I was talking to someone who has a 91 740 turbo with the following problem (description is not that great because I am yet to see the car): many times the car will not start. From what I understood, if he hits the starter 3-4 times, the car will come to life on the 4th attempt and be happy thereafter until sitting for a while. As I was talking to him on the phone while driving (I love my earpiece!), I do not know if he was jumping the starter (as in safety switch is boink?) or he just kept turning the key on until the engine came to life (leak in fuel system?). Are my guesses for potential issues accurate? What else should I check?

The very first thing you need to tell (if you want an answer) is what is happening/not happening when the key is turned the first few times. "hit the starter" and "comes to life" won't cut it. Does the starter motor not run? or is the engine cranking but not starting until the 4th time?

If the starter motor is not engaging, then voltage will have to be checked at the "+50" yellow/green wire at the starter with the key in start position. Anything more than .75volts below battery voltage and you'd need to check the same circuit at the back of the ignition switch. Similar drop = defective ign switch, voltage good means wiring, connectors or neutral switch.

My own car did something similar every few months which I finally traced to a dirty 2-pin connector going to the safety switch in the console.

Well, I need to first see the car for the very first time to know what is going on with it. And that should happen sunday morning, pending what hurricane Wilma wants to do for the weekend. ;)

About the starter, what I know is that it works. The guy said he has to try to crank the engine some 4 times before it comes to life. But once it comes to life it is a happy canmper. As I said this is all I was told; I have not seen the beast just yet. =)