slow or no start, again??

[Geosangel]

I just don't get it. The problem appeared to be fixed. It ran beautifully all weekend, firing up every time, no matter how long or little it sat between start ups. Last night, I went to a friends house, for maybe 4 hours. Came out, and it did the same thing. Cranking but not starting. It did this 3 times, finally catching and turning over on the fourth time, albeit a very slow start. A 45 minute drive home, it ran perfect. I'm at a loss. It almost seems like something is draining the battery, but logic tells me this can't be, because it cranks, and if it were the battery it would die out, not turning over at all. The DME is new, the alternator is new, the fuel pump is working, the sensors are working, oil changed, no issues with the starter, there is adequate fuel pressure, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, all new. There is spark and fuel. Any ideas I might not have thought of? I'm so irritated, I thought I had this all worked out.

[Ga 951]

Does your car have an alarm system? Many start problems are associated with the alarm.

IF you car has it, I would highly recommend searching this site and also Clarks garage about the disabling procedure. My car doesn't have it so I am not really familiar with the procedure.

GL
Bruce

[iplagolf]

I had the same problem, turned out to be the ignition switch. I couldn' find the problem so I took it to a local wrench. He reached up under the dash and it fell out into his hand. He changed it out, no more problem.

[Geosangel]

It is set up for an alarm, I just have not plugged it in yet. (Viper). I will check the ignition switch as well. I noticed something strange though, and this may or may not be an issue, but strange all the same: 1.The radio. When I turn the car off after driving, and leave the radio turned on and the AC in the on position, the car will not restart. When I turn these off before shutting the car off, it will slow start or fire right up. 2. This morning I noticed that when I turned the radio on, the AC didn't blow as well, and the car did start, but, it ran rough when I went to pick up my son about 25 minutes away. I shut everything off before turning the car off, and, an hour later, it fired right up. I left the radio off, but turned the AC on, and it blew just like it was new, and the car ran very smooth, no issues. It is an aftermarket radio, one that I did not install. Now, whether this is just an oddity, or indicative of something definitely wrong in that area, I don't know. I thought it was worth mentioning at least, maybe someone on here could tell me?

[ernie9944]

Lol stand in front of it with your head hanging down it migth have pity on you & heal itself.This is what happen when peoples are buying a cheap 944 without service records & without having gone through a proper PPI (sorry to be so blunt).I got the impression that the seller just dump a car with a bunch of problems on you.Now since your stuck with it & already pour quiet a bite of $$ in it,your options are very limited either you keep going & pour more cash in it or sell it and find a decent/well kept none abuse late model from peoples which are trusworty & has maintain the car up to date.Now my buddy came a couple weeks ago with his 89 and had exactly the same no start problem.After lending him a DME relay to try out it kept doing the same thing,so I remove the (throttle body switch)& gave it a good clean up using low pressure air & electrical cleaner,also did the same for the connector going in the AFS.Up to now no more starting problems but keeping my fingers cross.You know I own my 83 for 26 years & I swear I never never had any serious problems with it apart from a rad/a bad thermostat & temp switch,but didn't fool around with maintnance in facts sometime it was over done,yes it did cost me a little money to keep it up to date but in a long run it paid off.The pleasure of owning a 944 is to get behind the wheel starting her up & driving it like crasy.Not spend hours & days trying to fix it crawling on all four or being stuck under the hood.GL hope you can get it sort out.

[Cocacolakidd]

Gees Ernie that was not much help,oh except for cleaning the Throttle Position Switch on the throttle body, but that's probably not the problem.

Now we are getting down to the nitty gritty of why the car was sold in the first place.

OK, one thought on the subject here - Our 944's love plenty of 12 V. power when starting and running. So if the PO's installation of the Head Unit (radio) is draining the battery that will be a big problem. Try charging the battery fully before starting the car. If the car starts and runs good then that's getting closer to the problem at hand. Then start the search for bad wiring on the PO's hack job of the radio. Could be a ground short in the wiring there of the stereo and or other systems close by.

Any car purchased used can have PO problems even if there are tons of records, and even if you think it's all sorted out. All it takes is one lame job by a PO to give any car a problem.

[Geosangel]

Thanks I have run the car off and on most of the day (errands) without turning the radio on. So far so good. Tomorrow I will begin the process of looking at the radio wiring, as well as others. I refuse to hang my head in pity, I will get her back up to primo condition, if it kills me and I have to walk everywhere until the car is done. I am in love with the car, and even if the PO did take lousy care of it, with some knowledge, help, time, patience, and money, it will be a great car. Rome wasn't built in a day, and while irritating, and sometimes not practical for it being my daily driver, I'm still a proud Porsche owner

[ernie9944]

Originally Posted by Cocacolakidd

Gees Ernie that was not much help,oh except for cleaning the Throttle Position Switch on the throttle body, but that's probably not the problem.



Any car purchased used can have PO problems even if there are tons of records, and even if you think it's all sorted out. All it takes is one lame job by a PO to give any car a problem.

In her introduction post Geosangel stated that she bougth the car from a mechanic and on some kind of an impulse and she fell in love with it, which is common when buying your first 944.The aim of my reply was by no mean trying to put her car under,but face the fact that she migth have been had by this guy.The question that come to mind is why so much troubles with it from the very start after all he was a mechanic not some kid down the bloc.I agree that that any car migth have PO problems but to a certain point.The second part of my reply was meant to make her realize that by trying to fix all those problems the end result migth be a big hole in her wallet.But it's her choice & nobody else.