Porsche Repair: Porsche 911 Starting Problem, engine cranks, porsche 911

Question
I have a 1986 Porsche Carrera that will not start after it is driven for a while.  If I leave it be it usually will start after 4 hours.  The engine cranks well but will not turn over. It starts right up even after being in my garage for 3 weeks.  

Answer
Hi Tom,

Car woes like this are certainly baffling...and illogical.  

There's already a good bit of information on the web about all the different possibilities for a no-start 911, so rather than my re-typing or summarizing it, I'll point you to some of it...and suggest you pick and choose the areas you feel comfortable investigating and analyzing yourself.  

In the case of the 911, a good bit of information has been catalogued at (http://www.pelicanparts.com/index.htm).  I'm not a saleman for Pelican Parts but I am amazed at how they have managed to gather so many tech articles into one body of knowledge.  I'd suggest it would be fun bedtime reading for any 911 owner on any topic.

Find this page (http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911M/POR_911M_fuelCI_pg1.htm) in the Pelican Parts online catalog and scroll down about halfway...you'll see an item listing for a "fuel accumulator".  I'd do a bit more research on the purpose of this part and see if it may be the cause of your problems.

More generally, the 911 tech articles have a variety of detail that might give you good hints at what to do next...for example, "troubleshooting a no start": (http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_carrera_start_troubleshoot/911_carr...).

Along the same lines, this owner approached starting problems from another angle: "Starter system troubleshooting": (http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/mult_starter_diag/mult_starter_diag.htm)

Finally, now that you have waaaaay too much information for one sitting, this will take you over the top: "DME trouble shooting": (http://www.pelicanparts.com/911/technical_specs/911_DME_troubleshoot.htm).

Once you pinpoint the likely culprit, or if you have any questions interpreting the information you're seeing please feel free to follow-up with me...I'd be glad to help.

Dave