PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS Project: Starter Motor Replacment

[Wayne 962]

Anyone got any questions on the Project: Starter Motor Replacment for your PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS?

Here's a back link to the original article: Pelican Technical Article: Starter Motor Replacment

-Wayne

[wadejg]

Wayne,

As always I appreciate reading your technical articles. I've finally registered on the forum since I've got a question.

My 2008 Porsche Cayenne turbo is having a starting problem and I'm trying to figure out if the issue is indeed the starter. I've had the car a year now and when I first got it the pre purchase inspection it revealed a bad battery and the dealer replaced it prior to purchase.

Within a month of taking the car home it started to have an intermittent issue that it wouldn't start on the first key turn, but almost always on the second turn. No clicking sounds. No wailing or groaning once it starts. The first key turn it will have a no turn over or a small turn over but won't "catch." The second turn it will usually start normally. Rarely the second turn it will "rarrr rarrr rarrr" turn over a bit slowly but not fire and then the third turn of the key start up strong. A couple of times the issue just resolved on its own for a few weeks and the car started normally, but then it would return.

It is similar to a worn weak battery, or even more like a bad battery ground connection or other loose wiring issue, but the connections to the battery are good and the replacement OEM battery is less than a year old.

Took it to a local generic shop who said it was a bad starter. OK I could buy that. But they also said the alternator was bad too....which didn't make sense since that wouldn't effect the starting unless it wasn't charging the battery sufficiently, and I've never gotten an alternator light or thrown a code of any sort. This did not make me confident in the diagnosis.

So before buying a new starter and taking the time to remove the intake manifold, do you have any suggestions? Is there a way to test the starter on the car? Any other issues I should be looking at?

Thanks,
Justin Wade
2008 Cayenne Turbo 95K miles