engine wont turn over
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
engine wont turn over
My wife was driving her 1999 996 C4 cab w/70K miles for the first time today after sitting all winter. She drove it about 3 miles and had stopped and started it several times to get gas etc. On her last trip she heard a couple knocks coming from the engine followed by smoke that smelled electrical. She turned off the engine and saw the smoke was coming from water pump area ( maybe the belt ?) I went to where she was pulled over and tried to start the car but it wouldn't turn over. There was no oil or other fluids under the car. Any ideas ?
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 547
From: Phoenix, AZ
Take off the accessory belt and spin the pulleys by hand,be one of them could be frozen. If smoke was coming from WP, see if WP pulley spins by hand.
That is the easist thing to check right now. Two "knocks" are worrying. If all pulleys spin freely, then taking it to the shop is the next step as it is most likely serious.
And de-ja-vu.
That is the easist thing to check right now. Two "knocks" are worrying. If all pulleys spin freely, then taking it to the shop is the next step as it is most likely serious.
And de-ja-vu.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 19,031
Likes: 266
From: Bentonville, AR
Best get the car flat bedded to a shop for proper diagnosis. Might not be real serious but it could progress to serious if you muck around.
Anytime I read of a car acting up after sitting a long time I have to think mice have been at the car. They can gnaw wiring and hoses and cause all sorts of electrical and engine grief.
Anytime I read of a car acting up after sitting a long time I have to think mice have been at the car. They can gnaw wiring and hoses and cause all sorts of electrical and engine grief.
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 28
From: Southern Arizona
This is why I start and drive my two P cars 2-3 times during winter storage.
I pick a clear day, call the insurance office and have them put the cars on full coverage for one day, and take a 30-50 mile drive. It is not always convenient, and sometimes the car gets dirty too, but it feels good to give the cars this workout.
I don't say this to bash on rengelke, but to encourage others to think about doing this too.
It is better for any car, and it seems especially so for our Porsches, to be started and driven regularly. Don't forget to turn the A/C on, and the best way to do this in the winter is to run the windshield defrost cycle.
