Winter storage start-up problems! Ooops!

[airharvey]

Stored my Cayman S in December 2007 for the winter. I live in Ontario, Canada...enough said. I have done everything right: tires to 55psi, battery maintainer plugged in, covered, stored indoor at 40-degree F or higher. After 1-month I started for 5 minutes and rolled tires, after 2-months I started again and had a couple of problems. 1.) Check Engine Service Light came on and stayed on, after a few engine restarts. 2.) Engine has unusual ticking sound. I ran for 10 minutes or so and problems did not go away. Can anyone help with the engine light and ticking? Will both go away after I drive a few times in the Spring? Thanks

[White987S]

Airharvey, I am not sure about the cause for the CEL nor the ticking noise, but why did you start your car prior to Spring? Porsche does not recommend this in the Owners Manual. You are correct, and Porsche recommended, regarding the tire pressure and battery maintainer. Good job there!

You are under warranty, just deal with it in the Spring.

Can you pull the fault codes?

[airharvey]

Airharvey, I am not sure about the cause for the CEL nor the ticking noise, but why did you start your car prior to Spring? Porsche does not recommend this in the Owners Manual. You are correct, and Porsche recommended, regarding the tire pressure and battery maintainer. Good job there!

You are under warranty, just deal with it in the Spring.

Can you pull the fault codes?

I have always started my stored vehicles every month or so in the past...non Porsche, without any problems. I normally fire-up and roll a few feet, but I suppose neither is necessary especially with the high tire pressure. Not sure how to acquire the "fault codes". Called Dealer, he seamed knowledgeable and not concerned, he said "1.) ticking from Hydraulic Lifter and fluid displacement (or something like that), would go away after 15-20 minutes of normal driving in the spring. 2.) Check Engine Light – activated due to cold start, would reset and go away after (3) driving sessions of 20+ minutes. Does all of this sound logical? He sounded convincing. Thanks.

[White987S]

Don't know about the CEL.

The ticking sounds pretty normal for a car sitting that long- 2 months.

Did you do an oil change prior to winter storage? Did you stabilize the fuel? Is the fuel tank full?

[airharvey]

Don't know about the CEL.

The ticking sounds pretty normal for a car sitting that long- 2 months.

Did you do an oil change prior to winter storage? Did you stabilize the fuel? Is the fuel tank full?

Thanks for the quick reply. Did an oil change just prior to storage, in fact only about 50 miles on the oil. No fuel stabilizer added, but full tank with high octane. When you say "don't know about the CEL" do you mean: don't know if what dealer says is accurate (from your experience)?, or have never heard about the (3) 20+ minute cycles to reset the CEL?

[White987S]

I don't have any experience with the CEL's. Maybe your guy is correct. Just remember, a blinking CEL is very serious, and you should not drive the car. Your situation does not sound like an issue. Just wait till Spring.

Could be as simple as a loose gas cap.

Good job on doing a oil change prior to storage.

When my car came out of a +5 month winter hibernation this past Spring, I have no tapping/ticking noise or CEL's, no smoke...nothing. The car roared to life and sounded great.

[airharvey]

I don't have any experience with the CEL's. Maybe your guy is correct. Just remember, a blinking CEL is very serious, and you should not drive the car. Your situation does not sound like an issue. Just wait till Spring.

Could be as simple as a loose gas cap.

Good job on doing a oil change prior to storage.

When my car came out of a +5 month winter hibernation this past Spring, I have no tapping/ticking noise or CEL's, no smoke...nothing. The car roared to life and sounded great.

No blinking CEL. I opened up the manual, and Porsche recommends moving the car every 4 weeks, even with the 55psi tire pressure over-inflate. It's pretty hard to move without starting up!

[White987S]

Airharvey, I move my car about 12 inches every month, just by gripping one of the wheels and giving it a strong turn. No problem. You should not park the car in gear nor use the e-brake during storage. I use 2 small blocks of wood to lock in place.

[RFM]

If it is a Tiptronic he is obliged to select the P position to remove the key.

[White987S]

If it is a Tiptronic he is obliged to select the P position to remove the key.

Why would anyone buy an automatic Porsche! :P (j/k).

Is there a work-around for this? What about neutral.

[RFM]

The only position to remove the key is the P position, there is no pass in the other positions, the electric lock stays on.

[airharvey]

The only position to remove the key is the P position, there is no pass in the other positions, the electric lock stays on.

No worries about the P position...it's a stick.

[paulv]

.......................... 2.) Check Engine Light ........ would reset and go away after (3) driving sessions of 20+ minutes. Does all of this sound logical? He sounded convincing. Thanks.

All cars made from 1996 and sold in the US have OBD2 and when the faults (DTCs) go away that are stored, the CEL will go out after those 3 driving sessions. Of course, if you buy a Durametric tool or a basic OBD2 reader, you can manually reset the codes.

Regards,

paul...

Edited January 25, 2008 by paulv

[airharvey]

.......................... 2.) Check Engine Light ........ would reset and go away after (3) driving sessions of 20+ minutes. Does all of this sound logical? He sounded convincing. Thanks.

All cars made from 1996 and sold in the US have OBD2 and when the faults (DTCs) go away that are stored, the CEL will go out after those 3 driving sessions. Of course, if you buy a Durametric tool or a basic OBD2 reader, you can manually reset the codes.

Regards,

paul...

Thanks for the OBD2 info