Out of the blue - it won't start!

[Thumper]

I have a 2001 986 2.7 tiptronic trans. 55K miles.

I have never had any real issues with the car until this morning. I put in the key and try to start it. The starter turns the motor over just fine, but it won't start. No weird lights, all appears as it always has, but it just won't start.

Let me back up a couple of days. I took it on a 200 mile road trip in which I did run into some moderate rain for approx. 1/3 of the trip, but it ran strong with no problems. I get back, turn it off and go into the office for a couple of hours. When I hop in it to go home, the starter turns, but it doesn't start. I turned it back off, waited 10 seconds and then tried it again. It turned over for a couple of seconds and then fired right up. Idled fine and drove home without incident.

Two days later (today) It won't start. I tried it three times, waiting approx. 10 seconds between each try, but to no avail.

I'm thinking fuel pump/relay problem? Any ideas of what to check/try?

[karlj0]

I have a 98 2.5 and this has happened to me five times in the last fortnight.

It always starts first time when cold and yet i'll do a few miles, leave it parked up and it wont start.

The engine turns over but there is no sign of ignition. I'll keep trying every 30 seconds (removing the key between tries) and eventually it will start after maybe 5 minutes and run fine.

Theres nothing more embarrasing than a porsche that wont start when passers by are secretly sniggering.

Im going to let my porsche specialist take a look asap so will keep you posted,

ps did you get your problem sorted ?

[Thumper]

I eventually got it all sorted out. I replaced the fuel pump relay....did no good...then I replaced the fuel pump...started and ran great for two days....then wouldn't start again. Same problem. I finally gave up and had it towed in. What I found out was that the new fuel pump relay was bad and caused the new fuel pump to burn out. My original problem was just a bad fuel pump. After replacing the relay and pump for the second time, it now works great.

Edited June 13, 2006 by Thumper

[karlj0]

Glad you got it sorted & many thanks for the feedback.

Happy Cruising.

Karl.

[charlieo]

Yesterday I drove my 97 Tip Boxster in the morning, parked it for about an hour and a half. Came out, and it would turn over just fine, but wouldn't start. Battery only a few months old. Wierd. Never done that before. So I tried again. Cranked real well but still not catching. Reminded me of the time the fuel pump went out on my Suburban. Went out and sniffed for fuel fumes. Absolutely none. Called my wife for a ride and left it there. I thought about things for a while and then hit this site for some answers. You guys got me thinking. Maybe it's the fuel pump. Maybe the fuel filter (although mine's not that old and it was running absolutely fine before it completely failed). Maybe the MAF (although it is only a few months old, but could be a bad one). Maybe the fuel pump fuse or relay. So after reading a few threads on the subject of "Turns over, but won't start", I decided to run to the dealer for a fuel pump relay (cheap enough diagnosis tool). The dealer didn't have one in stock. Could order it and overnight if for an extra $3. "Go for it", I said. "What about a fuel pump?", I asked. "Not in stock either". $398 and $38 to overnight. The parts guy took a look at the history on fuel pump relay sales. "Only sold one in the last 3 years". Hmmm, maybe not the problem. Oh, well, it's worth the $17 and $3 for shipping. Stopped by the Boxster last night to take a look at the fuse. Just fine. Located the relay for the replacement once the replacement arrived. Picked up the relay today. Popped it in, turned the key and WALAHH!! Fired right up. You guys are great. Who'd have thought a relay would fail (not the dealer). I'm sure I saved at LEAST $150 between towing and some diagnostic time. Maybe a lot more if they replaced the pump AND the relay.

Thanks again to this forum. It is awesome.

[Loren]

Yesterday I drove my 97 Tip Boxster in the morning, parked it for about an hour and a half. Came out, and it would turn over just fine, but wouldn't start. Battery only a few months old. Wierd. Never done that before. So I tried again. Cranked real well but still not catching. Reminded me of the time the fuel pump went out on my Suburban. Went out and sniffed for fuel fumes. Absolutely none. Called my wife for a ride and left it there. I thought about things for a while and then hit this site for some answers. You guys got me thinking. Maybe it's the fuel pump. Maybe the fuel filter (although mine's not that old and it was running absolutely fine before it completely failed). Maybe the MAF (although it is only a few months old, but could be a bad one). Maybe the fuel pump fuse or relay. So after reading a few threads on the subject of "Turns over, but won't start", I decided to run to the dealer for a fuel pump relay (cheap enough diagnosis tool). The dealer didn't have one in stock. Could order it and overnight if for an extra $3. "Go for it", I said. "What about a fuel pump?", I asked. "Not in stock either". $398 and $38 to overnight. The parts guy took a look at the history on fuel pump relay sales. "Only sold one in the last 3 years". Hmmm, maybe not the problem. Oh, well, it's worth the $17 and $3 for shipping. Stopped by the Boxster last night to take a look at the fuse. Just fine. Located the relay for the replacement once the replacement arrived. Picked up the relay today. Popped it in, turned the key and WALAHH!! Fired right up. You guys are great. Who'd have thought a relay would fail (not the dealer). I'm sure I saved at LEAST $150 between towing and some diagnostic time. Maybe a lot more if they replaced the pump AND the relay.

Thanks again to this forum. It is awesome.

:welcome:

and

:thumbup:

[jmatta]

That's whats so great about this forum...there are a lot of people out there much smarter when it comes to these cars, than I will ever be. Plus, if you experience a problem, it is likely someone had the same problem and posted it here with the results.

After reading page after page, I feel like I spent the night in a Holiday Inn Express.