[bigd_SD]

I was getting ready for back-to-back DE and AX events here in San Diego last week when my 1994 968 coupe decided not to start. Strong battery (until I cranked it too much), good fuel (been running on it all week with no problem), and it was cranking over and over... just no go (starter was fine).



So, I swapped the DME relay with my 993, still no fix. Checked the spark plug wire connections by moving them around a bit.



It finally started so I thought I fixed it... lose wires, right? I drove it around for 20 mins, then I washed it. Now it was clean but wouldn't start again! So, after borrowing some power from my wife's Toyota minivan and cranking over and over... still wouldn't start. Picture my wife and I pushing the 968 to the curb to park it for the night. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/huh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Then comes the DE... I quickly put the bra on the 993, taped up the hips and raced it for the DE. In fact, I left the DE early to get home and try to get the 968 started again in the daylight for the next day's AX. When I got home and put some juice back in the battery, it started right up. Since then, no problem... yet.



Ok, oh wise 968 community, what advice do you have to solve this ghost in the machine?



David

San Diego

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[flash]

check the battery cables closely



also, i used ot have a dumb ground cut-off knob ont he negative terminal - danged thing would do that every once in a while - very annoying - kept having to reprogram the radio as a result

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[bigd_SD]

[quote name='flash' post='28401' date='Nov 27 2006, 03:04 PM']check the battery cables closely[/quote]



Hey Bob,



I thought maybe the battery cables... but the starter cranks all the time, so no issues with power coming from the battery. Unless there is a separate power line going to the ignition, thus creating the spark?



Thoughts?



David

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[ether_joe]

That was a great album BTW.



Sorry. Totally unhelpful. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

sorry - missed the cranking thing somehow when i read this



ok - check the dme relay connections - squirt some contact cleaner down in there and clean them up - saw this last summer on another car - had to really clean up the contacts to make it work

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[Anchorman]

Could this in some way relate to a crank (or other) position sensor - with the computer not being sure where the engine is, it won't let it start? Hall sensor? or would those prevent it from even cranking?

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[bigd_SD]

The saga continues... today, in a mall parking lot, the 968 decided to cross her arms and stick out her tongue again. "No start for you!" she said. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Again, hooked up the trusty Toyota minivan and gave it many cranks. Starter works fine, that's for sure. Pulled relays and tapped them. Pulled fuses to make sure not blown. Tapped fuel pump in case it was stuck. Pulled plug wires and made sure secure. Ugh.



What about the alarms system? Anything in there keeping it from starting? I would think if that was the case, it would not let the starter crank at all.



The tow truck just took her away to Black Forest here in San Diego. Hopefully the $90 tow bill and some time there will fix her attitude.

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[flash]

arrrgh - believe it or not, pulling and plugging that thing a bunch of times, and wiping off the contacts was the fix on the other car - sure hope the 90 bucks wasn't wasted

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[odb812]

are you sure your starter is fine? i've had a bad case of cummy starter syndrome for a while and my car seems to have the same symptoms as yours. sometimes the car will start, but after i have started it, most of the time it won't start again while the engine is still warm.



what does your car sound like? does it start turning over and die out or does it start to turn over and then the starter spins freely, followed by clicking noises. if it's the first, you probably have a problem with the power going to the starter. if it does the second it is most likely the starter.

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[Darth Vadar]

[quote name='bigd_SD' post='28477' date='Nov 28 2006, 06:28 PM']The saga continues... today, in a mall parking lot, the 968 decided to cross her arms and stick out her tongue again. "No start for you!" she said. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Again, hooked up the trusty Toyota minivan and gave it many cranks. Starter works fine, that's for sure. Pulled relays and tapped them. Pulled fuses to make sure not blown. Tapped fuel pump in case it was stuck. Pulled plug wires and made sure secure. Ugh.



What about the alarms system? Anything in there keeping it from starting? I would think if that was the case, it would not let the starter crank at all.



The tow truck just took her away to Black Forest here in San Diego. Hopefully the $90 tow bill and some time there will fix her attitude.[/quote]



Have you done the "Key ON to first position, Pedal down three times" to start the code reader? Might offer up a clue... although I can never read the flashing lights correctly! Good luck!

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[bigd_SD]

The ghost is solved....



Turns out it was the fuel pump - yes, the fuel pump. After it working on and off for about a week (and never failing while driving), it finally froze on my last attempt to start. I'm told they don't normally fail like this.



When Black Forest traced it back, there was power to the pump but no spin. They replaced the pump and *bingo* it started up. I replaced the 7 year old battery as well - seems all that cranking was the straw that broke the camels back on the old Diehard.



Mystery solved. Thanks for all your input. Now I have a list of things to try next time. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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