AnthonyS

Hey guys, my 02 996 C2 has started to show some signs of hard starting. I noticed it last summer, it was about 95 degrees out and it cranked for maybe 10 seconds before starting. Never did it again so it was odd.

About a month ago I’d start noticing weird starting issues. Intermittent, and it’s hard to replicate. Yesterday it was about 88 out, driving around to get lunch and when I got back in the car it cranked for about 10 secs before firing up.

Then on the drive home, I noticed a higher than normal idle (about average 900 rpm whereas normally I see it lower around 700.

this morning I had no issue starting, went on a 15 min drive and parked for about 2 hours and had a hard start again and higher idle.

Has anyone experienced this intermittent issue? I’m considering doing fuel pressure sensor, fuel filter, fuel pump (in that order) but just thought to see if anyone had similar issues.

No CEL or anything yet, just these random hard starts.

thanks for any tips!

Edit: Stats on engine
88k miles currently
- battery and alternator replaced at 78k
- replaced AOS, coils and plugs at 77k
- starter replaced at 65k

DBJoe996

I would also replace the fuel pressure regulator...maybe do that first. It always helps if you bring mileage and maintenance that has been done to the table.

De Jeeper

The list u come up with after thinking about it for 30 secinds

Battery
Starter
Y-cable
crank position sensor
Fuel pump
fuel regulator
cracked fuel pick up hose
fuel filter

Pretty much any if those or combination of those will cause hot start issues

EVOMMM

Check for a dirty MAF

Mike Murphy

Is your throttle sticking at all? I would start by measuring your vacuum levels. The next time the car takes 10 seconds, I would crank for only 3, turn the key all the way off, then back on and crank again. See if it takes less than 10 seconds. The issue could be fuel taking a long time to get there, or it could be something else.

BTW, what’s the battery like? How old? Could it be cranking slower than it should?

AnthonyS

Thanks for the responses! I was getting some things together to order to go down a list of possible issues. Today while driving, the car randomly died. Started right back up, but I noticed the throttle and idle kind of sticking higher again. I also noticed when letting off the gas that the rpm would creep down slower than usual.

I thought to clean the MAF when I got home( even though I’d cleaned it about two months ago when replacing the air box) and all of a sudden a CEL came on. Pulled over and pulled codes and it came up with P0335 which from what I can tell points to the Crank Position Sensor / Flywheel sensor.

ordered that one up, will see if issue persists after I get it in there.

JohnCA58

no matter what modern vehicle includinng Harley, anything that shut off unexpectly or won't start while cranking, I alway look to see if the tach needle is bouncing, if not means crank position sensing signal is not reaching the ECM.

peterp

Given that it's highly intermittent, my first step would be to run a can of Sea Foam additive in the fuel tank before a fill-up and then re-evaluate after running through that tank of fuel.

AnthonyS

Issue resolved and CEL cleared after replacing the crank position sensor. Quick fix in about 30 minutes. Was a bit alarming to see metal shavings on the old CPS. I know the starter was replaced and old clutch replaced in the past, maybe residual shavings from wear and tear on those..

De Jeeper

Very common. The sensor is a magnet.

amfp

Glad you got it fixed. Had similar challenge, it was my fuel pump.

work_truck

ok but what about modern vehicles

dporto