Flat battery....?
Discussion
I am at the outset going to apologise for the extreme numptiness of this question 
I'm on a day off and just come to take the 993 out for a run. Put the key in, turn it over - and nothing. Just a clunk, which continues periodically for as long as the key is turned. The car hasn't been driven for 7 days or so. Would I be right in assuming that there's not enough charge in the battery to turn the engine over....? There is SOME battery power because the electrics are still working - the clock is running, the hazards work when I turn them on etc.
(The only other time I've had a flat battery was maaaaaaaaany moons ago when I still lived with my folks, so I just left it to Dad to sort for me
)
I guess it might be the immobiliser but it seems sensible to rule out the obvious first. So, before I go and try a jump start from the wife's Clio, can anyone with more knowledge of even the most basic facets of the internal combusion engine than me (i.e. anyone else at all reading!) venture an opinion as to whether it sounds like a flat battery.
Ta.
I'm on a day off and just come to take the 993 out for a run. Put the key in, turn it over - and nothing. Just a clunk, which continues periodically for as long as the key is turned. The car hasn't been driven for 7 days or so. Would I be right in assuming that there's not enough charge in the battery to turn the engine over....? There is SOME battery power because the electrics are still working - the clock is running, the hazards work when I turn them on etc.
(The only other time I've had a flat battery was maaaaaaaaany moons ago when I still lived with my folks, so I just left it to Dad to sort for me
) I guess it might be the immobiliser but it seems sensible to rule out the obvious first. So, before I go and try a jump start from the wife's Clio, can anyone with more knowledge of even the most basic facets of the internal combusion engine than me (i.e. anyone else at all reading!) venture an opinion as to whether it sounds like a flat battery.
Ta.
Edited by lurking lawyer on Monday 13th November 10:34
Yep, battery, will take a good full day to charge it up with a battery charger, get a good one from Halfords and leave it for a day, then get a conditioner as you cannot leave a modern porsche in the garage, there is too much residual drain, you could of course dis-connect the battery but that means the alarm will not work and / or go off every time you do.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
99% certain it is a flat battery. The starter motor draws a great deal of current whilst the other electrical items draw substantially less hence the reason radio, windows etc are probably still operating. As a general rule of thumb the car should be able to stand about unused for about two weeks and still start if the battery is OK.
I would jump start the car and maybe look into getting a new battery.
pp
I would jump start the car and maybe look into getting a new battery.
pp
Dont expect to jump start it, then take it out for a run and all will be fine...Because it wont!
You need to trickle charge the battery for standing periods of more than a couple of days or so. Your new battery will last a little longer, but eventually the same will happen to that as well.
Suprised that your alarm didn`t pre-warn though...
You need to trickle charge the battery for standing periods of more than a couple of days or so. Your new battery will last a little longer, but eventually the same will happen to that as well.
Suprised that your alarm didn`t pre-warn though...
porsche4life said:
Yep, battery, will take a good full day to charge it up with a battery charger, get a good one from Halfords and leave it for a day, then get a conditioner as you cannot leave a modern porsche in the garage, there is too much residual drain, you could of course dis-connect the battery but that means the alarm will not work and / or go off every time you do.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
With regards to the above, a quick note - mine is a 996 so im not sure its exactly the same but... i had probs with the alarm which saw me having to leave the car at the OPC in reading overnight and as i was dropping it off late with a faulty alarm i had to disconnect the battery myself every time i did this.
As an upshot of which ive learnt that to stop the alarm going off when messing with the battery, you need to put the keys in the ignition turn to position one and *then* disconnect/connect the battery - this stops the alarm going off.
Of course you still need to re-key all the codes for Radio/Sat Nav etc every sodding time you do this.
Good luck with the battery Mr.T!
R.
It was just the battery! Big sigh of relief.....
Jumped it from the Clio and it started first time. I took it for a run to re-charge it as a short term measure but will obviously have to look at a trickle charger if it happens again.
I've only had it 5 weeks and it hasn't really stood for more than a week. The last time I turned the engine over was 5-6 days ago, but that was just to move it back in the garage so I could get access to the freezer rather than actually taking it anywhere.
I've noticed that I have to be careful to slam the door to make sure it closes properly - if I don't, it only half shuts, and the interior light stays on. I wouldn't put it past me to have not fully closed the door and so flattened the battery that way.
Anyway, we'll see how it pans out. In the meantime, thanks for the help!
Jumped it from the Clio and it started first time. I took it for a run to re-charge it as a short term measure but will obviously have to look at a trickle charger if it happens again.
I've only had it 5 weeks and it hasn't really stood for more than a week. The last time I turned the engine over was 5-6 days ago, but that was just to move it back in the garage so I could get access to the freezer rather than actually taking it anywhere.
I've noticed that I have to be careful to slam the door to make sure it closes properly - if I don't, it only half shuts, and the interior light stays on. I wouldn't put it past me to have not fully closed the door and so flattened the battery that way.
Anyway, we'll see how it pans out. In the meantime, thanks for the help!
Edited by lurking lawyer on Monday 13th November 11:52
I always use a battery optimizer. If it’s your primary car then it’s less of a problem, but I use my 993 as a second car and in fact any car that I’ve had that is not used on a day to day basis I’ve always used an optimizer. BTW, glove box light can also cause flat battery if the connection is faulty.
Just a note - not sure if 993 is same, but my 996 'shuts down' after about 5 days of not being used. The remote alarm locking etc all shuts off and I have to open the door with a key. You have then re-activated the remote alarm etc and have to use it as you would normally within 10 seconds or the alarm now goes off. It's a battery saving device, according to the manual. They must know that many of these cars do become 3rd cars.
The 993 doesn`t have a "hibernation" mode like a 996. As has been suggested buy a trickle charger to keep on the car when not in use. not expensive at all and they save having to deal with a flat battery (and stereo code loss etc). It might also be worth having the battery checked, cold weather will often finish a battery off as well.
Henry
Henry
FlatEric.biz said:
Just a note - not sure if 993 is same, but my 996 'shuts down' after about 5 days of not being used. The remote alarm locking etc all shuts off and I have to open the door with a key. You have then re-activated the remote alarm etc and have to use it as you would normally within 10 seconds or the alarm now goes off. It's a battery saving device, according to the manual. They must know that many of these cars do become 3rd cars.
Well as an aside thats answered another question for me cheers FlatEric !, this has happened the past two times ive gone to unlock my car, and i was beginning to think it was something to do with the battery in the alarm key fob <doh!> i really, really should RTFM.
Thanks chap.
R.
M@verick said:
FlatEric.biz said:
Just a note - not sure if 993 is same, but my 996 'shuts down' after about 5 days of not being used. The remote alarm locking etc all shuts off and I have to open the door with a key. You have then re-activated the remote alarm etc and have to use it as you would normally within 10 seconds or the alarm now goes off. It's a battery saving device, according to the manual. They must know that many of these cars do become 3rd cars.
Well as an aside thats answered another question for me cheers FlatEric !, this has happened the past two times ive gone to unlock my car, and i was beginning to think it was something to do with the battery in the alarm key fob <doh!> i really, really should RTFM.
Thanks chap.
R.
Easiest way to do this is unlock your car with the key lock , lock it again immediately , the remote is then re-activated as per normal.
lurking lawyer said:
It was just the battery! Big sigh of relief.....
Jumped it from the Clio and it started first time. I took it for a run to re-charge it as a short term measure but will obviously have to look at a trickle charger if it happens again.
I've only had it 5 weeks and it hasn't really stood for more than a week. The last time I turned the engine over was 5-6 days ago, but that was just to move it back in the garage so I could get access to the freezer rather than actually taking it anywhere.
I've noticed that I have to be careful to slam the door to make sure it closes properly - if I don't, it only half shuts, and the interior light stays on. I wouldn't put it past me to have not fully closed the door and so flattened the battery that way.
Anyway, we'll see how it pans out. In the meantime, thanks for the help!
Jumped it from the Clio and it started first time. I took it for a run to re-charge it as a short term measure but will obviously have to look at a trickle charger if it happens again.
I've only had it 5 weeks and it hasn't really stood for more than a week. The last time I turned the engine over was 5-6 days ago, but that was just to move it back in the garage so I could get access to the freezer rather than actually taking it anywhere.
I've noticed that I have to be careful to slam the door to make sure it closes properly - if I don't, it only half shuts, and the interior light stays on. I wouldn't put it past me to have not fully closed the door and so flattened the battery that way.
Anyway, we'll see how it pans out. In the meantime, thanks for the help!
Edited by lurking lawyer on Monday 13th November 11:52
As said above, the battery is pretty weak as standard - smaller than Boxsters iirc. If you get 3 years out of one you're doing well. Don't be suprised if it doesn't make it through the winter.
Battery in 993's and 964's has to be 100%.
With the length of the cabling to the starter motor there is a huge current loss anyway.
Use a battery optimser and also ensure that underbonnet/engine lid/glovebox lights aren't staying on.
I only realised underbonnet light staying on on my C4 when it melted the snow that had fallen on it!!!!!!
You can get higher amp hour batteries than standard -just takes a bit of searching -Bosch Gold?
Rgds
Mel
With the length of the cabling to the starter motor there is a huge current loss anyway.
Use a battery optimser and also ensure that underbonnet/engine lid/glovebox lights aren't staying on.
I only realised underbonnet light staying on on my C4 when it melted the snow that had fallen on it!!!!!!
You can get higher amp hour batteries than standard -just takes a bit of searching -Bosch Gold?
Rgds
Mel
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff