The Lucas this IS funny !
Check this out though.. from Rennlist by way of 968.net...on the same topic :
Here's some text from an old rennlist post (without permission):
quote:
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Subject: Phantom Exposed--Starter
From: "Tom M'Guin" <Tmgee@iname.com>
Reply-To: "Tom M'Guin" <Tmgee@iname.com>
Ok, for those who are still with me on my "car driving into the wall by
itself in the middle of the night" saga, here's an update.
I pulled the starter tonight and confirmed suspcions. External wiring to
the starter was burned beyond recognition. The wires obviously shorted
somehow and burned from the inside out. The burning is all centered right
near the starter, including all three wires. It looks like the ignition
wire may have rubbed its insulation off on the big power stud, since I
found them sticking together. I'm sure it had nothing to do with its
recent removal and skillful installation. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
I will clearly need a new starter, which I will seek tomorrow. I tested
all three leads for shorts between any two of them or between any one of
them and ground. The big power wire had some continuity to ground (like 3M
Ohms), but it decayed over time like a capacitor was in line. Couple of
questions: (a) any suggestions for checking the rest of the system for
short circuits? I am hoping the short occured right at the starter (as it
appears) but would like to rule out other problems before buring out
another starter. (<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> Any suggestions for dealing with the fairly melted
wires that were connected to the starter? I imagine I'd have better luck
replacing my own spleen than that harness, no? © Anything else I should
check out?
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And another with some more info on cause:
quote:
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Subject: Re: Phantom Exposed--Starter
From: "Tom M'Guin" <Tmgee@iname.com>
Reply-To: "Tom M'Guin" <Tmgee@iname.com>
Just a bit more for anyone left you may still be interested. There seem to
be two contributing factors to my spontaneous starter. First, when you
tighten the small red ignition lead on the starter, the wire naturally
rotates on the post and comes to rest against the large positive lead. In
my case the insulator on the ignition lead seems to have dug into the power
cable connector while I tightened the lead. Second, I just finnished
replacing the waterpump. Water had been everywhere, from the earlier leak
and from bleeding the system. I think that, as my engine cooled, water
seeped down the inside of the main power cable to the starter. The short
was not really complete until after the car sat a while and the water
trickled down to the starter, bridging the micro gap between the ignition
and power wires at the starter. To test my theory, I "milked" the power
wire harness and was able to get some water from it! Result: spontanious
starter. Is this pilot error or can we blame it on the boys in Germany?
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quote:
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rom: DPW928@aol.com
Message-ID: <LYR37771-8885-2000.07.14-19.31.51--calemon#uplink.on.ca@rennlist.or
g>
Old-Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2000 19:32:34 EDT
Subject: Re: Phantom Exposed--Starter
Reply-To: dennis wilson <dpw928@aol.com>
I would perform a resistance check on all the wires connecting to the
starter. Check the connections for burning (both ends) and replace any wires
showing evidence of higher resistance/burning. Replace the positive battery
cable (power cable to starter) and the smaller primary wire connected to the
same post as the battery cable. I found a 2 gauge cable at the local Auto
Zone, soldered lugs on it and made a battery cable for my 78. Good luck and
use plenty of floor dry (diatomaceous earth) on the garage floor. 8^)
Dennis
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And again:
quote:
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Old-Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2000 9:58:34
Subject: Sudden Car Movement
From: "Richard Lutz" <rdl944@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Richard Lutz <rdl944@yahoo.com>
Hello Fellow Listers
A good freind of mine has two Porsche's. A beautiful 911s and his wife's
924s. Yesterday while she was washing the 924s with the keys in her pocket
and the car turned competely off, the car began to move. The starter had
engaged and began lurching the car uphill into the back of the 911. He was
able to jump in the car and pull it out of gear, unfortunatley not until
after it had climbed up the back of the 911 damaging both cars. I remember
someone had a situation this summer where the car moved overnight in the
garage. Whomever that was please help with a suggestion of where to start
looking for the problem.
Thanks
Rick
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quote:
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From: DPW928@aol.com
Message-ID: <LYR37771-221-2000.10.16-20.49.17--calemon#uplink.on.ca@rennlist.org
>
Old-Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2000 20:48:41 EDT
Subject: Re: Sudden Car Movement
Rick,
Going from memory here, but I think it turned out that there was a loose wire
on the starter that rotated enough to activate the starter solenoid.
Dennis Wilson
78 928 US 5 sp
78 928 Euro AT
80 924 NA 5 sp
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So, watch your starter terminal connections that they aren't loose and can rotate. Also, don't let them rotate when tightening. For that matter, not leaving your car in gear might be a good idea.
Craig.
