Problem: Not starting
 

I went out to fire up the '88 this evening after not driving for the last 10 days or so and had my first owner's moment on this car of 'Oh crap...'

The car wouldn't turn over. There was a brief, less than a 1/2 second of almost a whisper of the first crank of the starter, and then nothing. Two tries after that were less than a whimper. :bang:

Headlights have plenty of power, the radio works, electric windows work.

I read the 2006 "New Guy Needs Help" thread (http://dorkiphus.net/porsche/showthr...ter+motor+dead) and it looks like I need to check for any corrosion near the battery and fuses, and ensure all wiring is tight and squared away. I'll do that in the morning.

Beyond that - any suggestions on what local shops to take the car to (I'm in the Herndon/Chantilly area) if I don't find a simple solution? I don't even know if hooking up jumper cables would even help start it up, but I'm willing to try that if it doesn't damage the car. :?

Fortunately, the wife has friends over tomorrow, so most of my Saturday can be spent muddling about and trying to figure this out. She was hoping I could take her to Williamsburg next weekend for her birthday in the new car, so... I'd really like any suggestions first, and suggestions that can get me safely up and running quickly are preferred. :lol:

1. How old is the battery? If it's past the end of the warranty, it's good money that you have a bad battery.
2. Regardless, yes, clean all the terminals, battery connections, chassis ground connections, etc.
3. You could try jump starting it. Just follow directions and be careful.
4. Or you could remove the battery and take it to an auto parts store where they will do a load test on the battery (and usually they'll recharge it if that's all it needs; also it's free) and sell you another one if needed.
5. Not open on Saturdays, but Chapman Autowerkes is in your neck of the woods. I use 'em whenever necessary, but lots of good Porsche shops around.
6. Join AAA. Good insurance if you drive a 26-year-old car.

Try and jump it. This is classic dead battery.If needed, get a new battery. Its cheap and takes all of 10 min to install.

Another vote for dead battery. Two weeks no driving + cold temps = dead battery. Pull the battery, hook it up to a 20A charger and let it do it's magic. Then go buy a CTEK MUS 4.3 and keep the 911 on the maintenance setting while sitting over the winter.

Wow - fast and Thanks, all!
 

Will check battery tomorrow as well - thanks!

Other than Chapman's, are there other shops I should be considering if there are bigger issues? It is OK to send a PM if that's a better venue.

Keep in mind that while the '88 has a Motronic, it's not the kind of sensitive electronics in more modern cars, and you should have no problems jump-starting it (provided it's just the battery, which sounds like the problem to me, too). Good luck!

Charge and test is better than jumping from dead for any year as the alt does not have to run at full amps trying to recharge the battery. Check and clean the connectors at the battery and the big and small ones at the starter while the battery is charging. Check the ignition switch and fuses if a charged battery makes no change

Don't forget the chassis ground down by the transmission
Dirk

After you get the battery charged or replaced: http://www.batterytender.com/Automot...emisphere.html

I took the battery out so I could get it tested. When I removed the battery from the car, this connection shook loose far,far too easily...

http://i.imgur.com/7N8Qy3J.jpg

I still plan on checking the battery but I predict this is probably my culprit.

Battery load said 11.1 instead of the 12.something that it was supposed to be at.