996TT "slow" to turn over

[wkoperwhats]

At first I thought that it was a failing clutch lockout switch. I'd depress the clutch pedal a few times and the engine would eventually turn and start. It turns out that, even if I just hold the pedal down, after three or four seconds with the key in the "start" position, the engine will turn and fire to life.

I have purchased a new clutch switch, but is there any other reason why there would be a 3-4 second delay between turning the key and the engine actually turning over?

Cheers.

-bill k

[yelcab1]

How is your battery? starter? Would it change if you jump start the car with a new battery?

[wkoperwhats]

The battery is fine. I think that I should have been more specific. The car turns over and starts perfectly, it's just that it takes about 3 seconds of holding the key in the start position (with the clutch fully depressed) before *anything* happens.

I'll swap out the clutch lockout switch over the weekend and see if that has any effect.

[amazongreenie]

Is engine's main ground strap/wire dirty, corroded, or loose ?

[wkoperwhats]

The ground strap looks perfectly fine. I am still experiencing the same problem, but here's an update of what I've found:

1. Replaced the clutch lock out switch [Same issue]
2. Bypassed the switch by connecting the two leads together (a common mod BTW). Now I can start the car without having to have the clutch depressed [Same issue]
3. Additional experiments show that *just turning the key to the "on" position* (not to start) has the same effect (i.e. 4 seconds in the "on" position and the car will start immediately when turned to "start").

This is incredibly weird. Any additional ideas from the hive mind?

[Jeff Alton]

Perhaps a bad ignition switch? Parts is cheap, install is easy, but a bit of a PITA. But first, properly test battery and system grounds.

Cheers