New here, obviously with an issue. Definitely, appreciate the expertise and insight, although I wish it were under more positive circumstances.

This past Saturday (today is Monday) I noticed a very brief, less than one second, loss of power until mild acceleration pulling away from a stop. Within a moment or two and about 6 city blocks (San Francisco) the car began to drive and accelerate normally.

Yesterday, the car experienced a complete shutdown while driving and currently will not start. Prior to the full loss of engine power, I received a rapid succession of error messages on the dashboard, including PSM Failure, Airbag Failure, ABS Failure- which quickly switched to "brake failure"- brakes were working fine. As I was looking for a spot to pull over (about .5 miles) the car was driving normally although idling slightly unusually (hard to hear due to traffic and thus unable to accurately explain haha). Thankfully, at the exact time I found a spot to pull over, the car lost complete power and would not turn over.

Currently, the car's electronic features do not fully work and I am unable to start the engine. With the ignition turned on there are intermittent dashboard errors, the screens flicker, the electric seats work but the windows and headlights do not. While trying to jump the car, it would attempt to turn over but not start. Gut feeling is some sort of electrical issue, although that assumption is based purely on "gut".

I've been searching around Google/forums and have not found anything conclusive as to the source of the issue(s). I truly appreciate any insight or knowledge anyone is able to impart around this situation.

For reference, the car in question is a 2006 Carrera S RWD 6spd with about 45k miles. This one to be exact:

 

was it parked in the sun during a hot day? I had this happen once when I was done shopping. I just happened to be a few blocks from my mechanic. He opened the gas cap and it was back to normal. Something about the heat and vapors.

 

The car was parked outside in the sun for several hours in warm temperatures, about 70F. Also, the car did sit for a couple of weeks while I was out of town. I'll definitely give the gas cap a try. Honestly, it would be pretty funny if it is that simple of a fix.

 

Hmm, 70 wouldn't do it. Mine was parked and it was over 100 degrees.
How old is the battery? These cars don't do well on batteries that don't provide a full steady charge.

 

The battery is dated Sept 2012 -> definitely getting up there in age and could be a source of issues. The complete shutdown while driving leads me to assume its more complicated but a loss of battery charge could definitely make the electronics go haywire/shutdown.

 

 

Sounds like a failed battery to me. I'd start there.

If not driving the car for more than a few days, it should be kept on a battery tender.

 

I get about three years out of a battery. Unless you have a battery tender plugged into the lighter, once you replace it weird stuff will happen for the first 30 minutes or so as well as everything starts rebooting.

 

Similar thread over on Rennlist. Battery or high pressure fuel pump is my guess. 6 years out of a battery on these cars is almost unheard of.

 

I am thinking battery as well. Has something similar happen to me with a four year old battery.

 

 

As others have said, the battery is an easy and inexpensive test (Walmart is the way to go unless you want racing weight). But, I had all of the same symptoms many years ago and went through several battery tries before we diagnosed the charging cable that runs under the undercarriage. (Search fro links on this) It is a well documented problem with well documented diagnostic steps. You rproblkem sounds eerily similar to mine on a a 2008 C4 Cab.

Chinsky

 

Got six years on my first battery. Which must mean 4 so far on the second one. Battery Tender is a must - I have been using the CTEK that looks just like the Porsche version since I got the car. Makes all the difference.