2000 2.7 Boxster won't start (cranks but doesn't fire)

[the fj]

I need to sell my car as I am moving to the US in January.

I advertised it on Monday, after a year of trouble free owner ship. Now it won't start!! :cursing:

The car's a 2000 2.7 manual with 41000 miles on the clock. It's a UK car.

I drove it on Sunday: no problems.

Monday I backed it up the drive a few feet. No problem.

Today it won't start. It fired immediately as usual and then died straight away.

Now, I turn the key and the starter just spins the engine.

Sanity check: it seems to spin over really easily. Another post here described the usual start noise as "kchikchikchikchi......" which is familiar. Now it sounds more like a food blender, almost as if the starter isn't engaging. But, the rev counter moves, so it must be spinning over, right?!

It's defintely got a good tank of fuel.

Sometimes when I drive it, I get a flatspot between 2000 and 3000rpm, which I always thought might have been the MAF. I will try disconnecting this and see what happens.

What else can I check? Fuel pump? Speed sensor? Or is the car just trying to tell me it doesn't want to be sold?

I just can't believe the timing of this! And what's worse, it happened on my last car - the night before the new owner was due to collect it, the ignition switch packed up!!

Please help!!

[the fj]

Update:

Tried the MAF, made no difference whatsoever.

The engine is definately turning on the starter, and the battery is definately OK as it spins over like it's got no compression! (let's not even go there!)

When I turn the key to the intermediate position (warning lights on), I get a click from somewhere in the engine, and it starts beeping at me. It sounds like an electronic buzzer - almost like you'd get from an old Casio digital watch. It's a continous tone, yet it seems to whisper the words "this is going to be really expensive. You're going to pay for trying to sell me"!

Where do I find the fuse for the fuel pump?

I AM SO ANNOYED ABOUT THIS!!!

[deliriousga]

If the fuel pump fuse is bad, you should not hear the buzzing noise. Here's a relay chart for reference. http://theschillings.com/boxrelay.htm The fuse chart is inside the panel cover.

First off, one thing you can skip checking in the Boxster. Unlike other cars, there is a single coil on each spark plug so if one is bad it will just run poorly.

A few things that can cause this problem. See if you can find someone with a '00-'03 Boxster who will let you swap a few sensors/relays to see what happens.

1) Fuel pump relay? The buzzing sound you hear should be the fuel pump, but if the relay is bad it won't pump.

2) Bad vacuum leak.

3) Crankshaft Position Sensor. If it's bad, the car won't start.

4) Camshaft Position Sensor. See above.

5) Bad fuel pump.

Start by checking your fuel pressure. There's a test port on the passenger side of the engine compartment. You can borrow a tester or buy one and see if you're getting any pressure. If you don't get pressure, check the relay and then the pump.

If you're getting fuel pressure, look for vacuum leaks and check the sensors listed above.

Edited November 19, 2005 by deliriousga

[the fj]

Thanks for the info - much appreciated.

As it happens, the car fixed itself. I went home one lunchtime to call the recovery company, and thought I'd give it one more go. I could hear the engine starting to fire, really slightly, but after a minute or so it came back to life. It's been A1 since!?!

Don't know what happened! When it fired back up, it sounded (and smelled) like it was flooded, but that doesn't really explain why it died so suddenly and completely overnight.

Touch wood, we'll have no repeat of this!