Hi guys my car still isn't starting Its a 998 freshly rebuilt. When i go to start the car its like there isn't enough power to kick the engine over, and occasionally it doesn't even kick over, it just makes a clinking sound coming from the solenoid. Its not the battery because its brand new and ive even tried one of them portable jump start thing's and it still does the same thing.

Is the starter solenoid or the starter motor the problem?
Anyone around sydney area have a spare starter motor i can use to see if thats the problem?

Cheers

It sounds like your solenoid is dodgy. Try turning on the ignition and then shorting across the terminals with a screw driver (be careful, the screwdriver gets a bit hot sometimes).

I think I have one, PM sent.
KB

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Heading down to go get a new solenoid, hopefully that fixes the problem.

maybe the battery was only just holding enough charge overnight to start the car before you rebuilt it..... and now that it's sat for a while, it's lost almost all of it's charge.

A solenoid will click if there's only just enough charge to throw the rod inside it, but not enough to make the starter motor do anything..... if the solenoid clicks, then it's probably OK

What does the ignition light do as you try to start it? does it shine brightly, then go off when you hit the starter?

could just as easily be poor earthing to the motor through fresh paint, or the earth strap from the battery to the boot floor making a poor connection

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

I dont think its the battery, i put one of them portable jump starters on it and says that its got enough charge. The red ignition light is bright and when i try to start it it goes off. I cleaned all the earth points so its metal to metal.

I just changed the solenoid to a new one and still nothing....The starter motor is making some sort of grinding sound when i try to start it so i guess thats the problem.

Next thing to try (other than the gemini starter suggestion) is to take the existing starter off, give it a bit of a spin by hand (to make sure it or it's bearings aren't seized) then re-fit and try again. All you have to lose is time.

visually check the ring gear and starter gear whilst you're at it.

KB

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nothing to stop you bridging the solenoid while you're holding the starter motor in your hand too.... (edit: as long as it has power and earth )

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Yea ill take it off and post pics here tomorrow. If its no good i guess ill get a new starter motor, or try a gemini one.

(I still reckon it's the battery.....)

did you actually try starting it with the portable jump starter thingy attached??

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Yea and its got full charge.

Don't buy anything else till you know what is wrong, otherwise you will have a new solenoid, a new starter, a new battery and still have a car that won't start.
Find out what the problem is.

When you hook up the jump starter pack try hooking it straight to the engine and not the battery in the boot. Hook the black lead to the engine (assuming that your car is Neg earth) and the red lead to the solenoid. You can hook it straight to the starter but the starter will start to spin without the key (actually a good way to test the starter)

Cheers ill give that a go, should i take the leads off the battery in the boot? The starter spins just with not enough juice to start the engine, and it occasionally stutters.

Leave the battery in the boot hooked up.

Oh, have you hooked up the earth strap between the body and the engine?

Yea, its metal to metal aswell. Does it matter wheres its put? Mine is above the clutch housing and the drivers side guard.