I will pay $1,000 for that boat anchor.

 

I'll go $10,000.


Andreas

 

Whatever Andreas bids, I'll go 400 over.

 

Steve, I'd do what Andreas suggested and then take it to Taylor if that doesn't fix it. Honestly, having met you a few times and knowing your DIY skill level, I don't think Intersport is the best shop for you in this instance. I'm happy to elaborate via PM, if you want.

 

Had to cancel with Intersport anyway for tomorrow...

Went to Rockville Porsche today and talked to the mechanic Danny that I was recommended to see. He thinks that he can do 2 things to isolate the potential problem - they think it may be the clutch switch or the starter relay, but definitely not the DME relay (it would crank at least if it was that they say) or the battery cable.

Ok, I admit it. I'd have no idea how to change a battery cable. I know, I suck at this sh*t. I work 12 hours a day and don't really have free time to do too much stuff with the car other than drive it, which I really haven't for 3 months now.

My appt is for next Tuesday, so maybe if I hear back from Taylor by then there might be another alternative. The Porsche place said that I could bring it here or there - to this place or that, but in the end, many people end up just bringing it to them to fix what the other guys couldn't.

I know, sales pitch, but it sounded pretty convincing, even at $135 an hour - gulp. The other places around me charge around $120 an hour anyway...

Pretty down about this but who wouldn't be. 3 months of the summer and you can't drive your car because it won't always start when you need it too? And it never does it when you bring it in?

Crap I wish one of you guys lived in the Rockville area!

 

Steve, If you can put gas in the car, you could change a Relay, just to double check. Its like plugging in a cell phone charger in to the wall outlet of your home, yes it is that simple. Just follow the pictures here on RL. Even if your DIY level is not too great, I would rate changing the DME relay at 0 (on a scale of 1-10).

 

It's the battery ground cable replacement actually. I will probably mess it up somehow.

Why buy a DME relay though since they specifically said it couldn't be that as it doesn't crank when this happens.

Thanks,
Steve

 

Steve, you still need a spare DME relay. It's a must-have. You should have seen the pissed off wife in the front seat of a Carrera I stopped to help on I-66 once. My DME relay wouldn't fit his car, which he had just spent a ton of money on a engine rebuild. They were getting towed home instead of driving to a nice dinner.

 

+993

It may not be the problem this time, but be assured it will be eventually. Mine decided to quit in the dark parking lot of a restaurant after an anniversary dinner with my wife. While she started to fret, I popped the hood and fuse box, swapped the bad relay with the new one I kept in the trunk, and (after mentally crossing my fingers) the car started right up. I was very, very happy I had followed the standard advice to keep a spare relay in the car. My wife's appreciation of Rennlist and its collected assembly of wise folks went way up that evening.

 

Wow, 9 years of ownership and never needed one but the clock is ticking so I'll get one SOON!

 

Instead of waiting for the day it would fail I just put a new one in to avoid the possible hassle. Still have a spare just in case......

 

Ok, to keep things back on topic somewhat, I'm glad Taylor opened up his own shop, he did get in touch with me via email and I'm going to bring it to him after all when I return from vacation. He's worked on it for years at both shops and knows it well so that comfort level is there. Plus, he did the SAI port cleaning fix last year and NO return of the dreaded CEL... yet.

I wished he opened his shop in Gaithersburg MD instead of Sterling VA but it is what it is.

The cheapest DME Relay I could find is at Sunset Porsche in Oregon for $60 and $12 for the battery ground cable. My local dealer wants ... are you ready? ... $109 for the DME relay and $21 for the ground cable. That's almost double. WTH?

If you know where I can still get one for the stated $35 price please let me know before I buy one from Sunset. Sunset told me that they were $31 years ago and have you guys actually bought one lately for that price?

Cheers,
Steve

 

$31.25 at Pelican

993-615-227-01-M76

 

On the phone with them now. It's non OEM but A LOT cheaper. Whoopee. THANKS! My gosh, half the price of the cheapest dealer. Crazy!

Rennlist RULES. You just saved me the equivalent of 7 gallons of gas. It's party time, folks.

They have no battery ground cable though so I'm stuck going to the dealer for that.

 

This kind of stuff is always made by subs, not Porsche. Most are made in former East Bloc conuntries for all the German car companies. Even if has the Porsche name on it, it was made in Poland, Hungary, Czech, etc.