I have a 1981 280zx and recently it will not crank probably once every 3 months. A friend told me it may be a dead spot on the starter and if you rock the car in gear it will typically work. Well he was right, it does crank after moving the car slightly. Is it a started problem or something else?

Thanks, MaxTorque

 

or wont start but still makes starter motor noise?


cuase your flywheel is missing a tooth! (probably 2)

 

Nothing from the starter, just does not turn over. Once I rock the car the starter turns over and the car starts fine. No problem again for another 2 - 3 months.

 

Bent starter Pinion, your car gets lonely and just wants to be held and rocked for a bit, Loose wire on starter motor, If its an automatic perhaps your Neutral/park sensor isn't working.

anyone else have any ideas?

 

crank sensor?

 

"Nothing" meaning the starter is silent? If the starter is the prob, replace it. Or when it happens, tap on the starter & go.



Crank sensor is only on the turbo model (which he didn't specify which he has).

 

um my car has almost this same problem. except its every day now. its random on how many times i have to turn the key to start it. got a new starter and seemed to help some but now it just turns on in a fewer amount of key turns.

 

w00t! Two year old thread!

 

ya well my car just started this problem and i found this one so i figured instead of starting a new one i'll go off this one.

in this case where is the actual inhibitor at im looking through the wire diagram and im finding the relay but not the actual inhibitor.

 

Mine has done a similar thing. I know of 3 vehicles in my life that have done the same thing. First was an 87 s10 Blazer, that eventually was sold because of the problem. When it happened it stopped working entirely and no amount of try would get it to work. My mothers Olds Intrigue was intermittently doing the same thing. She "fixes" the problem by hitting the battery terminals with a wrench thinking its a loose connection. Replaced the battery and the problem seemed to improve.

My z does the same thing (to be honest i've only started it 4-5 times), but it never takes more than a couple tries to get it to start once it happens. My car clicks from the relay but won't turn over, not sure if this is similar to what your car is doing but I would first look at a loose connection, maybe the terminal. Let me know if you get it figured out.

 

if its a new starter, check your connections

 

My starter was doing the same thing. I waited awhile before I replaced it and I think I wore down the flywheel.... So it makes that none catching sound every 1-25ish cranks.

Moral of story = replace before you wear it dizown!

 

The starter on the Z car is the easiest I've ever changed...takes less than 20 min.

 

ya it literally takes less than 5min to change it for me, 2 bolts and a few wires

 

ya only took me 2 months

 

anyone else's starter REALLY fkin loud? kind of embarrassing, but i guess so is driving a 2+2 sports car

 

Blah blah blah... I take it you haven't realized (nor many others) that most Porsches are 2+2 ? I don't think it's embarrassing to drive a Porsche.

 

so i figured it out, there is something bad in the ignition switch. rewired the starter with a toggle switch and now she starts up first time every time.