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Car will not start, but is cranking over??

s9ety

Active member
Joined
16 Jun 2014
Messages
26
Hi guys,

My car will NOT start? It has fuel, charge, has no alarm/immobiliser other than the Porsche standard stuff. When you try and start it, it will just turn over and not fire up into life..

One thing worth noting, I topped up the oil a little too much. Maybe a litre absolute maximum, checked the reader and it said it was above the max so I immediate remove a litre of oil or so from the sump and tightened again..

I'm not sure whether the oil over filling is relevant, because I didn't attempted to drive the car before I put a bit of oil in, and if it was over, which I find it very hard to believe it was, it would have minimal as I only added around a litre.

Thinking back over the last couple of weeks, the car has been getting harder to start (cranking a little longer than fire up), but that could be my brain playing tricks on me!

Called the AA and I don't have home start as my cover is through my bank.. They wanted 104 just to come out to me! Then that doesn't cover towing the car to a garage should they not be able to fix, which I doubt they will.

In a bit of a rut. I hope I have been clear here, if not please ask and I will answer. Thanks guys and really looking forward to some ideas/knowledge!

Thanks, Steve
 
Quick update..

Just got home from work and tried to start up the car.. It seemed like it was going start this time.. For second I thought she had bitten.. Not the case though.

What does this suggest?
 
Could it have flooded? i.e. too much fuel in the chamber to allow a spark. Odd in a modern car but quite common on classics.
 
I had this a few months ago, in my case it turned out to be a new cam position sensor. Recovered it to dealer who put a new one on and it fired straight up.
 
I was going to suggest Crank/Cam sensor too - better to check fault codes in DME



Where are you located? Maybe somebody here can check with PIWIS or Durametric
 
Cam sensor? Is that a pretty intense job? Would be superb if someone with the right reader could come and have a look - I'm based in Chessington/Kingtson Surrey.
 
Too far for me to check, I am up in Shropshire.



Sounds like Crank Sensor - but some engines wont start if Cam Sensor is faulty too. Could you check engine 'earth' and clean the connector?


Not sure how mechanically minded you are, but a quick google search under 'images' will show you the engine 'earth' location. This happens on some cars I have worked on. Best bet is diagnostic, the AA should be able to read Engine DME codes at least, or ring a mobile mechanic asking for OBD Diagnostic fault read only.


When he has shown the fault - it may be possible he can fix same (or next) day depending on parts location. I would stick to Porsche sensor for these type of fault, if it is Crank or Cam Sensor. Ebay has cheaper sensors for sale but the magnet can fail sooner than o.e. part.



Hope that helps!
 
Nicholassss said:
Too far for me to check, I am up in Shropshire.



Sounds like Crank Sensor - but some engines wont start if Cam Sensor is faulty too. Could you check engine 'earth' and clean the connector?


Not sure how mechanically minded you are, but a quick google search under 'images' will show you the engine 'earth' location. This happens on some cars I have worked on. Best bet is diagnostic, the AA should be able to read Engine DME codes at least, or ring a mobile mechanic asking for OBD Diagnostic fault read only.


When he has shown the fault - it may be possible he can fix same (or next) day depending on parts location. I would stick to Porsche sensor for these type of fault, if it is Crank or Cam Sensor. Ebay has cheaper sensors for sale but the magnet can fail sooner than o.e. part.



Hope that helps!

Thanks very much for your help! It actually turns out I know a very good mechanic who used to work for a well known specialist Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo/Maserati (and the likes of) garage and has now just set up on his own. He immediately suggested the crank shaft sensor over the phone when we spoke and I told him the symptoms - which fills me with some confidence.

He is coming over with the code reader when I get home from work tonight. Will keep you posted!

Thanks Nicholassss

Steve
 
If you dont have any luck I have a durametric and am pretty close to you.
 
Guy came over last night, and said the symptoms are that of the crank sensor.

Now I need to get hold of one today/tomorrow latest as I need the car for work on Monday - I'm in Surrey/South London. Have tried Porsche Byfleet and they cannot get one until Tuesday.

Any ideas guys of where I can get a crank sensor today or tomorrow? And does £144 + VAT sound about right?

Steve
 
JohnnyDangerous said:
If you dont have any luck I have a durametric and am pretty close to you.

Thank you very much! I may take you up on that soon!
 
Changed the cps and still nothing.. Checked the dme (or fuel pump relay) and it seems to be clicking and priming the pump.. Car is still cranking but still not joy? Have just disconnected the battery negative, and going to leave for 10 mine to see if that has any effect..

If anyone can help, please offer up and ideas!

Steve
 
When I read you post earlier in the week I too was going to suggest Crank Sensor as I had a similar issue but I was able to plug in straight away to diagnose this, when it was just turning over without firing. I bought a new sensor and it still didn't fire, I checked again and it was still saying sensor fault.
My next job was to test voltage at the sensor supply wiring plug next to the air oil separator, I think this should be 5v supply and the ohms should be about 8, I found I wasn't getting any voltage so I traced the wiring through the engine wiring loom to the ECU and cleaned all the terminal up on the way. When I put it all back together it fired and was fine. I think I may of had a dry joint within the wiring.
Hopefully your issue is something easy to trace but you do need to get it plugged into to check for faults.
 
My 996t "died" , and I mean really died, on the motorway. Same stuff when I tried resuscitation on the hard shoulder, cranking,but no firing.

9excellence have told me it is the 1st fuel pump (as opposed to fuel pump relay) failure they have ever seen.

Maybe yours is the 2nd one ?
 

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