Rubbish Porsche batteries
Discussion
Another Porsche battery failure. Boxster Dec 2009, a couple of weeks off 3 years old. The windows have played up off and on "forever", occasionally coming down on their own accord. Anyway, the clock started to reset itself to 12.00 whenever it felt like it and the petrol gauge has been a bit of a law unto itself for a few weeks. Then a flat battery. Couldn't believe a flat battery in such a young ca!. Charged it up, looked good but wouldn't start. After a day or two of charging etc Porsche assistance showed "replace battery" on their meter. Astounded, battery u/s in less than 3 years, and it's an expensive Porsche battery. Must be a fault somewhere. Car got started and into Porsche. Yes, replacement battery, "£170+vat please. And £120+vat for an hour checking that it was a flat battery and nothing else." I suggest they make their batteries out of lead and acid rather than gold and asses' milk - cheaper and they work.
So protests will be going in to whoever we can get hold of. As others have pointed out Halfords' cheapest batteries have a 3 year warranty and are half the price. Outside battery warranty but Sale of Goods and Services Act prevails. Do they want an hour in the small claims court?
Sandy
So protests will be going in to whoever we can get hold of. As others have pointed out Halfords' cheapest batteries have a 3 year warranty and are half the price. Outside battery warranty but Sale of Goods and Services Act prevails. Do they want an hour in the small claims court?
Sandy
The problem with all batteries is that deep discharge is the killer.
Far better to get a quality charger and keep the battery optimised ...
Than to try to recover a knackered one.
And life is surely far too short for arguments. Companies such as Porsche will help as they can --- and most like to be a little generous, unless they are forced to fight.
Like most of us.
A very high percentage of battery failure is deep discharge caused by simple lack of use .. and modern Tracker type devices that never turn themselves off ...
Far better to get a quality charger and keep the battery optimised ...
Than to try to recover a knackered one.
And life is surely far too short for arguments. Companies such as Porsche will help as they can --- and most like to be a little generous, unless they are forced to fight.
Like most of us.
A very high percentage of battery failure is deep discharge caused by simple lack of use .. and modern Tracker type devices that never turn themselves off ...
And why should they suffer anything if the solution is in their customers own hands ?
Why buy an expensive car and not use it ?
Isn't that what we (Porsche) drivers say about Ferrari owners ? -- sorry to generalise -- I like the 458 !!
But a battery is a battery. Maybe it's Porsche usage which is the variable if they are failing ...
Why buy an expensive car and not use it ?
Isn't that what we (Porsche) drivers say about Ferrari owners ? -- sorry to generalise -- I like the 458 !!
But a battery is a battery. Maybe it's Porsche usage which is the variable if they are failing ...
steve singh said:
Porsche's best customers are apathetic suckers - they've built their entire business model around it - the people that come around on forums are atypical.
Hence the situation won't change unless porsche start to suffer from reduced profits.
You mean they are better at marketing & design than engineering?Hence the situation won't change unless porsche start to suffer from reduced profits.
ChrisW. said:
And why should they suffer anything if the solution is in their customers own hands ?
Why buy an expensive car and not use it ?
But a battery is a battery. Maybe it's Porsche usage which is the variable if they are failing ...
Chris, I've left other cars (notably BMWs with 3/4/5 year old batteries) unused for many weeks and they've started without issues. I've yet to leave any Porsche with an OE more than a couple of weeks without having problems . . . . saying that, the latest Bosch batteries don't seem to be as good as they used to be either.Why buy an expensive car and not use it ?
But a battery is a battery. Maybe it's Porsche usage which is the variable if they are failing ...
Gouldian said:
I wonder how many owners who have early battery failure bother to check the levels regularly and top up if necessary. Mine has been checked regularly and when not in use a battery conditioner fitted. Original battery nearly 12 years old!
Absolutely - but Porsche sell them as maintenance free and cover the inspection holes with a sticker. And do all the MOLL battery types even have inspection holes?Gouldian said:
I wonder how many owners who have early battery failure bother to check the levels regularly and top up if necessary. Mine has been checked regularly and when not in use a battery conditioner fitted. Original battery nearly 12 years old!
Mine is 5.25 years old and still going strong. Always sits on a conditioner but never been "checked". I understood that wasn't possible.drmark said:
Gouldian said:
I wonder how many owners who have early battery failure bother to check the levels regularly and top up if necessary. Mine has been checked regularly and when not in use a battery conditioner fitted. Original battery nearly 12 years old!
Absolutely - but Porsche sell them as maintenance free and cover the inspection holes with a sticker. And do all the MOLL battery types even have inspection holes?One has also been completely flattened 3 times and still works fine - a big ask for a car battery.
Oh - and they cost 1/2 Porches prices...
It's a combination of rubbish moll battery combined with low use allowing a deep cycle. A bosch will survive better but it's still a big ask to fully discharge a lead acid battery.
Without a conditioner or using at least every few days for a decent trip you will get through batteries.
SM
Without a conditioner or using at least every few days for a decent trip you will get through batteries.
SM
As for the warranty they're not saying a battery will affect the gearbox but annoingly they're saying if you buy their warranty you agree to use Porsche branded parts and OPC for all work. It's a simple contractual thing and sueing them isn't going to work because they don't need to show a bosch battery caused the broken gearbox they just have to show you failed to keep to the contract.
Super annoying.
SM
Super annoying.
SM
I posted earlier in the year about my 911 sounding a bit grupy when starting a warm engine. As it turns out, my OEM battery was knackered, and I've since bought a Halfords Bosch jobbie for £92 (trade card). Never heard the starter motor tick over so fast, and the warm start issue is a distant memory.
If anybody fancies a Bosch battery for £92 around Bristol or London then let me know - hope that's not breaking any rules.
If anybody fancies a Bosch battery for £92 around Bristol or London then let me know - hope that's not breaking any rules.
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