New Member, New Car, New Starter Motor Required....

[GoldenLane]

Hi folks,

This is my first post so it's a hello from me in London. I picked up my first Porsche today ('81 911SC 3.0) and got about fifteen minutes down the road when I stalled and couldn't get her started again. I was down the road from Chris Turner and he kindly took a look, deducing that my starter motor's buggered. I need a new one and wonder whether I need to get OEM or will a replacement part fit the bill? Many thanks in advance!

 

[GoldenLane]

Wow, had about a dozen replies on the Impact Bumpers forum about this, not even a 'hello' here.
So glad I joined this club for £70!

 

[chris.hevey]

Apologies. This is a tiny forum compared to impact bumpers, and I suspect few of us have had to replace their starter motor. I saw your post before I went to work this morning and I've only been home a couple of hours.

I replaced mine with a semi-racing unit from Cambridge Motor Sports
http://www.cambridgemotorsport.com/node/8956

• cheaper than the official Porsche part
• more powerful
• about 2kg lighter (as I remember)
• much smaller, so easier to fit (bitch of a job, particularly the top bolt)
And, most importantly, it sounds very classy when you crank it up. It even impressed the guys at www.rpmtechnik.co.uk who really know their Porsches.

 

[chrishak]

Apologies. This is a tiny forum compared to impact bumpers, and I suspect few of us have had to replace their starter motor. I saw your post before I went to work this morning and I've only been home a couple of hours.

I replaced mine with a semi-racing unit from Cambridge Motor Sports
http://www.cambridgemotorsport.com/node/8956

• cheaper than the official Porsche part
• more powerful
• about 2kg lighter (as I remember)
• much smaller, so easier to fit (bitch of a job, particularly the top bolt)
And, most importantly, it sounds very classy when you crank it up. It even impressed the guys at www.rpmtechnik.co.uk who really know their Porsches.

I second that - Impact Bumpers is a great forum and I'll always look there first for technical advice.

However, for a free, quality monthly magazine, exclusive track-days, reduced cost insurance tailored to my needs, free certificate of authenticity, discounted spares and servicing from my local OPC, invites to attend some of the best motoring events around (the list goes on), PCGB is the place to be. These are the things that I happily pay my subscription for - it pays for itself several times over during the year.
Oh, and welcome by the way - sorry I didn't reply sooner but I've been on holiday and only returned this evening...

 

[GoldenLane]

Sorry for being such a pratt gents I shouldn't have thrown my toys out of the pram.
Look forward to meeting in person,
Ravi

 

[chrishak]

Sorry for being such a pratt gents I shouldn't have thrown my toys out of the pram.
Look forward to meeting in person,
Ravi

Accepted, of course!
You've discovered that most PCGB forums are nowhere near as active as the dedicated independant forums, e.g. Impact Bumpers, DDK, Boxa.net etc.
But the club has so much more to offer - and being in London you are a member of one of the most active regions in the club. Have you been to a club-night yet? Your RO's are Nick and Ed Pike and I know they will make you most welcome. I believe they are planning a trip to the south coast to attend Weymouth Porsches on the Prom organised by Carrera 3.2 owner Paul Butcher from my own region, Dorset. Amongst just about every type of Porsche (150 expected!) there will be several Carrera 3.2's there and it would be great to meet you. Oh, and the roads are brilliant as well...

 

[chris.hevey]

Ravi,

Belated welcome, and thanks for your gracious reply.

Nice looking car by the way. Here's hoping that's the last time it ever has to suffer the indignity of a ride on the back of a tow truck. ??

Getting back to your question, I must quote one of the RPM guys - "That starter motor is totally the nuts." I agree.

 

[Pieman7]

Hi Ravi read your post if that was me I'd contact the seller and explain it to him. Can you see the starter at all if you can when its changed or repaired see if it's been tapped or hit if so then the seller knew about it. When buying these cars inspections are must. Good luck and enjoy your porsche.

 

[GoldenLane]

Chrishak - thanks the run sounds brilliant. Will try and get to Smithfield today too (I live two hundred yards away from there so no excuse really, except that I'm not in London this morning...)

Chris Hevey - I fitted that starter in the end and yes it sounds vroom!

Pieman 7 - Yes, I should have done that, instead I spoke to Chris who knows the car. I should have read between the lines as there are a few issues but nothing too serious. I paid the right price and the vendor stumped for the new motor.

Cheers all and thanks agin,

Ravi

 

[chrishak]

Sounds like a good result all round! Now you can get on with enjoying your car - it's guaranteed to get under your skin and you'll love it.

 

[GoldenLane]

Sounds like a good result all round! Now you can get on with enjoying your car - it's guaranteed to get under your skin and you'll love it.

Drove for a couple of hundred miles yesterday, most of it at speed. Couldn't stop grinning, which I was not expecting. It's very much like riding a motorbike; visceral. Absolutely love it.