Help - just started car, then it shut off...UPDATE

It started fine, then after about 5 seconds it shut off. Now it won't start but turns over. Any ideas? Could it be the ignition switch? I just replaced it a couple of weeks ago as a precautionary measure. No 996 for the weekend and will have to wait for a flatbed under CPO coverage. Fuel pump failed. Covered by CPO.

Wild guess...fuel pump?

Any other opinions?

Could be the switch if the install wasn't good. Check to see if it is backing out due to the set screws not being tight enough. If you let the car sit long periods there is a chance of water being in the fuel. Beside water not burning it also plugs injectors since it is thicker and commonly carrying debri from the tank. Loose wire or alternator failing giving readings the system faults on. Counld help if you had a durametric.

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I'm pretty **** about my car work, but there is always a chance it wasn't right. If the switch failed could it make the car shut down and not start again? I could reinstall the old one and see if that's it.

can you give it gas and keep it going?

fuel pickup jets I bet.

You've given us very little to go on, but that's how it would act if the fuel pump did not come on, and you ran the car on residual fuel. I would check the fuel pump and relay .

Try to start it a couple minutes later, like 30 minutes and see if anything happened. I had a problem two month ago, where my fuel was contaminated with water and each morning the first time I would start the car, it would shut off after a few second. The cut was not a sharp ignition cut, but it was more a lower unstable idle then shut off. But if I try to start it again like 30 minutes later it would run fine all day. Dealer told me it happens if the gas is contaminated with water. When the car is park the water fall down in the tank and then get sucked up first by the fuel pump. tell us more about how the 'shut down' happened, any noise ? low idle ? anything special ?

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If after cranking the engine a moment or two -- not too long or you'll overheat the starter -- if you don't smell gas then I'm guessing fuel pump. My 02 Boxster's fuel pump just up and quit and the symptoms almost identical to your car's. Engine started fine and ran just long enough to back half way out of parking space then engine died. Upon restart attempt engine fired up but died almost before I could release the key from the start position. Subsequent restart attempts just had the engine cranking, with not a sign any cylinder wanted to fire. No gas smell. Spoke to Porsche tech and he loaned me a fuel relay bridge and after I installed it I still didn't hear the fuel pump and the engine of course cranked just fine. Took the car to the dealer and tech confirmed fuel pump had 12v but didn't run. Replaced it. Fixed no start. If the fuel pump runs and there is no gas smell after cranking the engine then the fuel pickup or fuel lines in the tank are leaking or have come apart. Sincerely, Macster.

I started it this morning and before I backed out of the garage it just shut down. I turned it over and it would not fire. Starter would turn the motor but it would not start. I tried it 2 more times today but still just turned over with no start. What is the chance it's the ignition switch?

Simple things to try: reach under the dash and press the ignition switch module that you replaced see if it is loose or out of position. something in the immobilizer system? lock and unlock the car with the remote. pull your fuse diagram out and check fuses that have anything to do with fuel delivery and ignition

Check fuses. I once blew a fuse that triggered the fuel injection.

996.620.113.00 that is my guess

The dealer has done some recent work on the fuel system (not pump though). Here's what they replaced due to not taking fuel in the past few weeks: Hose Spring CL Hose Clamp Fuel tank vent Fuel vent valve Shut off valve Carbon cont VA Reed contact Rubber gasket Fuel level sensor Plastic union I checked the ignition switch and it's snug. Now I will check the fuses and that will be it until it can be picked up on Tuesday. This will be the fourth trip to the dealer in the past 5-6 weeks. And what a perfect morning for a drive! Mid 50s and sunny...

From the list, sounds like the dealer was guessing or just wanted to replace a bunch of related parts. Most likey everything they replaced was a futile attempt to repair the issue you are still having. Just a guess, but we have little to go on. If the car's CPOed, give it back to the dealer, GL

When its real wuite listen for a sound of the fuel pump pressurizing the system. Mines just a slight thump sound instead of a whirl like most cars. I'm not sure if the 911 is a high pressure injection but from past experience the high pressure systems can still run but not have enough pressure for the car to run. Take good care of the fuse paperwork in the fuse box. I hope it's just a fuze. How often do you drive the car? Do you let the fuel level get down to a 1/4 tank? Do you add a fuel treatment once in a while trying to stay away from having water in the system? Running the car below a 1/4 tank can reduce cooling to the pump making it burn out on you. I try to refuel at a 1/2 tank now of days.

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The dealer had to fix 2 other fuel issues which they did. This is a new issue. Yes back to dealer on Tuesday.

Go check for spark. If you have spark check for fuel. I woudl think you are missing one or the other. narrow it down to one of these two and we can go from there.. If you have both of those.. This may get sticky

Optical let me share my experience with you. I had the same problem as you, but it occurred on the highway doing 65mph. Car just shut off, coasted to the side of the road...tried to restart...engine fired up...wouldn't stay running more than 3 seconds. Fuel Gauge showed 3/4 full. Keep this in mind for later. Had it towed to my indy. We replaced the fuel pump and 1 venturi tube (a line inside the tank). When I got the car back it started right up with no problem. Now, I don't know if it was the venturi tube or the new fuel pump that fixed it, but I did realize something in the process. My fuel gauge is NOT accurate. Do yourself one big favor...get a few gas cans...fill them up...and put a few more gallons of fuel in the tank to make sure you actually have fuel before spending any money on repairs. I am to believe I was simply out of fuel and my gauge had me tricked into thinking I had 3/4 tank when I was actually on empty. These may be helpful Porsche 996 Fuel Problems Fuel Gauge Shows Full All The Time

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From an engineering standpoint, what kinda gangsta **** is that? At that sticker price the car should run at all fuel levels.

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Do you engineer fuel tanks and pumps? Baffles are a nice addition to keep fuel around the pump so that it doesn't run air in higher G's turns braking and acceleration. Simple in engineering. You run air through the pumps high speed system heat results and is harmful to the pump. You have less fuel around the pump or slosh the fuel away from the pump you have less heat sinking of the heat off the pump. Typical gangster stuff yah know from gang banging almost 60 years in cars. There will be a test later, so study up. Anyway around a 1/4 tank you run a good risk of heating up the pump from hard cornering and such. I fuel up at around 1/2 since I used to try the 1/4 but I've lost 3 fuel pumps on different cars after trying that trick. Do you think that's a good idea as a california gangster engineer? There might be others around here that have been through 15 or more cars already and know the hazards of running lower fuel levels besides the stirring up debri in the tank or getting condensation on the walls. I know its gangster **** again right. Sticker price doesn't mean the higher the price less you have to know.

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I wasn't saying you're wrong, I was making the point that if I had paid 60-100k new for a car I would expect it to not have problems like that. And it is a silly problem when there are aerobatic planes pulling G's in every direction and their engine still runs... When you charge that much for your product, you ought to do a bit more design work to solve the little things.

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Let me guess...another aircooled owner who wants to stir the pot about what a crappy car the 996 is...

aww

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It's at the dealer now - flatbedded this morning. Over the weekend I did put in one gallon to see if the gauge was inaccurate since they just fixed the fuel level sensor. But it didn't start. Maybe one gallon wasn't enough. They are looking at it today or tomorrow so it can be repaired by Friday evening. I'll give an update once I hear back from them. Thanks everyone.

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Aerobatic planes (pulling g's in every direction) don't use "in-tank" fuel pumps - not many planes do. They DO however use boost pumps to feed the fuel pump (usually engine mounted). Planes rely quite a bit on massive air flow at altitude to keep alot of their components cool. They don't do well on the ground in hot weather. All of that said, I've spent quite a bit more that 60-100K for an airplane (or two) that had much more go wrong with it due to poorly engineered parts or systems (think Cessna 210 retractable landing gear system). As pointed out - the cost of the vehicle is not the issue. Engineering designs are all a tradeoff. The trick is to make ALL of the tradeoffs in the proper areas. My $0.02

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Perfectly put. Nice chatting with you guys, didn't mean to upset anyone.

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Just qouting so you know this is for you. No real problem with what ever you say. I do know there are a few ways of learning like reading or experience. Well the experience of car trouble on the road instills much more tramatic locking in of what reality is compared to just reading. Just take what anybody says as trying to give the feeling of stranded on a hwy with out your cell phone in car theft central . I'm too tempted to ramble on about crazy things trying to make things funny enough to keep Ed old ivangene coming back....anyway...... G forces in acorbatic aircraft is primarily the same direction as when in a steady state parked on the landing gear except the force in flight is higher. Although some acrobatic manuevers will pull negative G's it isn't for too long of a period. Many fuel systems for acrobatic crafts are gravity fed. Keeping it simple instead of needing a high pressure pump.

Wow, I've always waited for the fuel light to come on before refueling and this is with all of the cars I've owned - Nissans, BMWs, and Porsche. Heck, this is what everybody I know does. I think some of you guys give Porsche less credit than they deserve. These aren't faberge eggs. It's one thing to want the best for your Porsche, but it's another to overthink and over do it when it's not necessary. Meaning, refueling when the light comes on is a normal condition so the fuel pump should be engineered to handle that situation with a high MTBF. If I refueled at every 1/2 tank, then I would be refueling every other day. /m

I never let mine get below 1/2 tank. Every other day sounds about right.

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I hope the fix is easy and quick plus paonless on your wallet I never take off ramps at 60 or whatever speed squels the tires Always making sure the rear is planted to never slide it out in turns Completely confident in you get what you pay for I know everything is going to be perfect Cute poem aye. Anyway always, never and completely are best to not be used so that poem is BS. To error on the safe side is a good. Which keeping the fuel level up is a good for keeping condensation out of the tank also. I got tired of loosing fuel pumps so my tanks going to have plenty of fuel from now on.

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And you are the winner!

Bad for you, good for me. I had an Audi TT that had similar symptoms at 18k miles...fuel pump. Glad it's resolved.

I'm glad for you still being under the CPO. Looks like that weekend of crusing was delayed a bit but it is back again hopefully with good weather.

I'm having the same problem. Porsche Dealer couldn't reproduce. Ran fine yesterday after I picked it up from dealer. Filled tank at gas station. Started right up this morning. Went to son's soccer game and car will not fire up again. Called indy instead and he thinks its a bad crank sensor. I'm not so sure. It was towed to dealer on Wednesday and perhaps the bumpy ride loosened back the fuel pick up lines and therefore, it started right up for them. They ran it all day and nothing went wrong. The TSB on this thread sounds more correct than a bad crank sensor. Going to add another gallon of gas and see if that loosens the lines or pickup stuff inside tank, and hopefully fires up. If not, then, back on AAA flat bed. Any ideas? Crank sensor, or above TSB on "running out of fuel" symptoms?

...fuel pump?