Dead Battery 996

[Andy 911]

Hi All,

Problem with my 2002 996 Carrera battery. The car hasn't been driven much over the last 3-4 weeks. It was as flat as pan cake this morning when I tried to start the car. Got it jump started with my other half's car, took the Porker for a long drive, back home. Tried to start it again and same problem! Is this the battery? It's a Porsche one (which I've heard have issues) and was new about 2 1/2 years ago. Thoughts and advise would be welcome.

Thanks All

Andy

[Porkupine]

Andy 911 said:

Hi All,
It's a Porsche one

Andy

Enough said. Go down your local Euros and get a Bosch which comes with 4/5 year no quibble warranty all for around 80 quid(but won't fail the way the official ones do).

[Trev450]

If it was completly flat then even a good drive is unlikely to have charged it sufficiently. I would have it tested before you rush out and get a new one and also invest in a battery conditioner.

[cslwannabe]

What is amp rating on it - just replaced mine with a Bosch S5010 (25% off a ECP) and it states 800A on the battery. Took my Porsche one to Halfrauds today to be tested - not that successful since it wasn't fitted to the car, and they couldn't believe it stated 380A on the battery?

[bqf]

Get a CTEK battery charger - brought my stone-dead 996 battery back to rude health. £40 from Amazon.

[DJFish]

Could be your alternator might also be knackered.
Might be worth getting it checked as well.

[Porkupine]

I will guarantee it is not your alternator. If you have a Porsche battery and have not driven much for a month. It is the battery that's at fault. And as long as you don't have warranty which I'm assuming you don't on 996 then just buy a Bosch and you won't have these problems in future.

[Andy 911]

Hi All, thanks for the replies, I'll call the local garage tomorrow and get them to test the existing battery and alternator and get a replacement battery. I've had a look at the Bosch ones, the one's on Eurocarparts.com which look good are :

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Porsche_911_3.6_...

and

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Porsche_911_3.6_...

Is it worth getting the more powerful one?

Thanks Andy

[Porkupine]

I think they will both do the job 500% better than your porsche battery so doesn't matter too much which you chose, point to consider if going for the more powerful one, it is slightly larger physically (in length) so just have a quick measure to ensure it will fit in the space you have...

[hat97]

I had the same recently, went for a the biggest s5 i could get, I figured i would rather spend another £20 or whatever and have less issues in the future, has been great so far.

[C4SCAB]

I'm on my 3rd alternator (2004 996 C4S Cab). Had similar symptoms both times - battery dead after the car had not been used for a few weeks and then refused to re-charge. In the most recent case, about a year ago the OPC (East London) actually diagnosed that there was a small coolant leak on to the alternator that led it to failing over time. Leak and alternator were (happily) fixed under warranty and no problems since.

[cslwannabe]

I went for the best one listed against my Boxster S5010 85Ah with 5 year guarantee.

If you reserve and collect then MGRORG25 will get you a 25% discount - I paid £79 for mine last month compared with circa £250 for an inferior Porsche battery with 2 year guarantee.

[pje1210]

bqf said:

Get a CTEK battery charger - brought my stone-dead 996 battery back to rude health. £40 from Amazon.

+1, my OE batt went down, I got it replace under warranty, it now stays on the CTEK when not in use

[Andy 911]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies and advise. Car was sorted out yesterday, new Bosch battery did the trick. The Porsche battery was only just over 2 years old. Apparently they're designed to last the length of the warranty (2 years) and that's it. Astounding!
Still interested in getting a battery conditioner/trickle charger, which particular model of the CTEK battery charger is worth buying?

Thanks Andy

[Trev450]

I've got the XS 3600. Worth every penny.

[muzski]

Andy 911 said:

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies and advise. Car was sorted out yesterday, new Bosch battery did the trick. The Porsche battery was only just over 2 years old. Apparently they're designed to last the length of the warranty (2 years) and that's it. Astounding!
Still interested in getting a battery conditioner/trickle charger, which particular model of the CTEK battery charger is worth buying?

Thanks Andy

I spoke at length to a guy at CTEK and he advised the MXS 5.0. Cannot recommend one of these enough to anyone with a 996.

I had years of fights with the AA, RAC as every time they came to jump start they insisted i needed a new battery, I assured them it just needed at least an hours run to charge but they would issue me with an advisory that I should get a new battery. This of course meant that any future jump starts would be chargeable. As i use the 996 rarely it really was every time I went to use it, it was dead. i think before I got the CTEK I must have had at least 4 new batteries, purchased and replaced under warranty.