Boxster GTS 4.0 dead battery can’t open frunk

[DaveGrohl]

I’ve managed to work out how to gain access to the door, but now how do I get the front boot open please? Battery is stone dead, apart from the little door lock light coming on on the centre console, weirdly.

Also, I put the key in the ignition to see if there was any life, which there wasn’t, and now I can’t get the key out.

Help please.

[JeffC]

I disconnected the battery on mine a few years ago and then closed the front bonnet. Its a good while ago but I Seem to recall I got it open by removing the inner wheel arch liner on the passenger side and pulling a chord that activates the catch.

[DaveGrohl]

JeffC said:

I disconnected the battery on mine a few years ago and then closed the front bonnet. Its a good while ago but I Seem to recall I got it open by removing the inner wheel arch liner on the passenger side and pulling a chord that activates the catch.

I’d seen a video of a much older Boxster where the chap mentioned this. Wasn’t sure if it applied to a 718 though.
Also, it was the RH wheelarch as you sit inside the car. Passenger side depends whether RHD or LHD. Which side was yours (for the avoidance of doubt)?

[MDL111]

On my 996 there is a physical cable behind the drivers side (RHD) wheel arch that I can pull - with the wheel in full lock and scratching my hand I can just about get to it without taking anything off - needs a fairly hard pull, so don’t pull the wrong cable … not sure if that is also possible on modern Porsches

I think (hazy memory) on the 997 there is a way to charge the battery via a connector under a panel in the footwell to be able to activate the lock disengagement

[A D C]

You need one of these. It plugs into a terminal in the fuse box and will provide power from a donor battery / car, then you can open the frunk and sort your battery. Simples!

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002383489691.h...

[elan362]

Can't you use a jump start pack to the pop out red positive terminal in either the passenger or driver side footwell (I can't remember which one it is in - I think it is the UK driver side on. Connect the negative terminal to the door hinge or door catch on the chassis ( not the door) and that should give current to actuate the electric bonnet release

From my 981 manual, bur sure the 718 is the same

Edited by elan362 on Saturday 20th April 22:09

[Nuttcase]

As above ^^

You'll need a battery or long jump leads from another vehicle. A battery conditioner or trickle charger won't work.

[JeffC]

DaveGrohl said:

I’d seen a video of a much older Boxster where the chap mentioned this. Wasn’t sure if it applied to a 718 though.
Also, it was the RH wheelarch as you sit inside the car. Passenger side depends whether RHD or LHD. Which side was yours (for the avoidance of doubt)?

mine was a 981, if your battery is connected I would just charge it up via a 12v live.

[trumpton7291]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Useful guide, think the spare battery method is simplest.

[hornbaek]

Nuttcase said:

As above ^^

You'll need a battery or long jump leads from another vehicle. A battery conditioner or trickle charger won't work.

This is the best method. You need a replacement battery or (active) jump leads. Once connected wait a couple of seconds before the system powers up and then pull the button. Good luck.

[DaveGrohl]

Thanks for all the replies. I managed to find the pull out tab eventually, got jump leads connected from another car but nothing happened.

Does the engine have to be switched off or summat? This whole thing is getting a bit beyond a joke. Wtf’s wrong with a plain old bonnet release lever cable in the footwell? Flat battery? Oh well you need to actuate the electric actuator bonnet release catch first.

I’d love to have been in that design meeting, if only to see where we’re going wrong as a race.

[hornbaek]

Make sure there is a proper connection. I had the same issue but with a bit of wiggle both with the black lead on the door hinge and the red one on the tap in the fuse box it will eventually connect.

[Gareth-C-1980]

As said connect up to door catch and the red in the fuse box. Wait a couple mins then try the button on door sill and also clicking the open button on your key fob.

Some saying battery conditioner wont work but I managed it with a Lidle battery charge/conditioner. I just had to put it into test mode and it applied 12V across the terminals and was sufficient to pop the bonnet actuator.

[Slippydiff]

Gareth-C-1980 said:

As said connect up to door catch and the red in the fuse box. Wait a couple mins then try the button on door sill and also clicking the open button on your key fob.

Some saying battery conditioner wont work but I managed it with a Lidle battery charge/conditioner. I just had to put it into test mode and it applied 12V across the terminals and was sufficient to pop the bonnet actuator.

Had this on my 996 last week.
The bonnet release button on the key fob needed to be pressed for at least 2 seconds to release the bonnet IIRC. The electric bonnet release switch in the car isn’t powered up by connecting to the red pull out power post in the fuse box either.

My battery charger wouldn’t charge the battery, despite leaving it connected for 24 hours. I was advised that once the bonnet was open I should connect jump leads to battery terminals, and connect them to the battery on my daily driver whilst it was running, and leave it running for 20 minutes before trying to start the 996 with jump leads still connected and my daily driver still running.
I left it closer to an hour, and the 996 started perfectly.
I disconnected the jump leads and connected the battery charger and left the car on charge all day and all night, and it charged up perfectly.

[limpsfield]

Gareth-C-1980 said:

As said connect up to door catch and the red in the fuse box. Wait a couple mins then try the button on door sill and also clicking the open button on your key fob.

Some saying battery conditioner wont work but I managed it with a Lidle battery charge/conditioner. I just had to put it into test mode and it applied 12V across the terminals and was sufficient to pop the bonnet actuator.

I also did this with a trickle charger on my 987 last week. The battery was totally flat but applying the charger to that pull out thing did the job.

Use the key fob as mentioned above - mine wouldn't work using the frunk switch on the floor.

Good luck

[elan362]

I'd missed the part where you need to hold the bonnet release button on the key remote for 2sec rather than use the door pull (dispite posting a photo of the handbook that clearly states that... D'oh!!)

[Slippydiff]

elan362 said:

I'd missed the part where you need to hold the bonnet release button on the key remote for 2sec rather than use the door pull (dispite posting a photo of the handbook that clearly states that... D'oh!!)

[DaveGrohl]

The key fob part could be the six I’ve so far been unable to roll. I’ve been lifting the button on the door sill to no effect. I’ll try it tomorrow. I’m defo getting current from the donor car so I’ve been utterly stumped. Although the dealer said the door sill should work…..