porschedog

The battery is 1 year old and has max cranking amps, while the generator system seems to be working (I'll do the load test thing tonight).

Ok, here's the scenario: my car starts great in the AM or when it's time to head home in the afternoon. It usually almost always starts fine after I stop to get gas or groceries. However, sometimes - not always - when I go to restart, I get a pause, then it fires right up as I am about to reach for the paddles and yelling "Clear!"

Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions/cures/voodoo incantations I can try?

DBJoe996

Starter motor, ignition switch, Y-cable, clutch switch and cable corrosion come to mind. One of the things I have noticed lately is not pushing down on the clutch pedal far enough when I'm in a hurry. I should bypass that damn thing but it is a safety feature for the forgetful.

porschedog

My indy swears he checked the starter motor when he upgraded the car to a Godzilla battery, but you never know.
I am suspecting the switch itself or Y cable. I live by the beach, so huge potential for corrosion there.
Thanks for the clutch switch suggestion, too.

Paul Waterloo

I've never had the hard start issue, but the Y cable is the first place I would be looking at with your symptoms.

AWDGuy

I have the same issue. that's how I would describe it exactly. turn key to start, it turns once, then pauses for 2 seconds and then turns over again to finally start the car.

I will be replacing the y cable, the starter and my alternator pulley since the clutch is gone in it. should be done by the end of the weekend. I will report back with my findings.

dan_189

Does sound like a Y cable issue, Asahi has a write up on how to check it in detail somewhere.

Basically if the voltage differs from the alternator output and the jump post when the car is hot the cable needs to be replaced. Heat is the determining factor if the car is hot the cable gets heat soaked and fails to carry to current to the starter easily.

porschedog

Good info, thanks. I had hoped I'd solved it via a bigger battery, but it's still doing it so I'll be checking my Y cable more closely

5CHN3LL

Starter is kaput. I went with a cheap Amazon starter a year ago; it's still starting like a champ.

I was expecting to have to replace the cable, but the starter seemed easier and I am prone to laziness. No more slow starts when the starter gets heat-soaked!

dan_189

Mine hard start issue awhile back got diagnosed by an OPC as a worn starter. Luckily I replaced the Y cable first which solved the issue.
Quite difficult to diagnose but ideally you should replace both if possible.

Clark78

Which one is the Y cable? Part number? Thanks!

DBJoe996

#21 here http://www.autoatlanta.com/porsche-p...section=902-05

AWDGuy

Mine goes in tomorrow for new front tires (they are 7 years old but look brand new) an alignment, new starter (rebuild) and Y cable. Looking forward to getting her back this weekend and hopefully not having this hot start issue anymore.

dan_189

One thing I regret is not attempting the Y cable replacement mysel​​​​​f, I had the OPC do it.

Once the plenum is off it doesn't look impossible to do.

longrowe

Y-cable isn't bad if you take the box off the end first. Super easy to thread through then snap the box back on. I have a slow cranking engine on a hot restart. Y-cable did not fix it so may look at the starter next.

DBJoe996

IMHO do not do a starter rebuild. If you are going to have it out for any reason, put in a brand new one. My OE died and I replaced with a Bosch rebuilt starter. Bad idea. Lasted about 12 months and blew the bendix. Replaced with a new Bosch stater and it has been all good for 3 years now. Daily driver and I hit that starter 5-6 times daily. You can get one off Amazon for a fair price. Bosch SR0808N