1998 Boxter S won't start?

[bopiddy]

Hi,

My name is Jacob P. and I have a 1998 boxter S with manual transmission. I recently purchased the car and it ran fine until one day I went to the store and it wouldn't turn over, so I kept trying and I must have started (or attempted to) 15-20 times. I pushed the clutch in extremely hard and it started, everything was fine until later the day I was getting ready to go and it did it again but this time it wouldn't start. So I pushed the clutch in and released the brake and began to roll turned the key as I was rolling and it started right up. Now its been in my drive way for 2 days and I have not been able to get it to start no matter what. The car won't turn over I called autozone and they said it was the starter but I figure I'd get a 2nd opinion here to either confirm or deny this.

So anyone have any diagrams for the solenoid and starter?

[rogerjohnsen]

I've seen a similar post about this and the switch being bad that the clutch engages allowing the car to start. Someone probably has more specifics or you can try a search to locate the previous thread. Definitely wasn't the starter in that case and circumstances were similar to what you described.

Be wary of Autozone - they mean well but all my past advice from them has equated to purchases for parts that don't fix the problem. There's a lot of knowledge purple on this board and they'll get you on the right track.

[rogerjohnsen]

Make that knowledgeable people... :P

[kbrandsma]

Welcome Jacob!

Run a search on the clutch startup switch. You can jumper the switch so that the clutch does not have to be depressed during start-up. (not adviseable for safety reasons) It is a fairly inexpensive part from Sunset.

Here is a link to another thread on the issue. PRESS HERE

Edited August 6, 2011 by kbrandsma

[whall]

Jacob,

While you are wiring around the clutch switch in your troubleshooting efforts, make sure the floor mat isn't bunched up behind the clutch pedal preventing full pedal travel.

Bill

[JFP in PA]

+1 on the clutch interlock switch as the issue. And just as a by-the-way, Porsche did not make an S Boxster until 2000..................