Hi. My name is WankelHead, and I am a rotor-holic. I will be needing some assistance in this alien universe.

I've inherited what I think is a 1985-6 32v 928 (attached a photo of the car for ID), and the Bosch starter is dead. And YES, it is D-E-D, dead.

I purchased this aftermarket starter from 'hiperformanceusa' on eBay. And while it is "bolt-on" as described in their auction page, it is most definitely not plug-n-play.

I need help with the wiring. From what I understand, there are 2 positive wires and one ground wire dedicated for the original starter. After receiving the starter, I was perplexed, so I asked them:

"There are 3 wires that plug into the Bosch, but there [seem to be] only 2 places to fasten wires on with this new starter. I'm going to need instructions. Where can I find that online?"

Hiperformance USA said to me:

"Yes, the 928 does have an extra wire. Both wires will be connected to the spade/plug located next to the battery post on the starter."

Needless to say, it wasn't exactly answering my question, especially about the online documentation (which I now suspect there isn't any) and I'm still confused. I don't want to muck this up, but while I'm waiting for his follow-up, I decided to come to you guys.

- When he said 'battery post', did he mean the solenoid?

- Even though I'm pretty sure the harness socket is positive and the spade/eyelet bolt is the ground...is it really gonna be 'OK' to slice both red wires, affix a harness adapter, and plug it in?

- I have a sneaky suspicion that I need to affix one of the positives to the bolt under the solenoid boot. Would I be correct about that?

- Can you give me your best informed guess as to where to affix the wires?

- Should I return the unit? (hah, don't answer that).

I already have a harness adapter, but it feels real rinky-dink to feed 2 wires into that socket (if the socket is indeed positive). So please, give me your best guess regarding how to go about this. Thanks for your help. And yes, I will close the loop on this thread.

P.S. I'm sure you are all wonderful folks...and Porsche has a wonderful legacy. My first car was a 924, actually. But I'll always be a rotary junkie (i've got 3 of them). Perhaps I'll fall in love with this car, but only time will tell.

 

Last time I tried those starters (I have two now, unused, but the rubber rotted) neither would catch the teeth on the starter ring.

 

Get the right starter from either Mark @ 928 International or Roger @ 928s r us or Jeannie @ 928 Specialists.

 

Yeah, but what year was the car?

 

Unfortunately, I don't have time for that. Either I install this thing, or I'm push starting it tomorrow to the shop. Because our HOA is complaining....which obviously isn't any of your faults.

 

86 iirc

 

Return the starter. Get a rebuilt OE starter from one of The Big Three.

On a 928, screwing with parts that haven't been engineered specifically for the 928 is a road to pain, suffering and a second repair.

 

After you push start it and get it to your shop then your shop will have time to get the correct starter. 928's are fantastic, as others have noted get the right part. The 3 sources listed have an abundance of knowledge on parts for 928's.

 

Pretty sure the bolt next to the spade terminal is for the high current B+ source that powers the field coils or to the solenoid then armature (maybe it uses permanent magnets instead of coils), the spade terminal is for the low current solenoid signal (B+) from relay. The one with the boot is the motor B+, it electrically connects the brush holder assembly to the solenoid coil.

 

This ^^^

And this ^^^, both 928 times over.

The stud terminal (next to the spade) is indeed the battery-cable connection. There are two cables that connect there, one from the battery and a second to the alternator and on to the jump-post and CE panel.

The spade connector is the starter connection from the ignition switch, same as stock starter (except spade connector instead of screw terminal.

The connection under the black rubber boot is the power connection from solenoid to the motor. DO NOT mess with that.

The problem with these starters are that there are many versions, and most do not fit properly. The gear on these is NOT centered, because it is a different size than stock. If mounted backwards the teeth will not engage. Also, depending on which way it is mounted, the 12v battery connection will short to the oil pan, or hang low and short the belly pan (if fitted).

You *might* get lucky, but the odds are heavily against. Are you feeling lucky?

Quit screwing around on eBay, return that starter, push-start the car and get it to the shop, and ask them to fit a rebuilt stock starter. It's a simple job, with a stock starter.

 

Sounds like the votes are in. As advised, I will return the starter, push start to the shop & do the job correctly.

 

Interestingly, I have one of these on my Euro. I think Carl at 928mortorsports supplied it (to the PO). It seems to work fine. But I never looked at it enough to see what, if any, mods we done to the starter unit or the car. It is lighter for sure. But it also does not spin the flywheel as fast. It starts, just not as quickly.

 

I too am a fellow rotary guy, so welcome. Also, I too am new to this strange and mysterious 928 universe (in fact you're ahead of the curve on that one, as I don't have my 928 yet, although I know which one I'm getting, etc).

One thing I'm learning pretty quickly is that if the Body Of Knowledge on here chimes in and says to do something, you should probably do just that. Which it seems you're doing, so good job! :-)

 

Me too. Just had Carl do a lightweight high-torque starter on my Spyder while it's at his shop for the other stuff. I put one of these on my 914 and it turns over so much better than any of the new or rebuilt Bosch starters I've had on it over the years. I'm assuming it will be the same on the 928.

 

I still don't know which model I have. Can it be I.D.ed from the photo I provided. I don't know if it's an 85, 85.5 or 86...