polaris 993 sport

Went to get the car washed ...after it would not start not even a click. All electrical and battery perfect except starting.
In 24 yers it has has always started on the first twist.
relay..which one ..fuse..or did something get wet..ie power wash.
please help as I am parked and can’t get out when needed!
Thanks everyone ahead of this. Cheers

IHTFP

Have you tried to tap the starter with a hammer? I have seen this work as a bandaid on a failing starter.

polaris 993 sport

Really I was hoping for real help!

95_993

It could be you clutch switch. Cycle the clutch pedal quickly a couple times and try again

IHTFP

That is real help. Google it. It wont fix your starter but it will get the car started one last time.

polaris 993 sport

She sat for awhile and turned the alarm on and off. Blamm she started but....
What caused it ? As I said not once in her entire life has she not started. Winter summer no worries.
built date 2/94 so no alarm issues.
So where could water have touched after a major power wash?
That this could happen?

mike cap

No clutch switch on the early 993 either

Endoman

May be entirley unrelated to the wash, DME relay is the usual culprit, always carry a spare.

Kika

Or more...

As starters go bad, they can stick, hitting with a hammer DOES work. I had this problem on my 911SC and while I waited for my rebuilt starter, I would push start the car (actuall park on a slight slope, let it roll, then pop the clutch. I lived with my SC like that for about 2 months...daily driving it.
whether or not it will work in this situation remains to be seen, the hammer trick only works if the spindle is getting stuck.

As stated, it won't fix the starter, but it can get you going again so you aren't stuck.

I prefer that probelm, as when the starter went on the 993, it shorted out and push starting wasn't and option, not to mention it killed the battery.

jrmdir

Excellent advice on the spare relay, but it's not the culprit here. With DME failure the starter will still crank.

I haven't heard much about this issue on our cars, but I've had to replace a few ignition switches on other makes for exactly the same symptom. 24 years of arcing can make the starter switch contacts become intermittent. Just a thought.

mike cap

There is a start relay as well. Can’t remember the location but a big gray relay. 40 amp I think. Will cause a fault as indicated by the OP.

IainM

While you don't have the immobilizer, our 95's still have drive block
my guess is some strange time out conditions temporarily thwarted your attempts to start
monitor over the next few trips and see if things return to normal
locking the car and then unlocking should reset any theft protection devices

pp000830

What is the difference between Drive Block and Immobilizer? I thought Porsche's branded immobilizer was called Drive Block?

Also, the original poster should not look too deeply for the problem. If the battery is at 12.5 volts or more at shut off and the system runs at 13.5 ~14.2 Volts when running I would clean the battery connections and be done with it. I would not attribute the problem to the starter. It could have just been some unrelated electrical noise in the system causing a no-start condition that is apparently cleared at this point.
Andy

Churchill

OP the key datum you offered is the car wash. What part of the car gets wet in a car wash that could affect starting? The coils, distributor, and ignition wires. Check there first.

The starter is on top of the transmission. You'd have to drive through a tornado to get it wet.

polaris 993 sport

Turned door locks on and off with key. Problem solved but hmm that was weird!
Never going back to over washed detailer with power washer.
She starts like always on the the first twist!
Feeling good!