Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/100969
under the passenger seat in the 1974 914. As with the 911, the 1974 914 owner should make sure there is a jumper or direct connection between the yellow wire at terminal C and the yellow wire at terminal 50 on the relay. Earlier and later models came with this direct connection. In addition to the starting relay interlock for 1974, all 914s have the infamous relay regulator board. The 914 regulator board on the left hand side of the engine compartment contains all the transfer points between the main wiring harness coming from the front of the car and the outputs to the rear of the car (starter solenoid, engine, fuel system, and lighting). It also has the mounting connections for the voltage regulator, rear power relays and fuses. It can be a major electrical trouble spot because of exposure to weather and dirt. The factory current flow diagram for 1974 and later simply shows T14/1 connecting to T12/6 as if it were a single wire circuit. Actually, the relay board is in between the 14 pin input connector and the 12 pin output connector as indicated in Figure 2. The yellow wire coming from the ignition switch (or in the case of the 1974 model, the starter logic relay), goes to pin No. 1 of the front plug. Pin No. 1 is connected via an internal bus to pin No. 6 which exits through the rear 12 pin connector to the solenoid. Between the two connector plugs and the internal bus, there is a possibility for increased resistance before the current gets to the solenoid. If a 914 owner is having trouble with starting under hot conditions, a resistance check of this circuit with a volt-ohmmeter should indicate if there is a problem. Some have advocated removing part or all of the potting material and re-soldering all the connections in the various busses in the board. Probably a new board is better if very many connections are bad. If there is a problem in the regulator board with just the starter solenoid circuit, a jumper wire may be run directly from the pin No.1 on the front connector to the pin No.6 on the rear connector to achieve a solid connection. Note that the gauge of the wire should be as large as that of the original yellow wire. In addition to making sure that the 50 circuit is good and solid, you must also have a good ground between the battery and engine case and a good positive main power wire from the battery to the starter. This should not be all that difficult for the 914 with its battery located in the engine compartment, but I have heard of owners who improved their starting by running a separate ground strap directly from the battery to the starter. Similarly to the 911, if all three of those connections are proper, the starter should work every time, no matter hot the car is. Most Porsche electrical problems can be solved if you have a wiring diagram for your model year and a volt-ohmmeter. References 1. Caldwell, A. ���Hot Starters That Won���t Start,��� Porsche Panorama Magazine, July, 1990, (Up-Fixin der Porsche, Vol. 9). Haury���s offers a wide selection of services: - Expert collision repair services for the discerning enthusiast BY enthusiasts - A selection of enthusiast-minded loaner vehicles, including a 2008 BMW M3 and a 2008 MINI Cooper S - Free loaner cars offered with a major repair service - Porsche and BMW club track inspections - Pre-purchase inspections of both engine and structural repair, to set your mind at ease when looking for a new car - General engine maintenance including 30/60/90K service - Structural frame repair and welding equipment that meets Porsche certification guidelines - Porsche Club members receive a 5% discount (up to $250) - We also have Collision Consulting services on-site, which can help you navigate a difficult insurance claim and provide diminished value or total loss appraisals. HAURY���S LAKE CITY COLLISION Specializing in collision repair, service, and modification to European, Japanese, and high-performance vehicles. 11514 Lake City Way Northeast, Seattle WA 98125 1-877-249-0868 /// 206-365-1565 /// http://www.hauryscollision.com/ 38 September 2011