very new owner needs help

[love it hate it]

hi,new to forum and new to porsche ownership.

bought 2003 boxster base,triptronic w/33000 and change 2 weeks ago.
ran fine for first week. great gas mileage.very happy. filled tank up at shell
station when a little under 1/4 tank left. next morning it made a strange
sound when starting like starter trying but no turnover.let it sit for a few minutes and
it started fine...next day turned key and it flooded..right off the bat..waited
again for awhile and it started. after work it flooded again..guy from work came out and got it going..ran okay home.. started it a few times later that night and it started fine but the same thing has been happening since..
two days ago it again flooded but i got it going..CEL light on steady..once going it seems to drive fine...flooded again to come home..next day same thing but CEL
light blinking..i shut it down...called independant shop in gresham oregon and
of course,it started right up to bring it in...
shop called last night and said the codes were showing misfires on all cylinders but
they could not find anything yet..plugs ok..and of course,it is starting fine there..
they think,but could not be sure,that it might be the coolant temp. sensor.

i havent even had this car 2 weeks...i should have kept my saturn..........

any help would be great...as i am not a mechanic and dont have one in the family
i have to rely on others........thanks so much

[ppbon]

When starting, make sure you DO NOT depress the accelerator pedal.
That way you avoid flooding.
A flooded car will give an all cylinder misfire code.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

[mikefocke]

I often start the P-car while standing outside. The only advantage to the left hand key location. Once I get in the car, I still instinctively try to put the key in somewhere on the right side...even after 5 years of Boxsters. The other cars all have it there...even my golf cart has it there.

But they all start without a foot on the pedal and they all idle or warm up without my help.

[love it hate it]

i have never touched the gas pedal when starting..also the gas mileage at the
time i got to the shop was about 50 miles less at the same point than the tank before...

thanks

[PlayersExpress]

Before you bought your car did you have a PPI done at a certified shop/dealer for Porsche???

It could have been preexisting and the previous owner decided to sell it and let someone else deal with it...

[blue2000s]

If you don't consider yourself mechanically inclined, I suggest that you find a very reputable independent Porsche mechanic and have the shop look over your car. There's a really good, long thread on the board here that lists local shops that people on the board recommend.

Find your local mechanic/porsche specialist

A word on owning a Porsche. You probably realize this, but the car is not going to be as inexpensive to own as a typical Saturn. Parts are more expensive, labor rates are higher, and they sometimes have quirky problems that Porsche may never have addressed.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by PlayersExpress

Before you bought your car did you have a PPI done at a certified shop/dealer for Porsche???

It could have been preexisting and the previous owner decided to sell it and let someone else deal with it...

In most cases, it wouldn't matter now if the previous owner knew it had problems or not.

[PlayersExpress]

If the previous owner knew that it had a major problem like this and did NOT disclose it... that is a legal issue.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by PlayersExpress

If the previous owner knew that it had a major problem like this and did NOT disclose it... that is a legal issue.

That doesn't fly with an as-is sale, which is what a used car sale is in any state that I know of, at least a private sale, unless there's a specifically stated warranty. Buyer beware.

[Pirate50]

Who is your indy shop? I have used Marquee motors on Macadam with great success before, heard good things about stuttgart autotech in lake oswego also. I usually use the dealership as I've found Sunset is competitive with the guys I mentioned. I live out your way also (almost Gresham) but don't know any good indy shops out here. Good luck.

[love it hate it]

the car passed all exams with flying colors...tech said was good car...if this would be happening after i had it for even a few months..not that big of issue for me...

took the car to city import motors in gresham..they have a ex sunset dealer german
mechanic there and it is close by with good hours.

any ideas if this coolant temp sensor may work?

[PlayersExpress]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

That doesn't fly with an as-is sale, which is what a used car sale is in any state that I know of, at least a private sale, unless there's a specifically stated warranty. Buyer beware.

Yes BUT if you ask them "what problems are there" or "what is wrong with the car" or "tell me the bad.." something along those lines and they fail to mention a serious known problem... then they have broken an implied warranty. Which is legal grounds, but the problem is proving the issue was known/current when the previous owner had the car.

[love it hate it]

thanks for all the comments....the sale is done so i will live with it

used cars/any cars have issues even if one moment they run perfect..i realize that.



what i need are any possible answers to the flooding issue and the sudden
horrible gas mileage.............which is why i posted here..hoping someone might have an idea

[Matt Fredrikson]

Have seen this symptom in other cars and they were bad coolent temp sensor it's a cheap fix too.