997.1 Eletrics Issue

[Tallpauls500]

Hi all,
Car was off road for about six while waiting for parts to pass mot, so took out battery to keep topped up as i rent a garage with no power. While waiting i changed the dial cluster, just colour change nothing wrong with old one. So reconnected battery & took for mot, which it passed. Happy days or so i thought, after 10miles or so the odd warning light flashed & disappeared & sport button didn’t work, then the electrics started to shut down, 1st the heater then dials dimmed & nearly all the warning lights lit up! The car seemed to go in limp home mode, Wouldn’t rev & would stay at 5mph until got back to my garage. Read on forums about battery to alternator cable, but not about shutting down while driving! I’m a little nervous to say the least. Any ideas? Thanks

[smudger911]

which parts were changed pre MOT?

[Tallpauls500]

Mostly front suspension, shocks with PASM, new drop links & coffin arms. Just bought a new battery & going to try & start tomorrow.

[nxi20]

OP, your symptoms sound like your alternator diode pack has failed and is not providing a charge to the battery & may also actually be draining it depending on the exact mode of failure. Easy to check by putting a test meter across the battery with the car running - it should show somewhere around 13.8V - if less that 12V, it's your alternator.

Porsche will want to charge you some extortionate amount for a new alternator, but it's perfectly possible to buy a new diode pack for around £30 & fix it yourself, or if you're not too sure about doing it, take it to a Bosch repair centre where it will cost ~£100 for a complete overhaul.

[Tallpauls500]

Thanks nx120, I’ll try that tomorrow & i think it’s all pointing to alternator failure of some sort. Thanks for the advice it’s much appreciated

[Digga]

FWIW, my 997.1 had to have one of the main power cables (engine to frunk) changed because of a fault at the start of last year.