924Board.org

Pablo753 · Joined: 02 Jul 2013 Posts: 5 Location: Boise Idaho

I have a 1980 924 it was starting alright cranked over fine untell one day I started it and the motor engaged but didnt crank over. Then i tried it again and it cranked and seince then its gotten worse and now it wont crank at all the motor will engage but not crank or the starter engages over and over but not cranking. Things ive replaced is the battery the starter and ingnition switch in the steering colum Still doesnt crank so i ran a jumper cable from the starter body to the battery ground and BAM cranks and fires right up. So my logic is telling me bad ground to the starter? if so can i just splice into the ground and re ground it some where in the compartment or will it screw with me and create a drain? Or does someone know where the ground is located at? Please help me out it would be much appreciated THANKS!

Fasteddie313 · Joined: 29 Sep 2013 Posts: 2595 Location: MI

I do believe the starter grounds to the engine by way of its attachment...

with a not so great engine to chassis ground you could get plenty of ground for ignition but not quite enough for the high amps the starter draws...

try your jumper cable from engine block to chassis, engine block to batt negative, chassis to negative... check main battery to engine and chassis grounds and terminal..

that's my bet
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80 Turbo - Slightly Modified

fiat22turbo · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 4040 Location: Portland, OR

The starter should ground through the engine, I suspect you have a bad ground strap from the head to the coil mount among other ground points.

A common improvement is to replace the main battery wire to the starter and the alternator as they are a bit undersized and tend to fail over time. Since they are 2-pieces you can use generic parts store wire in the appropriate lengths (use a piece of string to get the approximate lengths you'll need)

Ensure the ground from the alternator to the engine block/chassis is intact as well to ensure good charging from the alternator.

Another is to add a ground cable from the chassis ground in the battery box area to the engine block (a bellhousing bolt is a good spot for one).
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Stefan
1979 924 Carrera GTS (clone-ish)
1988 944 Turbo S (Silver Rose)