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Car cannot start.. dash lights flashes wildly and window moving up and

kdub
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kdub Member

kdub

Posted
Posted

Hello,

I hadn't been reading the tech forums for over half a year now and I have totally forgotten all the famous problems the Boxster possesses.

I need a quick reminder of what my problem is. I have been searching but I can't seem to find the description of the problem I am facing now.

My problem is my Boxster suddenly won't start today. I stick the key in and the dash lights will flash wildly and my windows went down an inch and back up repeatedly as well as I can hear the starter in the engine ticking. It doesn't seem to be a battery problem because all the lights are on brightly.

Is this the famous ignition switch problem? My key goes in and out of the ignition fine.

I remember reading this exact problem people had before, but I can't find it now.

Could someone please remind me what this issue is? Is it battery related or ignition switch?

thanks very much

Ken

kdub Member

kdub

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
Sounds like a bad ignition switch.

Thank you Loren.

That's what I thought too, but wasn't sure. I search for the symptoms of a bad ignition switch and all I found was key stuck or key removed but engine still running. Again my key insertion and withdrawl is fine. I can turn the key to on no problem. But when I do crank the engine, the dash lights are blinking like x'mas lights.

I am still trying to find posts I've read by people having the same problem. Would you be able to quickly find them? What keywords should I search under?

Again, I was avidly reading the tech forums back in September after I got the Boxster. Trying to educate myself all the problems that could happen so I don't get caught by surprise. So the posts I've read were dating back 9 months ago :P

Luckily I had bought a spare ignition switch 9 months ago knowing one day I'll need it.

Edited by kdub
White987S Member

White987S

Posted
Posted

How old is the battery? Do you use a battery maintainer? FYI- a 4 year old battery for a Porsche is usually considered "OLD". They eat batteries!

kdub Member

kdub

Posted
  • Author
Posted
How old is the battery? Do you use a battery maintainer? FYI- a 4 year old battery for a Porsche is usually considered "OLD". They eat batteries!

I bought the car used back in September and it came with a new Interstate battery. I hadn't been driving the Boxster much. Only 2-3 times a month just to keep the battery charged. But that's probably not enough.

I wonder if my problem is ignition switch or just a weak battery. Again when I turn the key everything lights up pretty brightly so I tend to think it isn't the battery.

I am trying to determine the cause online before I go and buy a battery pack to jump start it.

geoff Member

geoff

Posted
Posted

When my alternator died ('01 Boxster), I had similar symptoms. The car was basically running on the battery and the battery was not being charged. If your battery is good (and some new batteries go bad), you might want to check all the connections coming off the battery (such as fully tightened battery cables) and your alternator. Flashing dash lights and possessed windows sound like the computers aren't getting enough power to function properly.

After my alternator was replaced (about 6 months after the original 4 year warranty), I decided to go ahead and replace the original battery since it was drained so low, even though it would still hold a charge. If you only drive the car a few times a month, you should definitely look into a battery maintainer. You will be amazed at how long it runs to fully charge your battery.

kdub Member

kdub

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I went ahead and changed the ignition switch and the problem persisted. I am sure it's the battery.

I put the battery maintainer on it for two hours but it wasn't enough to get it started. So I had to do alot of traveling between places to get my battery charger and am now charging the battery at home.

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