'99 Boxster sat for three weeks. Tried to start. Got all lights, windows operate, top goes up and down, battery good, but no crank. Car is in southern CA, so no issue with water in immobilizer. Try several times with same result, all lights, no start. I wait twenty minutes and try again, and it starts. Runs fine. Shut it down. Do some work on the car (gear shift upgrade). Takes about two hours. Try to crank it. Again no start. All lights, etc. Pull key, wait one minute, and try again. It starts. This repeats itself several times over the ensuing hour. Where is the problem? It's done the no start thing before (about 18 months ago) but I found that if I started it every 7-10 days, the problem would not recure.
You don’t note if it’s manual transmission or tiptronic, but I would look at the ignition switch and the clutch switch (manual) or the neutral safety switch (tip) as first steps.
Just guessing, but that's what you'll get here.
1. 1st thing to suspect when odd electrical things happen is the battery. How old? Do you keep it connected to a maintainer? Has it been load tested?
2. Next possible problem is the ignition switch behind the key. A faulty switch can cause irratic starting.
3. If manual trans, the clutch or brake switches above the pedals might be flakey. But I think you should see a warning message.
Clutch switch is a simple Open or Closed - can’t see how that would throw a code, but easy enough to test with a
multimeter
and equally easy to jumper out as a diagnostic.
Thanks for your response. It's a manual. I replaced the clutch safety switch about 18 months ago when this first happend.
Hey, no worries, I'm here because I'm out of guesses. The battery has not been checked lately. I charged it a few weeks ago (it is not kept on a maintainer as I drive it once or twice a week). It is a Porsche factory battery that came with the car when I bought it 4.5 years ago so it's actual age is unknown. I bought it from a dealer but the previous owner (original) had it serviced only at the local P dealer.
The ignition switch is original, I don't know how to troubleshoot it. It's a manual and I have already replaced the clutch safety switch about 18 months ago as a troubleshooting step when this situation first occurred .
Starter could also be going bad. My 2010 had its starter replaced last year... was becoming intermittent like that as well.
In your case, did you hear any sounds from the starter or relay when it failed to start?
For everyone who responded here, thank you. I replaced the ignition switch and ran the Immobilizer Reset Procedure I found on another forum. Put the key in, depressed the clutch pedal, and turned, no start. Again, all the lights, just no cranking. I still had the ignition key turned to start when, out of frustration, I jammed my foot down ever harder. Boom, it starts. So, after all that, it turns out I need to push the clutch pedal practically through the floorboard to override the safety. Anyone know if that can be adjusted? The safety switch is about 18 months old.
