Hi Folks, I've always searched this site for answers but never joined. Finally pulled the trigger. I've been a member over at 6speed a long time.

Anyway, I really need some help. Here's what I've got:

--3 weeks ago driving the car swiftly up in the mountains. Suddenly the car completely dies and I roll it to the side of the road. No loud noises, nothing leaking, just dead.

(On the dash I get FAILURE INDICATOR, and the PSM light flashed as well).

After disconnecting the battery the car would start, run for 3-5 minutes and then die and I would get the same FAILURE INDICATOR.

So I tow it home.

At home I buy a Durametric and get Codes:

5522
DME: CAN message missing
ABS/PSM 5.7Module Identification


9110
DME control unit
Instrument Cluster K21Module Identification


Automatic Air Conditioning H01
Current Fault Codes
35:
Instrument cluster signal fault (see instr. cluster fault mem.)


I unplug the PSM module and the car runs without shutting off

Well yesterday I try to venture out of the neighborhood and two miles down the road over a spot of rough pavement the car completely dies. Towed home, in garage, I'm frustrated.

I'm thinking that I may have a short in the PSM wires somewhere, but then people have said that the PSM error can cover all kinds of errors in the car.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions??

 

My WAG is the alternator.

The behavior you describe is very similar to that of a Cayenne I came across in a dealer service bay a few weeks ago. The tech told me the alternator was bad.

Apparently it would work for a while -- a few minutes -- then not work. The battery then became the source of electrical power. After a few more minutes of running all sorts of warning lights would come on, error messages would appear, then the engine would die.

The tech turned off the ignition and waited a while then the engine would start up but yet the same behavior occurred.

Before you replace the alternator since apparently the car is new to you be sure you verify the cable connections to/from the battery are in tip top shape. Corrosion can set it and compromise the connections almost always away from the battery area.

Be sure the battery is the right size, capacity and is secure. (Not related to the symptoms but check the battery has a proper vent tube connected. Often in a used car these are left off or discarded.)

If you do end up replacing the alternator the previous alternator's problems may have degraded the battery so there might arise behavior that could have you suspecting the alternator again or something else.

 

I will check the alternator, but I don't think that's the problem.

The battery is good (had it checked last week) and the car will run without stopping if it is stationary. Something in the 'jiggling' is causing the car to short out.

But I will check the alternator.

 

ignition switch?

 

Checked codes again today and keep getting the 5522 CAN message missing.

Car starts and then dies and reads PSM failure.

 

Fuel Pump

Ignition switch

ECU failure

Alarm Can system failure

Edit, was the car involved in a wreck or ??? Carfax??

It might be time to trailer into a Porsche dealer for diagnosis.

 

Not in an accident as far as I know. Car has run like a top for over a year and just a few weeks ago had this problem very suddenly.

Trying to figure out what it could possibly be. I've never been to a Porsche dealer, I think I would be pretty scared to go.

 

Bring the car up to Hennessey Porsche in Atlanta; a great service department. Ask for Jack, the shop foreman.

 

I just scheduled a drop off at APR which is pretty close to me. Gonna see what those guys say and then go from there. In the meantime if anyone else has any ideas I would love to try them.

 

If the symptoms are truly tied to the vehicle moving and has nothing to do with the fact the electrical needs are higher when the vehicle is moving vs. stationary then an electrical connection has to be suspect.

Time then to check the battery leads looking not only for connection problems but a break in the cable wiring

The problem is the insulation can look just fine and because of this the break can be hard to spot but sometimes the break is a warm spot during/shortly after the engine is started.

Be sure you check all wiring to/from the alternator too.

Ignition switch as others have suggested is a good idea. At idle wiggle that sucker and see what happens.

Another possible cause is crankshaft position sensor is acting up or has a marginal connection.

An intermittent fuel pump is a possible cause unless you tell me the engine refuses to crank after this dying event.

 

if your car is in trouble, do the right thing and dont cheap out. Go see a Porsche specialist. The alternative is the loss of a loved one (your car) and the loss of more money than you planned on. Some call home mechanics "do it yourself"--I call it "do it TO yourself". Your choice. i'd be into a qualified P-mechanic before you could say "total recall"
And no, I am not a mechanic and dont work for Porsche. Just MHO.

 

That's good advice. Often the last place a Porsche owner takes his car is the 1st place he should have taken the car. Porsche service may not be the cheapest around but it is the least expensive after one takes the car to the someplace else then when things are not sorted finally throws in the towel and takes it to the dealer.

But many have a very strong reluctance to take their car to a dealer. Unfortunately I recognize some have had less than pleasant previous business dealings with a dealer so this reluctance is I guess understandable.

Oh, I do not work for a dealer either.

 

Thread resurrection.

What was the fix here? I'm got this yesterday while reversing. The car cut out, with the warning on dash. The AA breakdown tech couldn't connect via obd port as car would not talk to his diagnostics


Car won't start now

 

It looks like the thread starter hasn't posted in over 3.5 years. Hopefully he still gets thread subscription notifications and will reply to your question.

 

Check the immobilizer. Looks like it's not sending signal to the ECU to start.