Hoping folks out there can help me diagnose my '05 Boxster S...

When I got in it today, I heard a repeated clicking, like the sound a solenoid makes, before I put the key in the ignition. I started the car, and it sounded boggy, like it wasn't really firing up all the way. I got a check engine/ visit workshop message, and it was also making a sound like if you open your mouth and your lips part and make that hollow little pop sound.

Here are all the clues:

- I've been recovering from shoulder surgery, so my car's been sitting for about a month. During that time I've started it three times, and brought it up to temperature once.

- One of the previous times I started it, I had also heard the repeated clicking sound, but it started up fine.

- I've had a car cover on it, and it's cold and damp at night, warm and sunny during the days.

Any thought on what might be going on?

Thanks!

 

if the noise does not sound metallic (metal clanking while the engine is running), you should be OK. If you turn the key to start the car, and just hear electric clicking/ticking noise - that may indicate your battery is going. It's more certain if the dome or dash light dim when the starter tries to crank.

It's hard to say the cause of CEL... could be cause by misfiring, which may go away after you drive it a few times... but you never know w/o actual error code. You'll need to find someone with a Durametric cable to pull the code, then do a google/bing to see what the code means. G'luck!

 

If it sat for a month without charging the battery, even the new ones might have a battery issue. I would put it on a long slow charge and bring it all the way up, then diagnose from there if you still have problems.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. It worked itself out--I think it was probably just from having it parked so long without driving. Maybe combination of low battery/condensation in the gas line. Anyway, all is back to normal.