997.2 engine suddenly died at stoplight
08-03-2018 | 12:42 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
997.2 engine suddenly died at stoplight
all lights came on on dash. No turning over while restarting. Waited 30 seconds and it came on like nothing ever happened. Happened last night on my way home. It’s 2010 997.2
got home ok, and retried restart and there would be a small hesitation between turning the ignition key and the engine, going blank for half a second and then it would crank and fire up ok. This morning it’s normal. Could it be a bad ignition key or battery. It’s on original battery and 104k miles. Getting towed to dealer this am just in case
got home ok, and retried restart and there would be a small hesitation between turning the ignition key and the engine, going blank for half a second and then it would crank and fire up ok. This morning it’s normal. Could it be a bad ignition key or battery. It’s on original battery and 104k miles. Getting towed to dealer this am just in case
08-03-2018 | 12:53 PM
#2
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,088
Likes: 343
From: Upstate NY
all lights came on on dash. No turning over while restarting. Waited 30 seconds and it came on like nothing ever happened. Happened last night on my way home. It’s 2010 997.2
got home ok, and retried restart and there would be a small hesitation between turning the ignition key and the engine, going blank for half a second and then it would crank and fire up ok. This morning it’s normal. Could it be a bad ignition key or battery. It’s on original battery and 104k miles. Getting towed to dealer this am just in case
got home ok, and retried restart and there would be a small hesitation between turning the ignition key and the engine, going blank for half a second and then it would crank and fire up ok. This morning it’s normal. Could it be a bad ignition key or battery. It’s on original battery and 104k miles. Getting towed to dealer this am just in case
Trending Topics
08-03-2018 | 07:36 PM
#10
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 696
Likes: 195
From: Midwest
There seems to be a number of 997s with ignition switch electronic issues. That's what I thought when I couldn't get mine to turn over - happened to be the clutch interlock switch.
The battery in my wife's 2005 Toyota Highlander lasted 12 yrs - including as many sub zero Minnesota winters. I didn't think the thing was ever going to die.
The battery in my wife's 2005 Toyota Highlander lasted 12 yrs - including as many sub zero Minnesota winters. I didn't think the thing was ever going to die.
08-04-2018 | 01:58 AM
#11
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 8,513
Likes: 1,069
From: Florida
Only reason I have some doubts about the battery is that it died with the engine running while at a stop light so it was getting all the electricity it needed from the alternator. This actually has more similarities to what happened when my high pressure fuel pump failed recently. Recall item that was replaced by the dealer at no cost.
08-04-2018 | 10:10 AM
#12
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 26,418
Likes: 6,829
From: Clemson, SC
You've got your two most likely culprits identified here - bad battery (or bad battery connection) or the HPFP. 8 years out of a Battery is exceptional - most fail at almost exactly 5 years. The only vehicle I've seen batteries consistently last longer in is the Cayenne, where the box is located under the front driver's seat so they stay super clean, stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, but it's not the easiest thing to change quickly - good thing there are jump posts under the hood.
08-04-2018 | 02:36 PM
#13
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
Well, it’s my daily driver, never needed a battery tender. It’s at dealer now, no news till Monday or so. Yes, it died while the engine was running so if it was the battery, wouldn’t it still run with the alternator? I guess anything is possible with these modern engines and how a battery interplay’s with the electronics during operation. That’s why I also thought it could be a bad ignition switch. All the lights in the dash came on when it died and the service rep asked me specifically if that was the case. Not sure what that means, but never seen them all illuminated like that. There is no check engine light that stayed on either. I also thought it could be the hp fuel pump, but when it died, and tried to restart, there was no cranking. If it is a bad fuel pump, I believe the engine would turn/crank but not fire up. There was no cranking at all. I’ll keep u posted
08-04-2018 | 03:58 PM
#14
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,068
Likes: 351
From: Chicago, IL
How much time passed from when you started the car to when the car died at the stoplight?
Had you driven it shortly before the trip when this happened. I’ve heard of this happening on 997.2s about a half dozen times including my own car.
My conditions were when I started a short 10 minute drive to parking it for maybe two minutes. Then starting and rolling to a stop sign 45 seconds later. It died at the stop sign. Same Christmas tree light show. It then cranked right up again and no problems ever since. That was two years ago. I was on an old battery and since changed it but think it has more to do with the car running too rich on the start up thinking it needed to heat the cats. Probably something to do with heat soak but that’s just an educated guess.
No idea if my situation mirrors yours but it’s one data point for you.
Had you driven it shortly before the trip when this happened. I’ve heard of this happening on 997.2s about a half dozen times including my own car.
My conditions were when I started a short 10 minute drive to parking it for maybe two minutes. Then starting and rolling to a stop sign 45 seconds later. It died at the stop sign. Same Christmas tree light show. It then cranked right up again and no problems ever since. That was two years ago. I was on an old battery and since changed it but think it has more to do with the car running too rich on the start up thinking it needed to heat the cats. Probably something to do with heat soak but that’s just an educated guess.
No idea if my situation mirrors yours but it’s one data point for you.
08-05-2018 | 04:51 AM
#15
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 73
From: Napa Valley, CA
Only reason I have some doubts about the battery is that it died with the engine running while at a stop light so it was getting all the electricity it needed from the alternator. This actually has more similarities to what happened when my high pressure fuel pump failed recently. Recall item that was replaced by the dealer at no cost.
Oh, and as to the car just dying for no reason. When my car was 2 years old, in 2nd pulling up to a stop sign (2 minutes after starting), the engine just died. Came to a stop, restarted without a problem, and drove away. This was the only time it ever happened. Just a blip in the electronics I guess (no error codes).