986 Strange Problem

[krs2230]

I have a 99 Boxster that I have owned for 4 years. The car has been wonderful but I had something very strange happen this weekend that I wanted to share. Car has been running great, stopped at the grocery store for 15 minutes on Saturday and when I came out the car would not start. After a few tries I could tell the battery was not spinning the engine as it should. Came back the next day and installed a new battery. Car would then turn over beautifully but would still NOT start. I had it towed to my mechanic. Two hours later they called and said the car runs fine and started the first time they tried!! I'm perplexed as I don't want this to happen again. Has anyone had a similar experience? Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any response. Kevin

[soucorp]

Originally Posted by krs2230

I have a 99 Boxster that I have owned for 4 years. The car has been wonderful but I had something very strange happen this weekend that I wanted to share. Car has been running great, stopped at the grocery store for 15 minutes on Saturday and when I came out the car would not start. After a few tries I could tell the battery was not spinning the engine as it should. Came back the next day and installed a new battery. Car would then turn over beautifully but would still NOT start. I had it towed to my mechanic. Two hours later they called and said the car runs fine and started the first time they tried!! I'm perplexed as I don't want this to happen again. Has anyone had a similar experience? Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any response. Kevin

Assuming your car has been well maintained and does not need a tune-up, it sounds like the 'Starter' could be going bad. Or you have a loose ground wire somewhere. Secondary things to look at are fuel pump, battery & terminal connection, crank sensors, coils, sparkplugs... The Main four areas that make a car run are: (Spark - Fuel - Air - electricals/sensors/battery)
I would ask your mechanic to check it out.

Best

[Steve Tinker]

If you use the search function on the above toolbar, type in CPS or crank position sensor. They have a habit of failing when hot and sometimes working when cool.
I'm not suggesting your problem can't be something else like a failing fuel pump, but the CPS seem to attract this type of failure - working one minute and failing the next....

[Jager]

Originally Posted by Steve Tinker

If you use the search function on the above toolbar, type in CPS or crank position sensor. They have a habit of failing when hot and sometimes working when cool.
I'm not suggesting your problem can't be something else like a failing fuel pump, but the CPS seem to attract this type of failure - working one minute and failing the next....

Steve,
Do you know if the CPS on a routine maintenance schedule to be replaced after so many miles/age?
Thanks

[Steve Tinker]

Not that I have seen in the Porsche books I've got - 986 handbook / Bentley's / 101 Projects.
A bit like the coolant pump or MAF or AOS or fuel pump maintenance schedules....

[pjq]

Clutch switch, if its a standard.