The patient: 1990 944 S2

Symptom #1: A week ago I was leaving work after the car had been sitting in the parking lot all day in 100 degree heat. No start. It's getting plenty of juice, it clearly wants to start, but won't. I let it sit five minutes and voila, runs like a charm.

Symptom #2: The same day, ten minutes after I finally leave the parking lot, I've got to fill up at the gas station. I fill up and the car won't start. I get someone at the gas station to give me a jump -- no luck. I have to let it sit for an hour before it finally starts. When it finally does, there's a bit of hesitation for the first minute or two at idle, then it runs like a champ.

Symptom #3: No problems for a week, and now it's not starting again. Same scenario as the first case except it's only about 90 degrees outside.

Extra information: The battery is brand spanking new. Fluids are good. The car has never given me a moment's trouble in 18 months except for this starting issue. Also, I'm a mechanical idiot. Any technical advice you guys provide will have to be given to me like I'm four years old.

I'm stuck at work, it's a holiday weekend, and I'd really just like to go home. Suggestions?

 

Is the starter cranking? If not than it's the solenoid. I had the same issue on both of my 944s. It turned out to be a bad solenoid that would lose conductivity during high temperatures. What was funny was when I kicked the dead pedal and cranked at the same time, the car would start.

Get yourself another starter ASAP

 

As I said, I'm a mechanical idiot. Everything sounds the same except for the fact that it's not turning over. How would I tell?

 

I had an IDENTICAL problem a few months ago. The other thing that I noticed at the same time was that the fuel tank would gurgle when I refueled. Had the fuel filter and check valve changed and all has been ok since.

Here in FL, have the same high-temp issues. Think there was a vacuum in the fuel lines, maybe caused by fuel evaporating in the heat, then fuel was slow in getting through when I tried to start. But this only happened intermittently, and normally when I was not at home, so was unable to test the system out.

Be interested to see if anyone else had similar issues and what their cure was.

 

When you turn the key, does the engine turn over?

Or do you just hear a click? Does the dash light up?

 

Wish me luck. I'm going to go give it another shot...

 

The engine turns...

Hopefully, I'm outta here. Updates to follow.

 

Bit confused? does the starter turn the engine over or not? In your first post it reads like it is trying to start (ie: engine is turning).

 

Sorry, I should have been more specific. When I turn the key it sounds exactly like it always does (the engine is trying to catch, so I assume what I'm hearing is the starter motor) except it never actually catches.

I've read other posts from S2 owners where the engine takes about 2 or 3 seconds before it turns over. That's the way my car has always behaved too. In this case it's just never actually starting. When I turn the key to accessory mode I get a good 12 volt reading, everything lights up, windows work, etc. It just never actually fires.

 

Fuel pressure regulator, if it failed, or is beginning to fail you may experience flooding, this is what i was getting, i could go to the gas station then it wouldnt start, wait awhile then it does, but stumbles. holding the gas down all the way would sometimes help keeping the afm door open to try and get as much air in there as i could.

thats my guess anyway

 

Failing DME relay? Try tapping the dme relay in the fuse box.

 

What is DME?

Could it possibly be the crank sensor?? (I'm no mechanic but I've heard that can cause the problem)

 

What do they say about monkeys and footballs?? Well, this is it.

 

You might also want to take a look at the fuel pump relay. Sounds almost like when the car is hot you have the issue, and when it cools down you don't. That's pretty typical of a relay starting to go. You can jump the terminals while you have the no-start condition to tell for sure...

Good luck!

 

Thanks to all for the replies.

I had the unnerving experience of leaving the car at the shop, putting the key in an envelope and shoving it under one of the garage doors. Radio silence until Tuesday morning, so I'll try not to think about it too much between now and then. The upside is that if someone wanted to steal the car it's not going anywhere under its own power.

Got a rental car that's kind of freaking me out, too -- an '08 Cadillac DTS. 4,009 lbs, 295 lb ft of torque. The thing is like driving a ****ing sofa attached to a missile. Quite a change from my girl Charlotte...

I'll post an update Tuesday afternoon. In the meantime, thanks again for all who took the time to answer and everyone have a great holiday weekend.