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owenexile · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 8:23 pm Post subject: Starter Problem? Electrical

Hi , My car suddenly stop starting , i toke out the starter ( about 3rd one in a year) Got it out , tested it and evrything is 100% ok. Put it back still not cranking , i got the "ignition cabble" to the top of the engine bay and hooked up starter with jumper cables up with ignition cable on it. Just before it would turn over theres this "click" sound coming from somewhere in the engine bay. That is my problem. Where is this clicking sound coming from? When im under the car is sounds intop of the engine bay , when i listen from the top it sounds around where the disturbiter is? If im in the car , it defnitly sounds somewhere outside in front?

Thanks

EDIT : Not a battery fault if anyone was wondering
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924 1982 N/A
For some reason theres always a earth problem somewhere with this car...

Ozzie · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:58 pm Post subject:

starter solenoid
_________________
Porsche 924 1984 (UK import) NA
Its AUTO and its BLACK
Montego Black on black/red
Engineer of Electro/Mechanical Systems Maintenance

owenexile · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 11:46 pm Post subject:

Its not the solonoid , the starter is fine. It runs and kicks in if its out of the car and is bridge with a lilttle wire from the constant 12v point to the other point which kicks in the solonoid. Now i got the starter hooked up with jumpers from the battery to the starter and got the ignition wire connected. If i want to start the car i hear a click noise which isnt coming from the starter. almost sounds like a relay's clicking noise. But its defnitly in the engine bay and there is no relay's what i can see
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924 1982 N/A
For some reason theres always a earth problem somewhere with this car...

craigddavis83 · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 29 Location: winchester,va us

there should be a slave solenoid before the starter that jumps power to the solenoid on the starter . I'll check the schematics and get back to you.
_________________
1977 924 2.0L N/A "The Track Car" (soon!)
1995 Integra 1.8L "The Wife's Sleeper"
1968 Harley XLCH "The Family Heirloom"
2005 Honda CRF50 "The Pit Bike of Doom"

craigddavis83 · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 29 Location: winchester,va us

nope no other solenoids. The system consists of the starter and the voltage reg. So your problem and possibly the clicking you hear is the regulator in the alt..
_________________
1977 924 2.0L N/A "The Track Car" (soon!)
1995 Integra 1.8L "The Wife's Sleeper"
1968 Harley XLCH "The Family Heirloom"
2005 Honda CRF50 "The Pit Bike of Doom"

owenexile · Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 1:49 am Post subject:

How do i get to the voltage regulator? Do i need to take the altenator off? If so , how does the voltage regulator look like?

EDIT : Ok did some searching and found a video on YouTube how the voltage regulator looks like . That clicking noise im getting , will it be worn bushes?
_________________
924 1982 N/A
For some reason theres always a earth problem somewhere with this car...

gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

The clicking noise is probably the starter solenoid. Since you say that you removed the starter, had it tested, and it was okay, then the problem is probably a defective starter/alternator wiring harness. The wiring harness section that runs to the battery then to the alternator, and then to the starter unplugs below the battery tray drain hole. It is very common for battery acid to pour off of the battery tray (from an unmaintained, or failed (cracked battery casing) when the car is washed or it rains, and directly onto the wiring harness where it eats through the protective sheath, and then through the wires, following the wires to the terminals which the acid destroys. Eventually this causes bad connections at the alternator and starter, leading to low voltage, poor charging and low or no starter function.

Sound familar? The only solution is to replace the wiring harness section from where it plugs in, neutralize the leaked acid, and monitor the situation from now on. The wiring harness used to be available from Porsche for a reasonable price, I don't know if it is any longer (was about $20 at one time).

The voltage regulator for these alternators is attached to the rear of the alternator, and can be easily removed without disassembly of the alternator.

Ozzie · Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 7:36 am Post subject:

The clicking will be the starter solenoid as I said before.
The cause could be wiring as mentioned above. I'm just saying what it will be.
_________________
Porsche 924 1984 (UK import) NA
Its AUTO and its BLACK
Montego Black on black/red
Engineer of Electro/Mechanical Systems Maintenance

craigddavis83 · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 29 Location: winchester,va us

his reply is dead on. If you have a bad connection there the solenoid may not be getting enough voltage to activate the starter.
_________________
1977 924 2.0L N/A "The Track Car" (soon!)
1995 Integra 1.8L "The Wife's Sleeper"
1968 Harley XLCH "The Family Heirloom"
2005 Honda CRF50 "The Pit Bike of Doom"

owenexile · Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:54 am Post subject:

OK finally point the problem down. If i test the starter with solonoid showing to me and i crank the car it kicks in and runs , but as soon as i swing the solonoid that its facing away from me the clicking noise is there again , coming from altenator? Maybe worn bushes?
_________________
924 1982 N/A
For some reason theres always a earth problem somewhere with this car...

D Hook · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3158 Location: Omaha, NE

I don't believe there's anything in the alternator to click.
Sounds like you have a loose wire, maybe inside the solenoid?
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'80 924 n/a SOLD

Smoothie · Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 1:05 am Post subject:

Add me to the weak wiring theory list.
12V, but not enough amps (which can be caused by poor connections and/or weak (high resistance) wiring) will cause your symptoms.
Enough power passes to pull-in the solenoid, but not enough to turn the starter motor.
Another possible cause of the click-but-no-start is internal corrosion on the solenoids' internal switch parts. -But as you said it tests fine out of the car, plus should be very clean inside if this is the 3rd new one over the last year..

Weak battery, of course, is another..

Also, the starter is grounded through the bolts that hold it to the block. Those bolts and their holes (or nuts) should have their threads chased with a tap and die occasionally to clean and improve conductivity. -And avoid using threadlocker on them.
_________________
"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."

'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

owenexile · Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 1:24 pm Post subject:

Its an ghost i tell u , Was working perfectly yesterday then i stoped at a servo to fuel up and bang , no start again. Went home and left it there. This morning when i went to drop my bro off to school it started. The battery is brand new like a week old , since i thought my old battery is causing this starters to go bad. i got a odysee battery which run with gel i think.

Ive got another solonoid hanging around , but tried testing it without putting it in the starter and i didnt get anything from it? I hooked up earth to it and 12V to the point which kicks the solonoid in. Will it just not do anything without behing connected to the starter?

I also think its something to do with the solonoid. If its not that il go into the resistance.
_________________
924 1982 N/A
For some reason theres always a earth problem somewhere with this car...

owenexile · Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 11:51 pm Post subject:

Ok got the other solonoid fitted and evrythings good now.

Thanks for all the help
_________________
924 1982 N/A
For some reason theres always a earth problem somewhere with this car...