Starting problems

[Biscuit761]

Having problems starting the car (968), it has been laid up for a couple of weeks and now when I try to start it all we get is a very rapid ticking sound, a bit like a machine gun sound (but quieter) without the engine turning over.

Am a bit out of my depth with this, could it be the solenoid and if so what is a solenoid, where is it and what does it do ? !!!

Any suggestions graterfully received

Bill

[silver993tt]

Sounds like your battery hasn't got enough juice to engage the starter motor. Try putting the battery on charge for a few hours.

[CGF993]

Totally agree that the battery requires a charge.
If you have accesss to a battery charger, there is no need to remove the battery from the car, just attach the Red clip to the (plus) and the Black clip to the (minus), then plug in and switch on. Leave for a few hours of possible and then try to start the car. When you initially switch the charger on you should see the meter on the charger move to say 5V, then it will slowly creep back to 0 as the battery charges, failure to see this may mean that you have dead cells and require a replacement battery.
If the car does start after a charge it may be worth going into a Tyre/Battery depot who will put a tester on it to check the condition of it.

Hope the above helps and is not teaching you to suck eggs.

CGF993

[Muzaa]

sounds like battery to me as well. had the same sound on my 993 when i left the interior light on for a few days....

[turboguru]

sounds like a battery, once you have charged it if it still doesn't start get a friend to tap the starter motor gently with screw driver and a hammer as if it starts with this then you know its the starting motor that needs replacing. You should be able to get a reconditioned one fairly cheaply.