SteveG

Seamus: Always good to recognize people w/thanks, as you have, even if the thread is a couple years old. ): As this is your third post, welcome. I just want to add that the search function is usu quite helpful.

Also, for the record, this kind of no-start can be caused by battery drain or any one of a number of dirty grounds that impede flow. I was thinking the history of this car: new owner, in shop for work, possibly not being driven much, would result in low battery. Also, a single bad cell, the batt can still show 12V, a load test is best.

Randy V

Get a secondary key made ASAP! Search for on-line services that have been used here - you submit a picture of the key to them and they mail you an exact copy.

seamus26

Another forum I contribute to quite frequently has a "Thanks" button available in the classroom thread. I didn't see one here, so I wanted to really, REALLY emphasize how much I appreciate forums and people who post success stories.

Much better than dealing with the <grumble, grumble> Porsche dealer. Don't get me going on that.

I thought I'd add a little history on the car. I have actually owned it for about seven years. I have replaced that monstrous battery, but this past winter I did not treat it the way that it should have been treated. It was always garage kept, of course, but it was extremely cold this year and the battery stayed in the car. You may commence throwing wrenches at me with great malice. I deserve it.

I also wanted to mention that I started replacing the bad / missing relays. Auto Zone carries them for about nine bucks, but the stores only stock one. I'll have to hit three stores or order online. The one that I did purchase I put in the kick down socket, where there apparently has not been one in a long time. Since I have owned it anyway. What a world of difference! The mechanic who has worked on this car for the past 20 years spent a lot of time on the transmission for shifting issues. Could it be that this was (in part) the culprit all along? This was the first morning I have driven it since, and it was a totally different car. I want to get some more miles on it to see for sure, but wow. Perhaps someone could explain what the kick down circuit does in one of these trannys so I can understand what was going on without the relay in place.

I will check into that, thanks! I talked to the dealer and they can order me one from the title. Since my original key is quite worn (and now a little rusted from the washer), I may opt to go that route and have a new one cut to spec rather than copy the old key.

Rest assured that I carefully Scotch-Brited the key and sprayed it with Slide-All before really using it.