roninpearland

Exit freeway, stop at traffic light, car dies. Will not crank. Wait 5 minutes, car cranks, starts, and drives normal. Any ideas?

No HTwo O

Mileage? Are you current on all maintenance?

roninpearland

All maintenance current including new battery. thanks.

roninpearland

48,000.

No HTwo O

Any CEL? When were plugs done? Good fuel?

roninpearland

No CEL New plugs last week.

roninpearland

Same fuel last 150 miles.

Macster

I assume the key turns in the ignition switch ok and the key's feel and the switch's feel is normal? And you do not drive around with a ton of keys/odd and ins hanging off a key chain attached to the car's ignition key?

The engine does not crank and then cranks and starts and drives normal?

My WAG is a critical engine sensor and the one that comes to mind is the crankshaft position sensor. It gets hot (the heat is internally generated) and quits working. A few minutes to cool down -- absent any power the failing sensor can't generate the heat that (temporarily) renders it inoperable -- and poof it is alright again.

Sincerely,

Macster.

roninpearland

Thanks.

Do you know if that would generate a CEL?

No HTwo O

This might be the problem. Were they OEM plugs? Maybe one (or more) are not properly seated, and shorting out. Possibly a cracked coil pack too.

Macster

No 100% sure but probably not. Even though a critical sensor (if this proves to be the case) is not working, emissions are not affected and so no CEL. The engine controller may have logged some Porsche proprietary error code that a tech equipped with a PST2 or PIWIS and the knowhow use one of these tools to its fullest can use to retrieve this Porsche error and thus make the diagnosis.

I note plugs were changed recently. While I doubt all 6 plugs are bad during the plug job this crankshaft position sensor's connector accidently or on purpose disturbed or even disconnected to give the tech more working room, and this connector is not now making a good connection, reliable connection and that is the cause of the problem.

Sincerely,

Macster.

roninpearland

Thanks Macster. You gave me an idea. When programming a new key/actuator, I did ask the tech to check for any codes. There were none. What I discovered is operator errors--missing first and third in my older Porsche just gave me a chug or two warning. This one dies, and when it dies, it requires truning the key to the off position before restarting.

Macster

Yes, if one kills the engine and this probably also includes if it dies on its own, the key must be turned to the off position before trying to restart the engine.

But in your car's case why the engine is dying needs to be sorted out, unless it is just sloppy clutch work on your part. You are not alone: I've killed my Boxster a few times from just not paying attention to my driving.

Sincerely,

Macster.