Hi everyone - a newbie here - any help & advices highly appreciated! This post is only for people that like to read as I try to explain everything as accurately as I can. Sorry for my English as well as I might not be that good when using mechanical terminology. Also I did search the topic but almost every one of them is different issue. Hopefully my description will shine some light on my problem.
Unfortunately my Boxster 986 2.5 1998, automatic has another problem after changing few months ago fuel pump relay ( checked it now as well and it clicks, tomorrow will do more checks to relay) which stopped the car from starting last time.
Right now I'm looking for advices on how to diagnose what is the problem and fixing it properly and preferably cheap.
So here's the back-story:
After driving to cinema for a mile or two and stopping at gas station for some snacks (no fuel tanking then). After I got back in the car, started it it drove for 10-20 meters and died. Another 3 attempts started a car for 1-3 seconds after which it died. I left it overnight and the next day the car would not start again.
Here I need to mention that few months back I replaced fuel pump relay and everything seemed ok. Just from time to time there was a weird noise at start which gone of after 1-2 second that sounded like a squeak. Also the car from when I got it for me started always a bit harsh but I thought all Boxsters do (here's the youtube video of after AOS replacement showing the sound
). But it was very smooth. Oh... one more thing: around a 2-3 weeks ago it was vey cold -15 celsius. My car stands outside. In the morning it looked like the battery died at night but the car started (slow - like in winters usually) but started and been ok. Also, but that might be my imagination I think that after one of those starts and heating the car (leaving it for 5-10 mins running) my fuel consumption went oddly high - but that might be my imagination because after that I only drove urban.
So here are my few ideas - if anyone would like to advice on how to rule them out or show me what I'm doing wrong, please do.
1. First thought is Fuel Pump that just died (18 years old car). Because when the car died I could turn it on few times for 1-2 seconds, but next day it just turns (cranks) but won't start. Well that is shot in the dark but seems logical to me. I tried to check the pump my own way before reading anything about it. So I unplugged the battery and tried to give 12V from small battery (7Ah). There is no sound from the pump whatsoever. Also connected the battery back and checked the electrical plug that goes into the pump, tried to start the car while checking the voltage on it (as I thought it should give 12V), there was none (but my friend said 12 V will go only go to the pump once to make adequate pressure and then again after the car starts...)
2. Crank sensor - but what I read here it seems like the car should start on cold engine. I will be checking it tomorrow with ohmometer (like described in different thread).
3. All other sensors (I read that there is quite a few that can make car won't start issue).
What I'm about to do now is (regarding to advices on forum): check the crank sensor, try to push the gas pedal all way down while trying to start, try to check the electrical circuits. Might try more as I'm still going through the threads to find possible solving.
I am shooting in the dark but my point is to diagnose the problem properly before starting to madly exchange parts.
Unfortunately going to competent mechanic seems right now out of reach. As when I had AOS problem when I bought the car 3 of them tried to tell me my engine needs renovation (few thousand bucks), but after this forum, youtube I decided to take a shoot with changing AOS which solved big smoke problem without big expenses.
Also I am bit restricted as right now to small garage and the only way to get under the car is to lift up the side with provided "lifter" (the one u use when changing the wheel).
Big thanks in advance to anyone contributing and I will try to put as much photos as I can of my diagnostics.
Best Regards
Pawel - proud user of Porsche ;) Love my car - Begging for help ;)