21 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH02 996 start no start issue
Reported or suspected cause
electrical portion of the ignition switch
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that report identifying a cause
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Reported cause
It turned out to be the electrical portion of the ignition switch.
Leading evidence: 'electrical portion of the ignition switch' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'electrical portion of the ignition switch' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace electrical part of your ignition switch' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that report identifying a cause
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0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Reported cause
It was the small switch on the clutch that clicks when the clutch is depressed.
Run long time and the engine and components got hot
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I had the same thing happen when the car ran for a long time and the engine and components got hot, but on my 356.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
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Suggestion
Replace the electrical part of your ignition switch.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
21 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T144035Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Lately, I've had to turn the key on several times before the car starts. Eventually it fires up like nothing is wrong. Sometimes it takes two attempts, sometimes five or six. Voltage reading is excellent. All the idiot lights come on without an issue and all the accessories power right up. Once in a while I have noticed that if the stereo is not powered up, the car won't start. The starter is strong, no issues when up and running. But, I'm getting tired and worried that it doesn't just crank up.
The wrench says it's a quirk. Not much help there unless we start tearing it down component by component. Has anyone else experienced this issue?
I had the same thing happen to my turbo and the starter would not click when turning the key. It turned out to be the electrical portion of the ignition switch. On my boxster i had a failing starter that would take some time to start.
Pulled the old ignition switch. New one from NAPA was incorrect for the lock...apparently there are two types. Will pick new one up tomorrow. Noticed while fiddling with the old one that if I pushed it up tighter the car would start. I think the switch is the issue. The plastic must've deteriorated over time.
does this happen evertime you try to start it? Or only when engine is warm? Reason i ask is because mine has trouble turning over when the engine is warm and its hot outside. Ive been chasing the starter/alternator cable. Maybe its different for you but looking forward to seeing if that $20 part works for you
It happens regardless of engine temp. I'm pretty sure this will be the solution just based on the fact that as we were manipulating it back on after the first part didn't fit, it would start right up as long as the fit was tight.
Yours sounds more like a starter issue. I had the same thing happen when the car ran for a long time and the engine and components got hot, but on my 356. We resolved it by adding a part that would aid the starter.
Same problems here with my 02.
I replaced the ignition switch and that didn't help... It was the small switch on the clutch that clicks when the clutch is depressed.
I found that switch for $30 and it works great now.
You're on the right track. All hell breaks loose when that switch gets dodgy. My starter failed to engage, the radio wouldn't come on, HVAC worked sometimes, and then the damn key wouldn't go in without a quart of lub...er, a lot of work. The new ignition switch fixed all. All hail the new switch.
I second replacing the gray clutch switch as well while you are down there. There are three switches in all by the pedals, the gray clutch switch (that causes the car not to start if its not depressed, a black/red cruise control switch, and black/red brake light switch as well as the ignition switch. Thinking back I changed out the ignition switch and the gray clutch switch as I didn't know what the problem was.
Well, it was the ignition switch. Got the right one from a local German parts store for $35. The same one is on eBay for $15 plus shipping, but I didn't want to wait two days fir shipping or not having the option for a quick return in the event it was defective or the wrong part. Took about 30 mins to install...you can check if it works long before putting everything back together. Two of us did it...much easier that way. Got the instructions here with pics:
http://www.gagme.com/greg/996/ignition
. They were great. Just be sure you get the right switch. There are two different types and not interchangeable.
It's amazing how such a small cheap part can affect the use of the car. Surprisingly I never had this issue with my boxster even after 13 years of ownership. But my turbo had it going out a month after I bought the car.
+996. Not a bad idea to keep an extra one in the glove box/door pocket. Also, throw in the little cardboard box a small screwdriver tip so that if you ever have to change it by the side of the road, you'll not only have the part but the one tool you'll need. The screwdriver tip costs about a buck, so just leave one in the box along with the part.
Thanks for your help guys. The replaced part was not OEM. So apparently this has happened before. The car has 56k miles on it. Even with my GT3 I had minor parts that were defective and caused headaches. Sometimes I really wonder about the complexity Porsche adds to cars...my 356, knock on wood, has been the most reliable and dependable car I've ever owned and it's 50 years old with minimal electronics!!
I bought mine from a vw dealer as I wanted an authentic part. It cost $35. You run a greater risk of it failing again with the cheaper parts, but who knows I never heard of a second one going bad. Good luck
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