2014 Porsche 981s intermittent starting issues
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 21
Likes: 6
2014 Porsche 981s intermittent starting issues
Hi everyone,
50k miles
Have been having intermittent starting issues since last week. Battery is new oem replaced less than 2 years ago. Currently at my indy being diagnosed but they're having trouble pin pointing the issue and have not come to a conclusion As it Dosent seem to be the battery. Any ideas or anyone else have similar issues before? Thank you!
50k miles
Have been having intermittent starting issues since last week. Battery is new oem replaced less than 2 years ago. Currently at my indy being diagnosed but they're having trouble pin pointing the issue and have not come to a conclusion As it Dosent seem to be the battery. Any ideas or anyone else have similar issues before? Thank you!
Last edited by Aakash Shah; Jul 31, 2024 at 10:22 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 47
Likes: 19
We need a little more information. Is the starter turning the engine over at a strong pace, or kind of struggling? Trying to narrow it down to the battery or something else. Just because it’s only 2 years old doesn’t automatically mean it’s 100% healthy….
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 21
Likes: 6
No codes being thrown. Have a video of it failing to start. But can’t upload here. Currently car is at my indy and they are diagnosing. Making sure to rule out all culprits besides the battery. When car starts the battery voltage measures good. When it Dosent start it measures as dead. Quite the difficult issue to pinpoint
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 787
From: South Louisiana, Bonfire Capital of the World
No codes being thrown. Have a video of it failing to start. But can’t upload here. Currently car is at my indy and they are diagnosing. Making sure to rule out all culprits besides the battery. When car starts the battery voltage measures good. When it Dosent start it measures as dead. Quite the difficult issue to pinpoint
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 21
Likes: 6
I can let you know the specifics when I find out more from my indy. If you have a place I can send you the video that would probably help. When you try to start it it’s quiet you don’t hear anything. Dash lights do flicker. Other times when it does start it fires right up. No lag. When the battery is dead they have been able to start it with a jump or trickle charge for a few hours. When they do test the battery voltage when working it measures as a normal battery. I believe over 12.5 volts
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 21
Likes: 6
Realistically I know none of you will be able to tell me my exact issue. Just looking to hear other peoples experiences with the same car and starting issues and possible causes. So I can think about focusing on testing those issues and ask indy to do load tests and check for any parasitic draws etc. The below is what I know it could be
battery
starter relay
starter
alternator
fuel pump relay
fuel pump
dirty battery terminal and starter connections
battery
starter relay
starter
alternator
fuel pump relay
fuel pump
dirty battery terminal and starter connections
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 787
From: South Louisiana, Bonfire Capital of the World
Realistically I know none of you will be able to tell me my exact issue. Just looking to hear other peoples experiences with the same car and starting issues and possible causes. So I can think about focusing on testing those issues and ask indy to do load tests and check for any parasitic draws etc. The below is what I know it could be
battery
starter relay
starter
alternator
fuel pump relay
fuel pump
dirty battery terminal and starter connections
battery
starter relay
starter
alternator
fuel pump relay
fuel pump
dirty battery terminal and starter connections
Good luck. Keep us posted.
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 47
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Could be something as simple as battery terminals that need to be cleaned/retightened. Or could be something else. But it's very hard to believe the battery may be OK now and "dead" 10 minutes later, then OK again...
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 21
Likes: 6
No manual. It’s pdk. Yes I find it hard to believe the battery starts sometimes and is dead other times. But that’s my situation right now. The next step is replacing battery under warranty at this point. If the problem still persists we will diagnose any parasitic draw further. I know one 981 forum owner where the parasitic draw issue was the instrument cluster. I also know someone with a 981 who had similar issues with the culprit being the starter relay. I made sure to eliminate any accessory devices such as radar detector and dash cam being the culprit of the parasitic draw Could be anything at this point
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Second that. HP fuel pump will look like a weak battery on start. I went through couple batteries before HPFP was diagnosed
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Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 21
Likes: 6
Wild fact. Porsche requires their customers to use a battery tender at all times in order for their battery warranty to be applicable. Apparently it’s a stipulation. They even made me provide a receipt of my charger.
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Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 100
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From: Central Florida, USA
I had intermittent starting issues and electrical gremlins when I bought my 981S - date on battery showed about 2.5 years old. I went on vacation and car sat for a week, when I came back, battery was dead, had to jumper the contact in the fuse box to open the frunk. I replaced the battery, registered it with my Foxwell, and all starting and electrical issues resolved. I understand these cars are VERY sensitive to battery condition - my 2016 CLA250 Merc is even worse.
As a side note, I am in the US and I replaced with a Walmart AGM - these cost significantly less than OEM, are high quality, are made by Johnson Controls - who also makes batteries for OEM and other "name brand" batteries. The Walmart no-questions asked 4-year full replacement if defective warranty is unmatched by any of the autopart stores - I have received a brand new replacement at 3.5 years at no cost. Disclosure - I have no relationship with Wally World - other than they take my money.
Unless you feel better about having the Porsche OEM sticker on your battery, for a daily driver there are better options out there.
As a side note, I am in the US and I replaced with a Walmart AGM - these cost significantly less than OEM, are high quality, are made by Johnson Controls - who also makes batteries for OEM and other "name brand" batteries. The Walmart no-questions asked 4-year full replacement if defective warranty is unmatched by any of the autopart stores - I have received a brand new replacement at 3.5 years at no cost. Disclosure - I have no relationship with Wally World - other than they take my money.
Unless you feel better about having the Porsche OEM sticker on your battery, for a daily driver there are better options out there.
Hi everyone,
50k miles
Have been having intermittent starting issues since last week. Battery is new oem replaced less than 2 years ago. Currently at my indy being diagnosed but they're having trouble pin pointing the issue and have not come to a conclusion As it Dosent seem to be the battery. Any ideas or anyone else have similar issues before? Thank you!
50k miles
Have been having intermittent starting issues since last week. Battery is new oem replaced less than 2 years ago. Currently at my indy being diagnosed but they're having trouble pin pointing the issue and have not come to a conclusion As it Dosent seem to be the battery. Any ideas or anyone else have similar issues before? Thank you!