Hi! My '93 944T has, on two random occasions, developed a no-start condition. Both times I have driven the car and turned it off for a quick stop, and when I come back to try and start it, nada. When the key is in the ON position, I hear the fuel pump spin, dashboard lights come on, all electricals in the cabin are working, etc. When I turn to START, absolutely nothing happens, no sounds whatsoever from the engine; the starter motor doesn't spin. Battery and terminals are ok, and I tried starting in neutral to discard any shifter misalignment.

Both times, the car started right up after letting it "cool off" for about 20 min. I have been able to turn off/on several times without any issue after these incidents. Do you think my starter motor is going south? It works like a champ when it actually turns. Is there any relay/module/sensor/switch that would prevent the starter from turning? Any help appreciated!

Regards;
JGCBAIZ

"...Battery and terminals are ok,...:

Are you sure?
The part you can see is not where the heavy current flows, or tries to.

For that you have to take the cables off (Neg first for safety) to inspect (and scrape clean) the inside surface of the cable terminals and the outside surface of the battery posts.

Sometimes just loosening the terminals, twisting back & forth, then retightening will disrupt hidden corrosion enough to restore current flow.


--
Bruce Young, '93 940-NA (current), 240s (one V8), 140s, 122s, since '63.

If a change in temp is a factor, that makes me think starter/solenoid (it's sold as a single unit).

Another candidate is the park/neutral switch in the shifter. If it won't start in 'P', try 'N'. If the starter spins, I suspect the switch.

Might be worth cleaning the terminals up on the starter. They do get pretty gross after 20 years.

-Ryan

--

Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 324k, Dog-mobile, E-codes
1990 245 DL 137k M47, E-codes, GT Sway Bars, GT Braces, Dracos
1990 744GLE 189K 16-valve project
1991 745 GL 304k, Regina, 23/21mm Turbo Sway Bars