Hey guys, new to the forum, and I have a question. For the past year and a half, the same problem has plagued my 89 929- it doesn't always want to start up on the first turn of the key. I'll turn the key to start, and sometimes it starts up right away, but most of the time, it'll click, with the clicking sound coming from the fuel pump relay. I'll have to turn the key back to start anywhere from 3-12 times to get it to finally turn over. Also, the car has a tendenc to die when come to a stop, or when idling...the rpms will drop to around 250, the volt gauge will start fluctuating, the fuel pump relay with click like crazy, and the car will sometimes just die outright.

So far, the alternator, starter, and spark plugs have been replaced. I think i'm going to try replacing the fuel pump relay as well, as that's there the clicking sound is coming from. I've installed an aftermarket alarm system, but that's not the cause of the problem, as at one point, I pulled the entire alarm out, and the car still had the same problem. After I changed the spark plugs, the car hasn't died at a light on me, although it still seems to idle pretty low (~500 rpm or so). Any ideas or recommendations? The starting problem is the big thing right now, I hope i've fixed the dying problem. Thanks all.

-Chris

 

The click noise from the fuel pump relay is normal when you turn key to crank position. The relay is energized by a branch of the start circuit. I can also see that the relay would click like crazy when idle dropped very low as once engine is running the relay is energized by a switch in the airflow meter and with that low of an air flow amount the switch would probably be opening and closing rapidly causing the relay to also click as quickly. Do you not hear any click noise from the starter? If not then there are several places in the start circuit that may not be allowing voltage from the ignition switch to the starter including the switch itself. If you have a 12 volt test light there are some check points that could be tested to see if this voltage is even getting to the starter. If you can get access to the starter signal wire then I would check to make sure the test light illuminates when going to crank engine first.

 

Try a new battery and/or clean all battery connectors first. I speak from experience having owned 7 929's, 88 and 89 only. Current is an 89 w/139000 and still runs great. The battery is the heart of this cars electronics.