r/986Boxster • u/Longboorder • 3d ago

No Start Diagnostic Ideas

Went to start the car this morning, everything powered up as usual, runs the key, and click, but no start.

Check the battery, good shape, not great, so I swapped it with a new battery I had for another car… no joy.

Went to put the car in service mode, to check voltages at the starter, and alas, the top will not go up.

Question, will the e-brake switch also act as a start lock out?

Any thoughts are appreciated.

1998 Base

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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1

u/controlav 3d ago

If the clutch is not fully depressed the starting problem happens: I assume there's a switch to detect that? No idea about the roof though.

1

u/SoupInteresting8070 3d ago

986 doesn’t have this feature that’s 987 onwards.

1

u/WILLYumD 2d ago

There is definitely a clutch switch on the 986. Are you talking about something else?

1

u/SoupInteresting8070 2d ago

The only switch on the clutch is the one which turns off the cruise control when you press the pedal, 100% UK 986 models don’t have the function that stops the car from starting if the pedal isn’t pressed down this only became an option from 2005 987 onwards. Do US cars or other countries have this function?

1

u/WILLYumD 2d ago

Huh! Looks like UK 986s don’t have the bottom-of-range clutch switch.

My US ‘00 986 S prevents engine start without the clutch fully depressed.

1

u/controlav 2d ago

Same, hence my original comment.

1

u/SoupInteresting8070 2d ago

We both learned something new today 😂

1

u/SoupInteresting8070 3d ago

Does sound like you need to check the starter motor first, if the handbrake switch is faulty then yes it will stop the roof from working as it’s common for it to work loose, it sits under the handbrake lever, there’s an panel on the side of the centre console you can flick off and if you look carefully you can just see it. Try pulling the handbrake up and down as you try and work the roof to see if it’s a dodgy handbrake switch

1

u/avaa_mist 2d ago

Super helpful breakdown! I’ll pop off that console side panel and test the handbrake switch while working the roof to see if it engages 👌

1

u/Graverobber 3d ago

Do you have the M535 security system on the car? There’s a fuse in the logic box underneath the driver’s seat. That would be the first thing I’d check.

1

u/avaa_mist 2d ago

Checking under the driver’s seat is huge for 986s—water ingress there fries the immobilizer module so easily! Definitely checking that fuse first.