924Board.org

Brockoli · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 3:09 pm Post subject: car wont start

My dad drove my '80 to the store and it wouldnt start for him. He had to get it pushed started to get it home. now we cant even push start it.

I tried hot wiring it but it didnt start and the jumper wire got really hot really fast - possible short somewhere?

I pulled the starter and tested it on the bench and it worked. I found one wire on the wiring harness that had worn through the plastic coating so I shrink wrapped it and covered the wire in heat insulation. Put the starter back in and the car wont start. When I put the key in and turn it to the run position my dashboard wont even light up. When i turn the ignition over the dash lights up but nothing happens.

Before all of this happened sometimes the starter wouldnt kick in when i turn the ignition over. I cleaned the switch with contact cleaner then lubed it with a graphite lock spray, this helped a bit but it rarely wouldnt turn over. During this, the power would always come on in the run posistion and my dash would light up but now nothing.

Im stumped. I hope its not a shorted wire somewhere. And I have an auto-x on sunday so time is a tickin!

Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated, please help!
_________________
'80 924 M471,Wideband O2, Full coilover susp,23/19 sways,Bilstiens,KLA Strut Brace,Roll Bar,Test Pipe,BBS RS, Willwood BBK

25% of a '87 944 Chumpcar http://straightpipe.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=2454

'79 924 Sebring Edition(Sitting)

Harm · Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 1376 Location: Holland

Would the white ignition switch at the steering column be interfering?
That white plastic part tends to crack, especialy if it hasn't been replaced already in the last …32 years?
A VW-part, so hopefully available in your town: Cheap replacement/fix!

It will block battery juice from flowing easily through the starter, just like the other end:

Make sure the wire from the battery post to the starter is in good nick!
Also, worn starter solenoids are known to get stuck after a hot/intense ride:
— No click
— No starting… until you hit it with …euhw, an object of some kind, perhaps a hammer?

My 2 cents.

Hope you'll stil be able to make it Sunday. Good Luck!
Regards, Harm.

ps.

< for Joejax…
_________________
Porsche 924 NA 1982 LY7A/A3A3 _ Greater driving pleasure never harmed anyone.

Brockoli · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 1:38 am Post subject:

I don't think it's the ignition switch because I pulled the wiring harness off the switch and hot wired the wiring harness plug as described on the 924.org.

I might try another starter and take another look at the starter wiring.
_________________
'80 924 M471,Wideband O2, Full coilover susp,23/19 sways,Bilstiens,KLA Strut Brace,Roll Bar,Test Pipe,BBS RS, Willwood BBK

25% of a '87 944 Chumpcar http://straightpipe.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=2454

'79 924 Sebring Edition(Sitting)

Brockoli · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:45 am Post subject:

It was the ignition switch!

I tried hot wiring the harness plug again and this time it worked. The harness plug has gotten hot sometime in its life and has melted a bit so the wires and the harness plug dont line up perfectly anymore. I think the connection last time when hot wiring it was good enough and thats why it didnt work.

Looks like I will be hot wiring the car tomorrow at the auto-x.
_________________
'80 924 M471,Wideband O2, Full coilover susp,23/19 sways,Bilstiens,KLA Strut Brace,Roll Bar,Test Pipe,BBS RS, Willwood BBK

25% of a '87 944 Chumpcar http://straightpipe.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=2454

'79 924 Sebring Edition(Sitting)

joejax · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 12:27 pm Post subject:

Good deal Brock.

Thanks for the pic Harm

_________________
I got nothin'
Uhhh...you got any pics?

Harm · Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 1376 Location: Holland

Enjoy it!

Cheers guys,
Harm.

Brockoli · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:42 am Post subject:

The auto-x was a lot of fun!

But just a heads up when hot wiring your car, only one radiator fan will run, headlights and wipers wont work either. I was running a litle hotter than usual but nothing crazy happened.
_________________
'80 924 M471,Wideband O2, Full coilover susp,23/19 sways,Bilstiens,KLA Strut Brace,Roll Bar,Test Pipe,BBS RS, Willwood BBK

25% of a '87 944 Chumpcar http://straightpipe.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=2454

'79 924 Sebring Edition(Sitting)

Mike924 · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 2601 Location: IoW UK

I don't think those symptom are necessarily due to hot wiring, Brock.

I think you car still has some specific wiring issues from when the loom overheated...
_________________
1985 Porsche 924 'Lux', Kalahari Beige (my ex)
1993 Porsche 968 Coupe, Midnight Blue, 6 spd

'There is no substitute for a little grease under your fingernails.' - Chrenan, 924board.org