993 DME relay & non-starting
993 DME relay & non-starting
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911newbie

Original Poster:

611 posts

282 months

Tuesday 13th July 2004
quotequote all
OK searched through the Porsche messages about DME relay problems and couldn't find quite what I'm looking for -

993 1995 YoM. Went for trot up motorway on Friday then its sat on the drive for Sat and Sun with a nice carefull wash on Sunday. Won't start on Monday as battery is flat. this is strange atfer a long trip (160+ miles on Friday). So put the trickle feed on for most of the day, 6 hours at least, and try again. No joy.

So this is what's happening - all the lights come on but no starter motor and a regular 'clunk' every second or so.

Any tips guys ?

PS I'm due to go on a holiday in Cornwell this weekend with my family and I'd reall really rather not have to hire an expensive piece of shit to drive round in instead. Can you save me from this ?

911newbie

Original Poster:

611 posts

282 months

Tuesday 13th July 2004
quotequote all
Ps - Anyone had this themselves and can post up their symptoms ?
Be usefull for me...

Ta

james_j

3,996 posts

277 months

Tuesday 13th July 2004
quotequote all
It sounds like the battery may be knackered. Have a search on this forum as well as rennlist and you will find how to test a battery to see if it's OK.

(Do a search for DME relay also - it's worth replacing your current one or at least carrying a spare.)

james s

1,620 posts

267 months

Tuesday 13th July 2004
quotequote all
If it jump starts with a good set of leads and a strong battery then it is your battery

Six hours may not be enough on a trickle charger - I has the same problem a few weeks ago with mine - nothing after six hours but started on a jump and fully changed after a good run - no probs since

My 964 got through three battereis in as may years - and the sympoms wwere exactly as you describe

good luck - by the way I gave up on Porsche batteries and started using Bosche

paulmc

182 posts

276 months

Tuesday 13th July 2004
quotequote all
You describe it as regular "Clunk", if it's more of a loud clicking then I'd say battery. Just connect up some jump leads to another car and it should start.

911newbie

Original Poster:

611 posts

282 months

Tuesday 13th July 2004
quotequote all
Just got off the phone with my local friendly mechanic (Crispin Manners) who also thinks its a battery thing.

Apparently when the bonnet is open just a fraction power goes not only to the internal boot light but also several relays as well. So I was probably losing more power than I was putting in because I hadn't depressed the bonnet sensor.
So he's going to come out tonight to help me get it started. Bless him, above and beyond the call I'd say.

oddman

3,771 posts

274 months

Tuesday 13th July 2004
quotequote all
Clicking is probably starter solenoid un able to turn starter motor.

Exactly the symptoms mine ('96 993) had with a dead battery.

T

james_j

3,996 posts

277 months

Tuesday 13th July 2004
quotequote all
911newbie said:
Just got off the phone with my local friendly mechanic (Crispin Manners) who also thinks its a battery thing.

Apparently when the bonnet is open just a fraction power goes not only to the internal boot light but also several relays as well. So I was probably losing more power than I was putting in because I hadn't depressed the bonnet sensor.
So he's going to come out tonight to help me get it started. Bless him, above and beyond the call I'd say.


Ah yes, don't leave the bonnet light on.

A suggestion (or, what I do): when you leave the bonnet or engine lid open, press in the catch so the light goes out. (I put a piece of paper over the catch as a reminder to release it before I slam the lid on the closed catch!)

bif

149 posts

284 months

Tuesday 13th July 2004
quotequote all
Just had mine fixed by GT One in Chertsey with some of the same problems.

1: I had already replaced DME relay with no change

2: As mine an early car 1994, they checked the engine compartment loom, which on many cars needs to be replaced at a cost to PCGB, that had already been done.

3: They found the bonnet lamp switch to be defective and have bridged that out

4: They found the solution in my case as the twin coil pack, of all the cars they repair and service this was the 1st car they found requiring a replacement coil pack

Hope these items may help
Barry

david hype

2,296 posts

274 months

Tuesday 13th July 2004
quotequote all
Chris

Sorry if this covers old ground, but if your car has a good alarm and imobiliser it will drain the battery very quickly.

You need a new battery (nothing wrong with a Porsche original) and then you must connect it to a trickle when you leave the car parked up.

If you do this your battery will last indefinitly. If you dont, you will but a new battery about every 18 months and get really pi$$ed off!

911newbie

Original Poster:

611 posts

282 months

Wednesday 14th July 2004
quotequote all
We had a look at it last night with the multimeter.
Battery charges up fine and dandy. Alarm immobiliser etc all pulling normal current.
...But there was a voltage across the top, yes the top, of the battery and the -ve terminal. WTF !! So the battery has been losing charge slowly but surely across the top of the battery.
The plastic battery case is I'm guessing polypropylene or polyethylene and so not conductive. So it must be the little bit of grime and dirt making a circuit somehow across the top of the battery. When we cleaned it off - no voltage.

Crispin is investigating further...
Wierd eh ?