[dmdjordan]

Hi there. Just signed up for the forum this past week and am looking for some help with my '92 coupe.



I had only run the car once last year and when I did the idle was uneven and then the car wouldn't start the next day. It would run for a second or so then stop. I eventually got it going a few days later after cranking the heck out of it. this year no go again but my battery was week so I replaced it. Still no go but it tried once or twice to catch. Seemed flooded. removed plugs to clean. Checked spark and none.



I read through another owners trials with the same issue but started to get a bit confussed. I am mechanically inclined and will do the work but need specific guidance on the steps I need to take. I don't have a shop manual. I was going to take the distrubutor cap off and have a look but didn't know if that was even a good idea for fear of perhaps screwing something up in there. If anyone can tell me where to start, what cautions I need to take, and direct me to the repair "how to" info on this site it would be much appreciated.



Thanks



Dave

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[tamathumper]

Welcome! Could be a lot of things,... I think you might be best served by paying close attention to some of the specific symptoms, and doing some searches, then asking more specific questions. Workshop manuals are pretty easy to come by, and there again Google might be your friend.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[dmdjordan]

Thanks for your reply. So I guess to be specific in the symptoms, if I lay the wire on my intake, or any other grounder component, with the spark plug in it and have the car cranked over there is no spark. If I remove the plug and insert a screwdriver same thing. Any suggestions?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

my first thought would be DME relay

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Paul W]

If you can't find the manual on line, email me: paul at audipages.com and I'll point you in the right direction.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[JWahlsten]

I second the DME relay, followed by the flywheel sensor...

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[blau]

DME relay is the same part for the 924/944/968/964/993 (and maybe more).



Get it on Amazon.com for extra cheap ($14.63 right now)!



http://www.amazon.com/URO-Parts-993-615-...B0066RMUIG



I've had a Uro Parts one in the car for years and no issues.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[dmdjordan]

Thanks very much for your replies. I downloaded the manual yesterday but haven't had a chance to look through it much yet. So is there no way to repair the problem without just randomly replacing parts? Can I check the existing DME relay to see if it is still OK before replacing it?



Dave

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ds968]

Keeping a spare DME relay in your car is never a bad idea, those things are tne cause of multiple symptoms . Considering how cheap it is, even if the rely turn out not to be the cause of your current problem, it's worth $ 20 as a back up. And if does solve the issue ( hopefully ) it'll likely be the cheapest repair or replacement you'll ever experience with this car !

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Lear35A]

[quote name='dmdjordan' timestamp='1378728001' post='148976']

. So is there no way to repair the problem without just randomly replacing parts? Can I check the existing DME relay to see if it is still OK before replacing it?



Dave

[/quote]

Yes, there's a very simple way. Make one of these from about a dollar's worth of parts. Pull out the DME relay. Plug this connector into these three slots 30, 87, and 87b. Try to start car. Keep the connector in your glove box for future use.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[dmdjordan]

Great. So this is a jumper of sorts? All three ends tied together? So if the car starts then I know it's the relay right? If not then I move on?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[blau]

Sent you a PM about the DME Relay repair. The link can't be posted here since it's on another site that starts with "R", is followed by "ennlis", and ends with "t." <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/clap.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Lear35A]

[quote name='dmdjordan' timestamp='1378749480' post='149006']

Great. So this is a jumper of sorts? All three ends tied together? So if the car starts then I know it's the relay right? If not then I move on?

[/quote]

Yes, exactly. Much more definitive than swapping relays because maybe the new relay is bad too.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[DaveN]

I keep a spare DME replay on the glove box as well as the jumper cables. Don't forget to label the wires if you make a set, sure as #@#$ you will not remember 30, 87 and 87b on the highway one night <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.png" class="smilie" alt="" />

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[dmdjordan]

So with this jumper where are the pins I connect them to? popped out the relay but there are female slots where it goes.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

15 posts about a simple DME relay test???



i recommend at this time that you take it to a mechanic. this is the simplest of things to do on this car, and if this is presenting this much of a complication, i fear you are headed for far more expensive and serious issues as a result.



at a bare minimum you need to sit down and start searching and reading the material on this site.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968TDG]

If you take a closer look at that picture of the jumper, those are male terminals, so they will slot down into the female receivers slots you just mentioned.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[tamathumper]

If you downloaded the manual, take a look through it. Specifically section 24/28 where the diagnostics are outlined - look under the column "Engine Will Not Start" there are 9 things to check, with the DME relay being one (and probably one of the easiest to test).

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[dmdjordan]

OK guys thanks. I will build the jumper and try that this weekend. If that doesn't work I shall look more into the info on this site and review the manual on this isssue in detail. Just trying to find a quick fix if possible.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[dmdjordan]

So I jumped the DME relay and the car started. Had a look at the relay after popping the top off and it looked fine so reinstalled and it worked. Will replace anyway to be safe.



Now the car has irregular idle and is very difficult to start (starts but stalls after a few seconds) unless it sits for a few days. Once it is running it works fine. It had been suggested that I may have a vacuum leak so I will investigate that possibility further. The car had only been driven once last year and just running again now this year (I know it doesn't do a car any good to sit for months on end but winters, I am in Canada, and other committments have kept me away from driving for long periods). Any agreement on the vacuum issue or other suggestions? Plugs and wires are new.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.