Check Engine light leads to troubled starts, new Vapor Valve

[jbrewer]

After ignoring my check engine light for several weeks my 2000 996 failed to start immediately after refueling. The engine would turn over very well but wouldn't catch. After two or three tries and maybe 3 to 5 minutes the car would start. This happened twice (for some reason I dread sitting in a disabled Porsche in public). I thought it was time to take it in however, next refuel didn't result in restart problem.

A few days later I am accelerating after entering the boulevard and all of a sudden I loose power. Fortunately I was lucky to be able to pull off the road into a parking lot with the momentum I had established (avoided that dreaded incident of being on side of the road in a disabled Porsche). I engaged the parking brake, put transmission in neutral and attempted to rev up the engine. RPM would not exceed 1300 regardless of pedal position. Now I knew it was time to take it in (duh). I turned the car off and restarted it. Surprisingly I could now rev the engine to any level.

Figured my luck may be running low so I had it towed into the shop. Diagnosis was failed evap fuel valve. Just got it back. The part that was replaced listed as a "Vent Line" on shop invoice. Part number 996 110 129 52 maps to something called a "Regeneration Valve From Throttle Body for Fuel Vapor System". Check engine light is gone and seems fine. For some reason this doesn't feel like it's over. Will update later on whether it solved my problem.

[RFM]

Thanks to let us know what can happen while driving too long with "check engine" on. It's a lot cheaper to take action ASAP after the CEL comes on. ;)