Car won't start after washing
Car won't start after washing
Author
Discussion

boombastictiger

Original Poster:

203 posts

147 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
Hi,

I have a Porsche Caymen GT4

Washed it, just the outside not underneath.

Now it won't start, totally dead, even when jump starting it won't turn over, but electrics come on and clicking noise can be heard from front left of car.

Was working perfectly before, starting straight away and used as a daily driver.

Had battery tested and says its fine.

Does anyone have ideas what it could be?

Much appreciated.

Edited by boombastictiger on Saturday 3rd August 14:57

Crusoe

4,126 posts

262 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
Have a feel under the passenger seat and see if its damp/wet. The Control unit for the alarm system is under there, on these I believe, when they get damp they could cause problems like this. If not battery connections would be worth checking.

boombastictiger

Original Poster:

203 posts

147 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
boombastictiger said:
Hi,

I have a Porsche Caymen GT4

Washed it, just the outside not underneath.

Now it won't start, totally dead, even when jump starting it won't turn over, but electrics come on and clicking noise can be heard from front left of car.

Was working perfectly before, starting straight away and used as a daily driver.

Had battery tested and says its fine.

Does anyone have ideas what it could be?

Much appreciated.

Edited by boombastictiger on Saturday 3rd August 14:57
Had it a look and was not wet :-(

Saleen836

12,525 posts

240 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
Sounds like the starter motor is stuck, put the car in gear and rock it back and fourth then try to start it, if that doesn't work hit the starter with a hammer/length of wood/something similar while someone tries to start it.

DonkeyApple

70,647 posts

200 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
If you can hear clicking then this suggests that the electrics are fine as the clicking will be the relays. That leaves the starter itself and the solenoid in the traditional days. In the old days you would push the car back and forth to see if the starter had jammed, whack the solenoid to wake it up of check if the earth had come loose.

alabbasi

3,243 posts

118 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
This is the excuse I will use going forward for not washing my cars.
You said totally dead which means no lights when you turn the ignition on right?

Cold

16,741 posts

121 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
If all you've done is wash it and it won't start, it sounds as though you need to make it dirty again.

Pistonheader101

2,206 posts

138 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
Mere coincidence

Crusoe

4,126 posts

262 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
Do you have a second set of keys you could try, lock and unlock first. If it isn't making any noise other than a relay click it is more likely to be imobilizer alarm related. Does it have a tracker with remote shut down, might have triggered if you moved it after the imobilizer reactivated (15min on most high end cars if you leave them unlocked).

Black_S3

2,847 posts

219 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
Pistonheader101 said:
Mere coincidence


I agree. Unrelated to the OPs problem, but I know someone who was adamant the car wash people broke her car, she wouldn’t listen to anyone as the recovery monkey had gone along with her story and he was ‘the professional’. Needless to say the garage she took her car to added what appeared to be a fairly significant idiot tax.

sparks_190e

12,738 posts

244 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
My E39 530i used to always overheat just once after using the local car wash. Then it was fine. Never worked it out.

MOBB

4,589 posts

158 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
Cold said:
If all you've done is wash it and it won't start, it sounds as though you need to make it dirty again.
This ^

My car is dirty at the moment and starts fine

anonymous-user

85 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
Sounds like starter motor.

xjay1337

15,966 posts

149 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
Saleen836 said:
Sounds like the starter motor is stuck, put the car in gear and rock it back and fourth then try to start it, if that doesn't work hit the starter with a hammer/length of wood/something similar while someone tries to start it.
Maybe on a 1972 Land Rover but on a Porsche gt4 ????



Op - was it Porsche approved water? If not you'll have no luck with the warranty I'm afraid.

Electro1980

9,139 posts

170 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
MOBB said:
Cold said:
If all you've done is wash it and it won't start, it sounds as though you need to make it dirty again.
This ^

My car is dirty at the moment and starts fine
Mine too. I was going to was it tomorrow, but now I’m not sure. Should I risk it?

boombastictiger

Original Poster:

203 posts

147 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
Hi all,

So Basically switched the battery and it started fine and runs perfect now - weird. Is this normal for a battery to give up this way so suddenly, or did something trigger it?

I bought the car 2 months ago use it as a daily drive and it has started fine everytime, I drove it to a manual car wash and straight after it doesn't start, switch the battery and it works!

The date was the 2016 on the old battery so I'm guessing it's the original one? Got sold into a AGM, although iv heard the GT4 won't be able to fully charge it? Only thing is the old battery when tested was showing as fine, so something felt fishy...

Anyhow at least it's working now, thanks for the advice and help guys, I was our panic stations.



Edited by boombastictiger on Saturday 3rd August 18:06

sherman

15,322 posts

246 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
Did you have the radio, lights a/c turned on whilst washing it?
When was the last time it had a proper 50 mile+ run?
Did you just flatten the battery?

Daggle74

104 posts

151 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
As Sherman says, you left something on whilst washing it. interior light? Stereo? That would be the norm

mintybiscuit

2,866 posts

176 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
Loose battery connectors ?

boombastictiger

Original Poster:

203 posts

147 months

Saturday 3rd August 2019
quotequote all
sherman said:
Did you have the radio, lights a/c turned on whilst washing it?
When was the last time it had a proper 50 mile+ run?
Did you just flatten the battery?
I guess it's possible, but it started straight up when driving to the garage.

When the battery mechanic checked the machine said battery ok. before that we had a v8 Ford raptor and Nissan patrol attempt to jump start it, which got the electrics on.