1analguy

So, does the engine actually crank for the entire 30 seconds? If so, I guess it would be OK as a one-shot deal to keep from being stranded...but doing it more than once or twice sounds like it would be pretty hard on the starter motor.

jhbrennan

No, the engine starts to crank after a 30 second delay. The purpose of the switch is to prevent crank without clutch depressed. This over ride tip allows you to bypass functionality of the switch by holding the key in the start position and waiting for 30 seconds to pass before starter engages.

gota911

Exactly what you said.

J. Kid

When mine was going I carried a 1-2 inch piece of wire in my glovebox. If it wouldn't start I'd place it on the 2 metal contacts on the switch to bypass it as I didn't know about the 30 second trick. After the dealer swapped out the switch a year ago I haven't had a problem since but still have the wire just in case. Guess I can throw out the wire now. Thanks for the tip!

1analguy

Cool. I have to wonder, though. They went through some real trouble to engineer this rather arcane work-around into the software. It's almost as though they expected to have trouble with the switch...

gota911

Probably no more of an expectation than having he manual ways to open the trunk or the rear deck lid if the battery dies. Any electrical connection can fail occasionally, and since, for safety reasons, the DOT requires the clutch to be depressed for the starter to engage, I see this "work around" as forward thinking by the Porsche engineers to make sure the car is operable if the clutch sensor goes bad.

We have two entirely different views on the design of this "work around" for a faulty sensor. I see the glass as half full, you apparently see it as half empty.

1analguy

Not exactly true...I think it's swell, I'm just a little surprised that they did it.

dwost

Just had mine done last week. Started acting up the end of last year. I didn't know about the 30sec override, thanks for the heads up. What did work for me was to get in and turn the key to the "on" position (not depressing clutch) count to 5 and turn the key. 9 times out of 10 it would start.

ajayabb

Also had mine replaced on my Spyder. Wish I had known this trick . Thanks Tim

BoomC2S

Had mine replaced 2 years ago and it has started acting up again. Thanks for the tip. I wasn't aware of this.

Bricker

user 3470812

Thank you for posting this helpful tip. I ran into this trouble today. Hopefully this is my solution tomorrow.

kind regards,
julian