Car Won't Start

[garyw]

When the battery goes flat, the lights on the car are go a bit iffy!! and the windows tend to go up and down [&:] Without being able to have an additional battery to connect/jump from it's hard to say. My starter motor was changed recently due to it making just a clicking sound from the rear of the car and when it did turn over it was very slow, very much like you describe- now turn over like a little Isuzu!! Worth checking the clutch pedal microswitch is operating correctly- although I think it tells you in the displayto depress clutch when its not. My starter motor was replaced under the extended warranty, otherwise it was in the region of £850..... [:'(] Hope this helps... garyw

 

[tscaptain]

Hi Russell and welcome to the forum. My money would be on the battery. Are you able to check the voltage with a meter? Do you leave it on a battery conditioner/trickle charger? If left for any length of time without being on a charger the various electrical systems that are active all the time will run it right down.

 

[RussellFunnell]

Hi tscaptain and garyw, thanks guy's for getting back so quickly. I forgot to mention I've got PDK. I don't have a voltage meter, but I guess that would be the best place to start, by getting one I do not drive the car every day, so it can sit in the garage for a few days at a time, not sure what sort of run the car really needs to completely recharge the battery, and no I do not have a battery conditioner/charger - but is that a good idea/essential if only driving the car a couple of time a week on average and sometimes on relatively short journeys? Unfortunately I did not take up the extended warranty, so hopefully it is the battery. Best regards Russell

 

[Geoff_Fields]

but is that a good idea/essential

Definately!!

 

[RussellFunnell]

I have a 2008 997 C2S and the poor thing won't start. The lights on the dash all seem normal, so I'm not sure if it is the battery, but when i try and start the car I just get relays clicking and the car doesn't try and turn over.
Prior to today I have had the split-second screech when you start the car which I've seen on another post, which was normally just now and again on the first start of the day.
And finaly the last few times I've had it out the garage it did seem as if the battery was maybe loosing power as it seemed a bit sluggish on turning over especially on the first turn. The car did have a decent run before it was put in the garage a few days ago.
Nor sure if it IS the battery or the starter motor - any help before I call someone out would be appreciated?

 

[snarf]

ORIGINAL: garyw My starter motor was changed recently due to it making just a clicking sound from the rear of the car and when it did turn over it was very slow, very much like you describe... garyw

I had exactly the same starter motor issue Fortunately for me the problem arose on the moprning it was scheduled for a service and after a few attempts the engine did turn-over and start so I was able to drive to my local OPC. Unfortunately after driving home from the service it was clear that the engine had developed a water leak which another OPC said was due to a coolant pipe being damaged when the new starter motor was fitted; to rectify this the engine had to be removed. The second OPCs said the engine should have been dropped to fit the starter motor but I now believe this is not the case. So I have two local OPC but little confidence that either of them know what they're doing. Oh yes and I still have a water leak!

 

[RussellFunnell]

OK, got my hands on a voltmeter and it says 11.8 volts at it stands - is that good enough to start the car?

 

[Rodney Naghar]

The screeching points to a loose polyrib belt. This gives power to the ancillaries such as A/C, alternator etc. If the belt has snapped the alternator won't be charging the battery. I'd have a quick visual examination of this belt first.

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: RussellFunnell OK, got my hands on a voltmeter and it says 11.8 volts at it stands - is that good enough to start the car?

I think it should turn over quite happily with that voltage so maybe pointing the way of the starter motor or something else. Either way I would get a conditioner on it (CTEK 3600 is much favoured around these parts - among others) which can be plugged into the cigarette lighter socket - the plug for this may be a extra item depending on where you get it (loads of posts here) http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/searchpro.asp?p=2&forumid=99&topicreply=both&phrase=ctek&author=&message=body&submitbutton=OK&timeframe=%3E&top=300&criteria=AND&timefilter=0&language=single Give a good charge/condition and see if it's still the same - at least you rule out one (cheaper) option before you get into the more expensive stuff!

 

[RussellFunnell]

ORIGINAL: tscaptain Either way I would get a conditioner on it (CTEK 3600 is much favoured around these parts - among others)

Thanks very much for your help, I have looked at the posts for the CTEK 3600 on the forum and it looks the way to go. I am on my way to Halfords as we speak (joking, but I will be).

 

[Geoff_Fields]

ORIGINAL: RussellFunnell OK, got my hands on a voltmeter and it says 11.8 volts at it stands - is that good enough to start the car?

Not good enough, charge it!

 

[mascanes]

needs to be checked under load, ie with the starter engaged etc ........

 

[RussellFunnell]

Everyone - thank you for your help and advice, I'm happy to report it was only the battery I managed to borrow a halfords charger yesterday and left the car on charge until this morning, the car started without any problem. I will order a CTEK 3600 online as no one has them in stock locally to me and hopefully that will be the end of that. Best regards

 

[garyw]

Pleased to hear that it was resolved- quite easily [] PS -if you use it, it stays charged [] Actually I can leave mine for 3 weeks at a time and come back to it starting fine- the first time it had failed in 4 years and its never been near a trickle charger. garyw

 

[RussellFunnell]

Hi Gary, I've had this car over 2 years now and up till recently it was the same for me. I could go on holiday and it would start when I got back no problem. I've got a sneaky feeling it was leaving an old iPod Touch connected in the car with wifi running too, which I've only had in the car for a month or so. I think that the iPod as it is in range of the house was constantly connected and slowly but surely sucking juice out of the battery. It's a long shot but with the short journeys lately it's plausible that I've just been using more power than putting back in.

 

[Wayne King]

I had exactly the same problem, albeit intermittent, with my Turbo a few months ago. The OPC couldn't find a fault with the battery/alternator/starter motor and told me that unless it broke down, to persist with trying to start it. I got fed up with the fault and the OPC's incompetance, so I took it to a Porsche specialist who diagnosed a breaking down earth strap (between starter motor and chassis) within 30 minutes. Strap now replaced and it now starts perfectly.

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: Wayne King I had exactly the same problem, albeit intermittent, with my Turbo a few months ago. The OPC couldn't find a fault with the battery/alternator/starter motor and told me that unless it broke down, to persist with trying to start it. I got fed up with the fault and the OPC's incompetance, so I took it to a Porsche specialist who diagnosed a breaking down earth strap (between starter motor and chassis) within 30 minutes. Strap now replaced and it now starts perfectly.

Very poor from the OPC... being as its a known problem