I'm voting poor connection at the batter. There's enough juice to light the dash but not turn her over. My first thing to do would be clean the terminals. Jumping might not help if your going the poor connections to begin with.

 

Jump starting is sometimes a bit dicey as well....if they are cheap jumpers, they will often not have a good enough connection to supply the amps required by a starter...but you should get a click or a series of clicks as the starter is trying to engage even if there is not enough current to turn the starter over (or at least the solenoid is trying to stay closed in order to complete the +12V circuit to the starter motor).

Do the lights dim when you try to start the car?
If the ignition is on, will the headlights/interior lights/heater fan/read defog all run fine ?

If so, then ground is not likely to be a problem (but it still could be). Could be the ignition switch as well, there are many points of failure in a situation like this. The starter has its own circuit/wire from the battery to the starter itself, but its hard to test that without being under the car.

If all the lights are on, do you hear the fuel pump run for a few seconds when the ignition is on (it also might be hard to hear)? If so, you might have a good chance of push starting the car...however you might end up just flat bedding the car back to your home/shop or to a local shop depending on where you are stuck.

Let us know how it works out, best of luck!!

Cheers,

Mike

 

+1 Starter solenoid

 

I had a similar problem, new starter solenoid solved it...

 

It takes very little juice to light dash bulbs, but considerably more to turn her over. Probably starter solenoid but I certainly wouldn't rule out the battery.

 

Sounds like the battery to me. I've been there a few times.

In my experience it takes quite a lot to jump start a 993 with a dead battery, even with the dashboard and interior lights still working.

The only times I've succeeded is when donor the car is a diesel with a heavy duty battery and even then it took a while. I once tried it using an ordinary car and regular jump leads and the jump leads literally started to melt !

 

Ok... Using jumper box and grounding the engine to the frame tomorrow to see if that helps.

Can you just replace a solenoid? Is that easier than replacing the starter?

 

I have never tried it but I seriously doubt you could get the solenoid out w/out dropping the starter. I think that would be a hell of a chore. The solenoid is circled in the photo.

 

Thanks for the picture.

That thing looks like a pita!!!

 

David, did you change the battery and the ground cable? Sounds like an easier place to start than the starter! I don't think that starter issues are common on such a low mileage 993. Do the easy stuff first!

 

So far I tried jumper cables, booster box and ground the engine to the frame with no luck.

I'm limited since the car is in the garage at work, and I'm wearing a suit.

I will definitely try the easy stuff once I get it home.

Thanks

 

On starters, sometimes a good wack or 2 with a dead blow hammer will get you going. Sometimes. Problem with the 993 is it's very tough getting to the starter.

 

Let me know if you need some help. I am close to your office...

 

Ok .. Jumped strarted it without a problem.

Now it starts, but I noticed there is a click sound at the starter when you turn the key...without full engage.

I turned it a few times and this sound gets weaker and weaker. With that said, I think it is the battery not sending enough juice to engage the starter.

So... New battery and will double check the ground strap.

 

if your car start with a jump then drive it around for twenty mins and the battery should charge fully if your alternator is good...