Boxster ignition problem
 

After sitting for long periods (over night or workday) my boxster is getting progressively harder to start.

Here are the symptoms:
-turn key and nothing but dash lights. No "clicking" or starter noises.
-repeated key turns are ineffective.

After about 3-6 tries the starter finally cranks and has plenty of juice to start the engine. Once started it will start normally while it is warm after sitting idle for shorter periods of time. It starts easily even after running for so much as a one minute warm up. The battery is trusted as I replaced it this past spring.

Ideas?

Could be a bunch of things. Battery is the obvious one - even if it is relatively new doesn't mean it is necessarily good. Could be defective, or you could have a "short" that is draining the battery. Could also be the crank position sensor - to protect the engine, the ECU will not turn over the motor if the CPS isn't sending a proper signal. If the CPS is going bad, could be consistent with your hot/cold behavior.

Have you pulled the CEL codes? A CPS fault would be logged.

The other obvious guess is you need a new ignition switch. They have a tendency to go bad and cause all kinds of weird problems. I have a spare at home and can help you install if we can find time. Or we can borrow a CPS from Magistro and check it out.

No, I haven't read any codes as I don't have the tool. If I can limp through this next week (the 986 is my DD this season) can we try that next weekend?

Another possibility - sticky solenoid RELAY in the starter circuit (would explain why there aren't any clicks when the key is turned).

[edit - meant to say relay, not solenoid]

ed

How can you tell if its that?

Aren't Boxsters OBD II? If so, almost any auto parts store will check codes for you. Free.

Really!?! I did not know that...

My bet is on the ignition switch. Common problem. A little painful to replace with man-hands, but a cheap part if you get the Audi equivalent part #.

Here's a good how-to: http://industryfigure.com/berkeley/P...tionswitch.htm

I've already done that ignition switch with the audi part. This feels like a different problem, but I won't rule it out.

I wouldn't rule it out. I think I replaced 3 or 4 ignition switches over a 10 year period on my 996.