Planet 9

Driving to work this morning, I pull up at a stop light in traffic, and when I go to start again, I get distracted and I stall the car. This is actually only the second time since I've owned it that I've stalled out

Bad part is, when I turn the key off, then on again to restart it, it won't start. Can hear the starter turning it over, but doesn't start up.

Then I notice that on the instrument cluster, its doing an oil-check and counting down from 5:00. So I wait for that to finish.

Says oil is full.

I let it count down to 0, then try again to start the car. Still doesn't start and automatically tries to check the oil again, counting down from 5:00

After my second try, I try one more time to start it - this time I wait about 3 minutes then give it a go. This time, it only counts down from 0:06 seconds doing the oil check. It says full oil. I haven't put any oil in in the last 500km I've driven or anything like that.

Whats going on, any ideas? I had it towed to the stealership by 1-800-PORSCHE but they can't look at it for a few days.

I'm scared that it will be something big

Make sure you turn the key all the way to the left first, it resets the computer. After the key is held there a second or two (all the way to the left), turn it to the right as usual and the car should start.

Edit - Re-read and saw you had it towed. I hope it is nothing major ... I think the dealership would have told you about the re-start process after a stall.

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I asked the service tech on the phone, he was totally brainless.

I didn't know about the key thing, I could have tried that for sure.

Oh well, tow was courtesy of Porsche and the dealership is going to fix my illuminated door sill problem while the car is there, plus give me an oil change.

I hope its just a computer issue like you say! I get nightmares about engine parts.

Kor it simply sounds like you didn't turn the key all the way off before trying to restart. Oh and the owners manual has a couple of good tips on starting that you might have overlooked as well. pg 76 of the '06 manual.

I had the key out totally and back in - not far left enough?

Hmmmmmm, if you had it all the way out, and back in again, then that is far left enough... it will be interesting to see what they say.

brad

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22-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor

I had the same experience. I did not know about turning the key to the left though. I did figure out very quickly that the electronics have to reset, about 2 1/2 - 2 minutes.

That gauge with 2/2 and 1/2 and an E on it, and a light below that, it means you are out of gas...

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K-Man S

I promise it wasn't out of gas!

It was actually a bit low but not to the point where the warning comes on and not to the point where it lights up the lowest 1/8th of the tank on the gauge.

But... it was almost that low. Right before the point where the needle would get that low.

Possible the fuel gauge was showing i had more than I did?

Then I suspect you didn't have the clutch fully depressed. (sorry I keep calling driver error but that is what it sounds like or least I hope so since mechanical problems would lead to more down time)

No its not that because the starter started.

I have had this exact problem twice before. First time I panicked, second time was prepared. Even to this day Im not really sure what it was. Suffice to say, that after waiting 10 minutes it just started up like if nothing happened before. Electronic gremlin?

I'll see, I know the clutch was depressed, key was turned, starter was turning over. There was definitely something weird going on with the cluster/computer in terms of cycling the long 5 minute oil check.

Dealership should know by Tuesday.

I will venture you may have a clogged fuel filter? That's all I can think of. Let us know what it turns out to be.

Markus

Is that red mark a light? I didn't know that....How low do you have to get before it comes on? And then how much gas before you start walking?

I filled up once and took 15.85 Gal....thought the tank was only 16....so 0.15 isn't much margin...

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Cold Croc
38 years of continuous Porsche ownership

Ride History
1966-1969 ---- 1961 Rambler Classic (Sorry)
1969-1970 ---- 1969 Mustang Mach I (Engine lasted 49K mi... swore I'd never buy another American car)
1970-1972 ---- 1964 356C - Rust Bucket
1972-1976 ---- 1972 914 - Ball Buster
1976-1977 ---- 1973 911T - Was I crazy?
1977-2007 ---- 1963 356SC 306K mi
2001-2003 ---- 1984 911 SC Targa - For my son
2000-2005 ---- 1997 Ferrari 355-F Brain Fart
2007- ???? ---- 2007 Cayman S
2008 ---------- 2008 Audi R8 - Delivery late spring '08

If you monitor the distance remaining function from the stick you will see the light goes on when it calculates you have so many miles to go. I dont take much notice but it something like 58kms. If you keep running on the fuel below this limit eventually at about half this distance the dist remains displays "--"kms remaining. Thats when you are really low. Try it some day.

I had a fuel indicator computer go bad. It is possible that you ran out of gas without being aware of it.

Sounds like the starter was engaging, so I doubt it was a key or clutch pedal issue.

Mine comes on with about 50 miles remaining. I routinely test my light....

Kor, this is a strange problem. Please let us know what they discover.

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Gator Bite
PCA Cayman Register Advocate

This might be a total stab in the dark, but is it possible this could be a result of a bad battery? I remember you telling us that you drained your battery not too long ago, perhaps that played a part in this.

Just a thought. I doubt this is it, but I thought I'd throw that out there.

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Engine was turning over...

I know. I have had other cars that turned over, I drove it around for a bit, turned off the car and it wouldn't restart. Problem ended up being a faulty battery. I realize this probably isn't the answer, but as I said, just throwing it out there as a long shot.

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It really is mysterious isn't it? It'll be interesting to find out the cause.