was the relay trying to sound the horn, which didn't work.

 

Why do you suppose that fuse blew?? not trying to be a wise acre since you said the pump was on the list. the clicking behind glove box needs to be checked, could be CE panel.

 

Any signs at all of a low battery? That clicking just might be the infamous PS window switch. I had a no-start on my 86.5- everything seemed ok, just wouldn't start. Bad battery and that switch can cause it. Of course, the other comments above are more likely, I'm still just guessin' BTW looks like you're getting snow, I guess that either means more spare time, or absolutely NO spare time to check it out much today.

 

yup...its coming down...I work on F/A-18 fighter jets...we just launched out a Blua Angel jet...now we are shut down.

The alarm sudgestion sounds like a possibility...horn did work...i suppose the horn could be seperated from the circuit......anyway, next chance i get..I will pull all window breakers, try to reset the locks...if it works...can i disable the alarm? if i pull the breakers and relay, will it kill the alarm system....Question...did all 928 s4"s have alarms?

Battery is new...could be drained down tho..I let it sit for the 10 days after i got it and it was drained down .I will put a full charge battery in..try to start..
then will relock. if it starts before the lock system reset i will assume it is battery.


You guys are awesome!!!!!!