starting question

so i noticed the best start is the first start.. after that, for example if i run in for a quick trip, the 2nd start takes like 1/2 second longer for the car to start, and it sounds like it's not starting 100% power but like its turning at 90% power. starts up just fine, no other changes, no idle probs, etc it feels like the car is trying to suck fuel through the lines to start. anyhow if it sits for a while it'll start up like the first start. doesnt bother me and i'm sure it's benign.. just curious to see if anyone experiences this and what its from

A slow hot start could be a starter on it's way out. Mine does the same thing,especially during the summer months. I did read somewhere that the alternator/starter harness isn't up to the task either. Suncoast (no affiliation) has an upgraded harness from Porsche for $100, so I ordered it,figured cheaper than the starter. I havent changed it yet but didn't look too complicated.

If your charge gauge drops to the bottom try a new battery especially if its close to its end of life cycle time. Mine was doing the same thing a couple years ago where it seemed great first start then and restarting before warmed up then it wouldn't even give a click out of the blue some times when warm. Then next try after cycling the key it would or wouldn't start right back up. Seems the solenoid is picky about taking action when voltage is low. Gauge would always read 12 though then starting drop real low. As far as the cable from the front to rear it has a bolt together of two seperate cables in the middle under the car. It can become fouled up so that's a place to clean up. Then the size battery is important in case the previous owner went cheap. Sure starters can go bad but usually its the battery. My view is if a battery is weak in crank amps and the heat which degrades copper or any other metals ability to pass electricity then you have much less power going to the starter. The sensors for charge state aren't reading from the starters position. Same thing effects the coils in the starter. Then there is the already warmed up and lube oil giving a better compression seal. Tough job cranking. So I feel the best bet is to change to the standard size battery for the car if the old one is close to a year out or near. If the last person didn't punch the date That's what mine was like and putting a new battery in was the fix. I also feel persons that put a battery in without punching the date should face criminal charges.

Also check the ground strap from the engine to the body, located on the passenger side toward the front of the car on the engine. I was having problems with my. Starter a few years ago. Replaced the battery and then the charger and still had problems. Cleaned up this ground strap and all the problems went away.

Update: Changed the starter/alternator harness today. Took a couple of hours, had to remove the alternator, then work through the space it occupied. The part from Suncoast had a 997 part#. It had much heavier cable used and longer than the original, so you can run it along the outside of the plelum then follow the engine harness in. Long story short, works great spins over hot better than it used to when cold. Lights are brighter, and showing about .5 volt increase at the battery when idling with lights and climate control on. Btw I had no corrosion at any of the connections.

Great to hear it worked out.