97 Boxster intermittent electrical?

[aerialimage]

I have read tons of posts but have not found enough data or identical problem.

My 97 Boxster Has a few electrical issues maybe all related and maybe not.

sometimes it has on power, no lights come on when door is opened and no dash lights illuminate. This leads me too think it is not ignition related as some of these circuits are before ignition.

The power will come back on it's own usually after a short time. sometimes it will drop again when you turn the key and other times it will remain on.

One time I was under hood checking battery connections and I heard a relay click near battery compartment and all power was back, I think the relay was just energized though as power returnd to it.

Also my instrument panel seems to have no memory as I can set the clock and it is reset each time I turn the key off. One last thing I noticed but not recently was that if I flicked the dimmer switch forward it would interrupt the radio power briefly. However if I gently operated the dimmer switch not letting it slap forward this condition would not occur. The car is new to me but I have service records and it was owned by a very good friend of mine for last 10 years. it was never in the rain and always garaged. I know it has had a starter solenoid a few years ago Maybe a garage mis wired that causing the instrument reset issue?

I do not have a wiring diagram yet for this car but hope to be able to solve this pretty soon and enjoy the fall season without getting stuck to many times.

Thanks for any thoughts, Data and facts.

[logray]

Hello!

Ignition switch.

[aerialimage]

Hello!

Ignition switch.

Even affects the door interior lights? I would have thought they where before the ignition switch as they illuminate as soon as door opens?

The car has no power anywhere when this happens and I thought many systems would not be after ignition switch?

Edited October 2, 2011 by aerialimage

[logray]

It could be a micro switch on your door, but these few statements in your post would put my money on the ignition switch. All sorts of strange electrical "gremlins" are usually caused by a failing ignition switch. That is a common failure point with a lot of unexplainable electrical issues.

"The power will come back on it's own usually after a short time. sometimes it will drop again when you turn the key and other times it will remain on."

"Also my instrument panel seems to have no memory as I can set the clock and it is reset each time I turn the key off."

"One last thing I noticed but not recently was that if I flicked the dimmer switch forward it would interrupt the radio power briefly."

"sometimes it has on power, no lights come on when door is opened and no dash lights illuminate"

[Loren]

Two most common causes of these symptoms are:

1. Weak or bad battery - if your battery is 4 years old or older replace it. If it is newer then have the specific gravity in each cell tested.

2. A worn out ignition switch - odd erratic electrical problems are most often the ignition switch. 95% of everything in the car runs through that switch.

[aerialimage]

Two most common causes of these symptoms are:

1. Weak or bad battery - if your battery is 4 years old or older replace it. If it is newer then have the specific gravity in each cell tested.

2. A worn out ignition switch - odd erratic electrical problems are most often the ignition switch. 95% of everything in the car runs through that switch.

Thanks for the advice, I was just thinking no way every bit of power comes through that switch! I have a new ignition switch my friend purchased and gave me with the car. I will put it in soon. My friend did install a new one just 2,000 miles ago so I thought it should be good still. Also the battery is a brand new interstate with nice clean terminals and connections at the battery. I will install the other new switch and see what happens. Thanks again. Other than a bad starter relay I really could not find many posts regarding electrical faults other than the ignition switch. Thanks much!!

[logray]

Primary wire corrosion is also a possibility.

[aerialimage]

I will have to find a day to climb all over the Boxster looking at grounds and connections, I actually had a new event happen while driving down the road last night I was slowing for a light and the engine stopped and all power in the car dropped out then came back on, it restarted and did not repeat for the rest of night. I will start with the new ignition switch and follow leads from Battery and inspect all connections I can find. Thanks for the help.

[aerialimage]

Update:

I just replaced the 2,000 mile old ignition switch with the new ignition switch. Thanks to the forums here It was painless and just about 20 minutes other than dropping the screw 3 times into the heater duct and having to disassemble the mid section 3 times to retrieve the screw! Still only about 25 minutes max! I finally stuck that stupid screw to a 24" torx. with electrical tape and got the job finished!

Anyways I have my no power issue more than before now and I am actually able to create it pretty easy with this new switch!

After install I noticed the Headlights and all vehicle lights had a slight flicker or pulse to them, I wiggled the key a little and then a little more and zap! lost all power. I think this brand new switch is not the new revision though It is black and 4A0 905 849B Maybe I will have better luck with the new white ones out there? Or maybe I need to replace the entire assembly? I do think it is related to this ignition switch but not sure why two brand new original parts are bad or maybe just not able to work in harmony with an old 113,000 mile ignition assembly? Maybe thats where a problem exists? DO I just find a new white one and pop it in? That's what I'm thinking!