Quick survey: "Hesitation" problem
 

I've read in a number of places that some 997 owners are complaining about an engine hesitation problem.

Is this a wide-spread issue, or just limited to a few occurrences? Was it limited to a production time period? Tip vs. stick? Is it based on fuel (ethanol, etc.), or location?

One of the attractions of Porshe is the quality, and if I spend ~$100k I expect a reliable car. In this thread I'm not so much interested in potential technical fixes, but if this is an issue I should be concerend about at all.

FYI - I tested a Cayenne, and it hesitated badly as I was making a left turn across oncoming traffic, but I thought it was me - - until I started reading these 997 forums.

Don't mean to raise a potential non-problem here, but thought current owners could help out some future ones. thanks

I can recall a few complaints on the forums - but they seemed more like niggling issues.
And out of the many, MANY 997 owners on this board, the majority seems to have no hesitation issue. Personally, I don't see a distinguishable trend and I don't see it being a real issue.
I wouldn't worry about it. Go drive a bunch of 997's and see what you think. Nothing can beat firsthand experience.

However:
https://rennlist.com/forums/search.php?searchid=1110105

--This is a search for the word 'hesitation' in posts on the 997 forum. i don't have time to filter it all down however (Sorry! Hosting a party!)

There are MANY threads on this subject on Rennlist as well as the 'other' p-car fora (forums?).
I think a good summary is that:
1) It happens on an idiosyncratic basis.
2) It doesn't necessarily happen again.
3) Some people can temporally correlate it with changing gas brands.
4) Some believe it is a "vapor lock" like phenomenon reporting variable efficacy associated with venting the gas cap with the car running.
5) Regardless of the cause, it appears to be self-correcting in almost all reported cases.
6) There is no one single explanation of its cause.

My personal experience was after filling the tank with a different brand of gas. Car hesitated at constant rpm and was gone with wide open throttle. Gas cap trick did not fix it. It went away by itself after about 15 minutes. This happened once and has not returned in over 1500 miles since.

It would be great if someone with an OBDII probe could analyze the car WHILE it's happening. Anyone keeping an OBD tester in the glove box?

I have had 4-5 instances. Right now I have a OBD diagnostic box in my trunk with a tethered button so I can record if it happens again. I will post the info as I get it.
I'm supposed to have it for about three weeks...
Regards,
Eric

Mine happened on ONE occasion during break-in, shortly after I bought gas at a Texaco. It never happened again, ever, and it's one month and about 1k miles later.

I am yet to see a 997 come in for hesitation issues

What state are you in?

Happened to me today.
'06 997 C4S 1000 miles
I did NOT fuel up today. I always click cap. I always use Sunoco 93.
Drove it to the dealer.
Mechanic drove the car and the symptoms repeated.
I'll keep you posted.
I have some 100 octane race fuel-should I put it in?

Tony, I heard that anything over 94-95 octane in a stock 997 will cause idle issues. Something to do with fuel mapping / emissions.

I read it here... don't remember the post, sorry.

Betcha Ben can find it. ;-)

-don

My car is coming up on one-year-old, 7000 miles, no "hesitations" - ever.
I always burn Shell 91 (the highest they'll give us here in the Republic of Smog Angeles).

Every once in awhile my 06 C2S will hesitate on take off from a start. 3000 miles and it's done it 3 times.

My car has done this 3 times, all with less than 1/2 tank of fuel. The hesitation was never that severe and it alway went away after a few miles. Each time, I filled up the tank as soon as practical.

is your check engine light on?

Happened a second time to me during my 850 mile road trip this week. It occured with about 1/8 a tank of gas. The problem disappeared on its own after about 2 miles of driving.
So that's two times in 5250 miles,...not bad for a $102,000 car I guess !!!!!!!!

My 06 C2S stick 11K miles hesitates for about 2 seconds every morning when I first start it up. It never happens any other time. Its been checked out but nothing turns up. I've gotten used to it. By the time I'm 20 feet from my house it's fine.