Car will not start

[Motorhead]

Hi John,

Sorry to hear about your troubles which must be very frustrating for you now that we’re getting more freedom to drive our cars.

I’m afraid that I can’t really help other than to say that unfortunately trackers often are a source of problems on Caymans and other Porsches too. Usually it’s rogue battery drains, which may have been the start of your problem back in December last year.

Like you I’m really surprised that Porsche dealers aren’t able to help. Surely they should be able - through their relationship with the factory - to identify typical locations for the tracker? Although you’ve been using a Porsche Independent maybe you’ll just have to bite the financial bullet and hand the problem over to an official Porsche dealer to investigate the problem further. Their PIWIS diagnostic system will be linked to the factory who will be able to provide an additional investigative resource. Note that some Independents like JZM and RPM Technik also have this capability.

Good luck!

Jeff

 

[BrianJ]

There will be folks more experienced than I, but when I bought my 981 first registered August 2013 in Feb 2014 from an OPC, the Porsche Vehicle Tracker was not activated, and I haven't subscribed since. However, at the time of purchase, the OPC Technical Services Mgr, who I knew quite well, recommended that in spite of it not being activated, I should always keep one fob in the car because they had had problems with the system disabling cars even though it shouldn't. Doesn't help you if you don't have the fobs but does indicate that this is perhaps a known problem area on these cars. If an OPC can't/won't help your independent locate the unit and resolve this they probably just want to do the work themselves. Have you talked to an OPC about it?

 

[John Kinder]

Hi
This is my first post on the forum so please bear with me -
My Cayman, first registered in September 2013 and purchased by me in December 2019 a 3.4S PDK has been great and I have been very pleased with the car.
However in December 2020 it failed to start - the battery was replaced with new, the car re-programmed and everything was fine again. However it did show a 'sim' display in the dash on start up - presumably indicating that a sim was missing in the tracker unit??
In April this year the car failed to start again - the ignition key had been inserted, dash lights came up and I turned the key and the car fired up but then immediately shut down and would not start again at all. It was recovered to an independent Porsche Centre, and according to the diagnostics the Vehicle Tracker module was faulty.
I do not pay a subscription on the tracker do not have any fobs etc, but the car is disabled.
The solution would appear to be to replace the vehicle tracker module but we have been unable to locate the tracker module in the car despite advices from Porsche Centres. To my mind the vehicle tracker module must be fitted into the wiring loom somewhere and it should therefore be a simple operation to unplug the connector and insert the new module connector - but we are still looking for the tracker module.
Has anyone had this problem and if so what was the solution and fix.
My car has been off the road now for over four weeks and with the good weather now I am keen to get behind the wheel.
Any advice would be appreciated
Thanks

 

[AndrewT]

It might be helpful to contact previous owners to ask whether they still have the fobs? Of course with data protection hampering enquiries you may not get far but perhaps an OPC could make the necessary enquiries for you? I’m not sure whether the DVLA offer the previous owner details service as they used to but it may be worth asking them?

 

[John Kinder]

Hi Jeff

Thanks for your reply - we have been in contact with a couple of Porsche Centres and also Reading which I understand is the main distribution centre and they have suggested places where the tracker was most likely to be situated - unfortunately not in any of the places suggested.

We have been in touch with Vodaphone who have supplied new fobs but they cannot pair them to the module as it is faulty.

I have also contacted Porsche GB and am waiting for them to come back to me - could be 7 days.

Anyway thanks for your help - might have to bit the bullet

Cheers

John

 

[John Kinder]

Hi Brian

Thanks for your reply - that's very interesting about the fobs and the recommendation from the Technical Manager - Vodaphone have supplied new fobs but they won't pair with the module as its faulty.

My independent has spoken to two Porsche Centres and also Reading but in spite of being told where the module is has as yet failed to find it.

I have been in touch with Porsche GB and am waiting for their response - will also speak to Porsche Centre Chester who serviced and prep'd the car when I bought it.

Thanks again

Cheers

John

 

[John Kinder]

Hi Andrew

Thanks for your response - might be tricky - don't think DVLA give out addresses any longer.

Anyway got replacement fobs from Vodaphone but they cannot pair with the tracker module - it being faulty.

Been in touch with Porsche GB and waiting a response and am also going to talk to Porsche Centre who carried out service and prep when I bought the car.

Thanks again

Cheers

John

 

[Motorhead]

That very frustrating for you John.

Just a left-field suggestion, but you could try an auto-electrician or maybe a specialist company who fit trackers or even ICE systems. They’d be much more clued-up on your sort of problem than the car dealerships … cheaper too I suspect!

Jeff