Lately I have had intermittant issues with the starter. I turn the key and 'click'. Last night it did it again. The car was not even hot. I bumped the car with the engine in gear and then the started worked just fine (Probably unrelated since the starter should not have been engage with the flywheel) It is not the battery since the lights do not dim. I had a similar problem with my 67' 911S years ago and it turned out to be a bad contact on the starter motor.
My question is where do I start to debug this problem. Since new starters are $$$ I do not want to get a new one if it is the solonoid or bad wiring contacts on the starter. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated
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Jim Doc
'90 Alfa Graduate
'67 911S
'70 850 Fiat Spider
I went through this last year, put a new starter on, put a new switch in, still had the same problem. I then installed a starter relay and all has been fine since. I did a detailed post on it and added pictures that someone else requested, might try to do a search on starters or relays, it is easier to install a relay than install a starter or switch.
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'86 GTV6 - No Name
'88 Verde w/no sunroof - Bella
'89 Spider Quad
'89 RC30
My wifes 85 did the same thing last year, I used a long metal bar to snake down to the starter solenoid giving it a sharp bump which made it work everytime. Iap offered the Bosch solenoid for 45.50. Advance Auto Parts doesn't show to offer just a solenoid but I entered the bosch part number from Iap in the Advance search engine and it came up and only cost me about 28.00 and no shipping. Keep in mind that if yours is an 86 or newer the solenoid is different.
Last edited by ga_mtn_spider; 08-06-2008 at 02:14 PM.
Thanks for the input. Sam when you reference a starter relay are you refering to the starter solenoid? I also thin I will get a 'long metal bar' to keep in the trunk until I get it figured out. Does anyone know what the part number would be for a '90 Graduate solenoid?
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Jim Doc
'90 Alfa Graduate
'67 911S
'70 850 Fiat Spider
No, he means an actual relay added into the the circut to drastically cut the load on the ignition switch and associated wiring for more reliable starting:
The only tough part is pulling the wire off the starter solenoid, you need long skinny arms to reach in the and get it off and put the new one in there, other than that it is straight forward. Good Luck and let us know how it goes!
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'86 GTV6 - No Name
'88 Verde w/no sunroof - Bella
'89 Spider Quad
'89 RC30
Lately I have had intermittant issues with the starter. I turn the key and 'click'. Last night it did it again. The car was not even hot. I bumped the car with the engine in gear and then the started worked just fine (Probably unrelated since the starter should not have been engage with the flywheel) It is not the battery since the lights do not dim. I had a similar problem with my 67' 911S years ago and it turned out to be a bad contact on the starter motor. 
'84 manufacture - '85 MY Spider Graduate 
Linear Mode
