Relay starter

[hi8ha]

Hi All:

Would like to know what could be the simptoms of a faulty, not completly inop, starter motor relay.

My car always starts fine 1st thing in the AM, however, in an unexpected or random way some times when I turn the key the car won't start. It will only start if the car is pushed started. Don't think is the battery cause all electrical parts work ok, the volt meter shows above 12 volts and I can't hear the tipical "tack, tack, tack" of the strter trying to turn under low voltage, it just does nothing; could this be a faulty starter motor realy, would Durametric show an error code when this happens? Interested to know before spending $400.00 + dollars on a new starter.

Note: The starter switch was replace with the new model.

Thanks

MY99, C2, 6 speeds, coupe.

Edited December 31, 2008 by hi8ha

[Loren]

How old is your ignition switch?

[hi8ha]

Is about a year old, it is the new model, the one that you have to replace the ignition housing as well.

[Loren]

Then I would get the battery checked anyway - a good load test and a specific gravity test to see if there is a bad cell.

[hi8ha]

In retrospective that is the reason why I replaced the ignition swith. However, the battery is about 2yrs old. Will check.

Could Durametric help me detect the problem?

Edited December 31, 2008 by hi8ha

[Foster]

Might be worth looking at the ground cables. Easy to rule out.

On my 00' there is a cable from the engine to the frame, it's kind of between the rear passenger tire and the muffler. Near the coil.

[Stefan]

Check the clutch switch. If this malfunctions, the car won't start. They have been known to stick.

[win911]

unless you have the CEL.. Durametric is useless.

[Loren]

unless you have the CEL.. Durametric is useless.

Not true.

Durametric can give you many actual value readings like MAF air flow, O2 sensor voltages, etc.

[win911]

I was refering to his no start problem. If he can start the car, the Durametric can read his real time voltage reading.

His question was, if I read it correctly was can Durametric diagnose his no start issue...I guess he can if he gets it started and read the voltage reading.... I'm guessing alternator???

*** also check your battery cable connection.. make sure it is tight.

Edited December 31, 2008 by win911

[hi8ha]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Will start with checking the battery cables, battery, starter cables and things of the like and take it from there. Will also try to bypass the clutch switch as last resort before taking out the starter and have it checked.

Happy new year.

P.S:Loren, noticed there are no "Renntech" items in your Amazon store, you should have baseball caps and t-shirts with the "WWW.Rentech.org" logo, or perhaps the Rentech logo combined with a Porsche logo as well.

Edited January 1, 2009 by hi8ha

[Loren]

P.S:Loren, noticed there are no "Renntech" items in your Amazon store, you should have baseball caps and t-shirts with the "WWW.Rentech.org" logo, or perhaps the Rentech logo combined with a Porsche logo as well.

Everyone that does logo merchandise wants a "minimum order" - sometimes several hundred items.

RennTech.org contributions have paid site operating costs the last couple of years - but not enough extra for anything like that - but I will certainly keep it in mind. Perhaps with the economy the way it is the "minimum order" quantities will come down? But, then again perhaps contributions here will also be down... time will tell.

[hi8ha]

From an old post by Loren: "Just to clarify (on US/Canadian cars) there are two clutch switches -- one for the clutch interlock and one for cruise control."

Which is which? Looking at the clutch pedal, the clutch switch is on the right or left of the pedal?

Need the info in order to replace the switch.

Thanks

[Loren]

Clutch interlock will have one brown wire and one Yellow/Violet wire.

Cruise control will be one black wire and one Yellow/Green wire.

[hi8ha]

Thanks

[hi8ha]

Replaced the clutch switch and sp far working fine.