GT4 Battery Issue

[anonymous-user]

Hi All

Would be grateful for some advice and recommendation.

I have a dead battery in my 981 GT4. Mine since new and OE battery. Standard (not lithium) made by Banner [12V 70Ah 760A]

Car is left on a Porsche CTEK trickle charger and first sign of trouble was when Vodafone called about a VTS alert. At 3am, I only checked the car was still in the garage and subsequently checked in daytime to find everything was dead. Ran the gauntlet of getting into the car and then the bonnet and using a multimeter, voltage registered zero. Connected a RING battery analyser/charger [RSC612] on it for 12 hours and it was showing 60%.

Began to believe that perhaps the last time I connected the CTEK I might have pulled the lead slightly out the lighter socket when the window shut and it lost contact - VTS antenna probably drained the battery. Checked later to see if it had built more charge and still on 60% after another 8 hours. Disconnected the RSC612, reconnected. Dead, no voltage. Checked battery, dead. The battery is not even 4 years old so potentially, a claim on manufacturer warranty as I see a new battery of the same type carries 4 year warranty.

So, my questions:

1. Have I missed something or is the battery a goner?

2. Looking at replacements, I've not spoken to Porsche yet about an OE replacement and will probably put something like a Bosch battery in. An initial search is making it very hard to find a Bosch battery and there are a number of brands I've never heard of coming up as alternatives. Anyone recommend model / supplier?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Armitage.Shanks]

I don't think you'll get anywhere on a warranty claim for the battery as they're likely to say 4yr life is in tolerance. I wasn't aware Banner make Porsche batteries? Is there a Porsche code etc on the battery label? If not it sounds aftermarket.

Do you have warranty? If so you'll need a (rip off price) genuine Porsche replacement otherwise you won't pass the 111-point check when you come to renew warranty.

I'm no expert but is sounds like the battery is knackered if it will only max to 60%.

[anonymous-user]

Armitage.Shanks said:

I don't think you'll get anywhere on a warranty claim for the battery as they're likely to say 4yr life is in tolerance.

Do you have warranty? If so you'll need a (rip off price) genuine Porsche replacement otherwise you won't pass the 111-point check when you come to renew warranty.

I'm no expert but is sounds like the battery is knackered if it will only max to 60%.

No, I don't have an extended warranty and know all about the BS with the Porsche warranty parts.

Funnily enough, last conversation I had about warranty with OPC, they wanted to charge me £250 odd for an inspection ahead of taking out a warranty. At the time, they had my car for the gearbox recall. Before I had chance to consider it, OPC buyer contacts me to ask if I'm interested in selling. Given that I never indicated I was interested in selling, I asked how he knew about the car - 'we undertook a full inspection when it was in for the warranty replacement'. Was it one of those 111 point checks you did?'..... 'Oh yes, the vehicle is in perfect condition which is why I'm interested in it'.

[Pip1968]

I would say the battery has had it. I have bought a series of Bosch batteries in the past but my last one lasted six years with an Accumate and had a five year guarantee (S5).

A mechanic friend said their quality had dropped and to be honest I think they are possibly a bit overpriced now. I bought a Varta for another car and I am sure one of the other brands offers a 5 year warranty for a lot less than a Bosch.

Pip

[anonymous-user]

Pip1968 said:

I would say the battery has had it. I have bought a series of Bosch batteries in the past but my last one lasted six years with an Accumate and had a five year guarantee (S5).

A mechanic friend said their quality had dropped and to be honest I think they are possibly a bit overpriced now. I bought a Varta for another car and I am sure one of the other brands offers a 5 year warranty for a lot less than a Bosch.

Pip

Spoke to OPC. £380. Couldn't tell me the brand but suggested that I stick the trickle back in and make sure it was properly into the live socket and no tension on the cable. Give it a few days. He said he'd recovered batteries that he was sure were goners. He's an enthusiast so I appreciate that he didn't try and sell me a new battery first. I'll give it one last go.

Appreciate the comments on Bosch. Seen a few VARTA batteries advertised but quite a few brands I've never heard of.

[DJMC]

Mutema said:

Spoke to OPC. £380. Couldn't tell me the brand but suggested that I stick the trickle back in and make sure it was properly into the live socket and no tension on the cable. Give it a few days. He said he'd recovered batteries that he was sure were goners. He's an enthusiast so I appreciate that he didn't try and sell me a new battery first. I'll give it one last go.

Appreciate the comments on Bosch. Seen a few VARTA batteries advertised but quite a few brands I've never heard of.

My 2014 Porsche battery had been coming up with "Low battery" for a while but I kept it alive with my CTEK for ages until a few weeks ago the car failed to start. Sounded like the starter was spinning but not engaging. Charged it another day, same thing.

Phoned my OPC and asked for a technician to have a listen over the phone... "there's nobody available. you'll have to bring it in."
Erm... it won't start. "You'll have to bring it in" in a snooty, snotty, fashion. I hung up.

Phoned my local indy, GCR in Leicester, and spoke to a technician "Hmmm... could be the pinion stuck, would you like us to come and collect it?" That's more like it. Turned out it was the battery. Turning the engine very fast as no compression due to me flooding it with no spark. Who ever heard of flooding nowadays! New Bosch battery sorted it.

I'd had the car booked into RPM the following week for its 6yr service (plus I'd queried the battery and a/c) having decided to go the indy route after my OPC quoted £1,400 then £1,200 for this interim service. I got GCR to do the service whilst there which was £780-ish plus the battery, diagnostics, and a new a/c compressor.

Chris at GCR still recommends Bosch and I'd heard they were OK.

That's me out of the "system" then... phew!

[pete.g]

Mutema said:

Pip1968 said:

I would say the battery has had it. I have bought a series of Bosch batteries in the past but my last one lasted six years with an Accumate and had a five year guarantee (S5).

A mechanic friend said their quality had dropped and to be honest I think they are possibly a bit overpriced now. I bought a Varta for another car and I am sure one of the other brands offers a 5 year warranty for a lot less than a Bosch.

Pip

Spoke to OPC. £380. Couldn't tell me the brand but suggested that I stick the trickle back in and make sure it was properly into the live socket and no tension on the cable. Give it a few days. He said he'd recovered batteries that he was sure were goners. He's an enthusiast so I appreciate that he didn't try and sell me a new battery first. I'll give it one last go.

Appreciate the comments on Bosch. Seen a few VARTA batteries advertised but quite a few brands I've never heard of.

£380 is not that bad when you look at the RRPs of batteries. ECP have 35% off, so you'd get a Bosch with 3 year warranty for about £225. Varta are about the same.
.

[Armitage.Shanks]

You can get a Banner battery off eBay for less than £100. Ideally you need a replacement battery that 'looks like' a Porsche battery and then take the labels off the Porsche battery and stick them on the new one. Job jobbed

[robj4]

DJMC said:

Phoned my local indy, GCR in Leicester, and spoke to a technician "Hmmm... could be the pinion stuck, would you like us to come and collect it?" That's more like it. Turned out it was the battery. Turning the engine very fast as no compression due to me flooding it with no spark. Who ever heard of flooding nowadays! New Bosch battery sorted it.

I'd had the car booked into RPM the following week for its 6yr service (plus I'd queried the battery and a/c) having decided to go the indy route after my OPC quoted £1,400 then £1,200 for this interim service. I got GCR to do the service whilst there which was £780-ish plus the battery, diagnostics, and a new a/c compressor.

Chris at GCR still recommends Bosch and I'd heard they were OK.

That's me out of the "system" then... phew!

Thanks for mentioning GCR, never heard of them but looking at their website they seem like a decent outfit, one to store as not far from me.

[GTSMarky]

DJMC said:

That's me out of the "system" then... phew!

+1!

[DJMC]

robj4 said:

Thanks for mentioning GCR, never heard of them but looking at their website they seem like a decent outfit, one to store as not far from me.

I particularly liked Chris' chat when I went to collect the car. Talking about Porsche engines of old, showing me a remarkably short scored piston from a 911. Nice to deal with a knowledgeable enthusiast rather than a starchy OPC service receptionist.

Who needs glitz and Biscoff anyway?

[anonymous-user]

My 981 is coming up to 8 years old and is on its original battery. Regular use - no trickle charger.

I'm wondering whether to change the battery before next winter as a precautionary measure. I don't bother with Porsche warranty and don't follow their routine maintenance schedule - but the car will be going in for a "6 years old" service in September.

What's the smart move,

• Get Porsche to change the battery while the car's in for attention? Price?
• Buy a battery from Porsche and install it myself? Price?
• Buy a battery online and install it myself? What battery? Price?

I don't know whether these cars make a fuss about having their battery changed or whether you just take the old one out, stick the new one in and it's business as usual. Anybody done it DIY?

[DJMC]

I believe the new battery has to be programmed into the car. Have you had any "low battery" warnings?

[anonymous-user]

rockin said:

My 981 is coming up to 8 years old and is on its original battery. Regular use - no trickle charger.

I'm wondering whether to change the battery before next winter as a precautionary measure. I don't bother with Porsche warranty and don't follow their routine maintenance schedule - but the car will be going in for a "6 years old" service in September.

What's the smart move,

• Get Porsche to change the battery while the car's in for attention? Price?
• Buy a battery from Porsche and install it myself? Price?
• Buy a battery online and install it myself? What battery? Price?

I don't know whether these cars make a fuss about having their battery changed or whether you just take the old one out, stick the new one in and it's business as usual. Anybody done it DIY?

Porsche will charge you £380 for a battery + labour.

You have to recode but an indy can do that for a hell of a lot less. It's a real irritation.

[Armitage.Shanks]

I thought re-coding was only for cars with stop/start engines?

[anonymous-user]

Armitage.Shanks said:

I thought re-coding was only for cars with stop/start engines?

Nope.

[pete.g]

ECP discount now 45%.

[anonymous-user]

Mutema said:

Porsche will charge you £380 for a battery + labour.

You have to recode but an indy can do that for a hell of a lot less. It's a real irritation.

Thanks, that might have saved me an unfortunate slip-up!

"Recoding" seems to be about making sure the charging system is correctly matched to the battery.

The most hopeful information I've been able to find on the internet so far suggests, "If you install the same type of battery with very close to the same specs you can just swap them. Keep in mind that your battery is a GMA type battery. Look at the CCAs and get a match." (I assume the author meant AGM battery - Absorbent Glass Mat.)

Separately, some people seem to favour keeping the car connected to 12v power through the auxiliary 12v outlet (cigar lighter).

[AW10]

rockin said:

My 981 is coming up to 8 years old and is on its original battery. Regular use - no trickle charger.

I'm wondering whether to change the battery before next winter as a precautionary measure. I don't bother with Porsche warranty and don't follow their routine maintenance schedule - but the car will be going in for a "6 years old" service in September.

What's the smart move,

• Get Porsche to change the battery while the car's in for attention? Price?
• Buy a battery from Porsche and install it myself? Price?
• Buy a battery online and install it myself? What battery? Price?

I don't know whether these cars make a fuss about having their battery changed or whether you just take the old one out, stick the new one in and it's business as usual. Anybody done it DIY?

Consider getting one of these or finding someone who has something similar - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0725GVGTG/ref=pe_3187...

Will give you a good idea how much life is left in battery.

[anonymous-user]

rockin said:

Thanks, that might have saved me an unfortunate slip-up!

"Recoding" seems to be about making sure the charging system is correctly matched to the battery.

The most hopeful information I've been able to find on the internet so far suggests, "If you install the same type of battery with very close to the same specs you can just swap them. Keep in mind that your battery is a GMA type battery. Look at the CCAs and get a match." (I assume the author meant AGM battery - Absorbent Glass Mat.)

Separately, some people seem to favour keeping the car connected to 12v power through the auxiliary 12v outlet (cigar lighter).

The Internet has far too many experts, just pick up the phone and speak to an independent about the coding process. Steve (Tech Director) at JZM will give you a clear answer. OPCs are less forthcoming with information unless you have a relationship in my experience.

I keep my cars on trickle chargers and when I've bought them, have always had a Porsche trickle charger thrown in versus getting flowers or coffee mugs or whatever merchandise the sales guy thinks is appropriate. I would get a CTEK and there are many options - they offer different conditioning choices and some of the fully featured ones are incredibly sophisticated. If you use a 12v trickle charger, make sure you don't use the socket in the centre console as this isolates after an hour I think. Assume you know this as you mention the auxiliary socket. The direct charge socket (certainly on a GT4) is beneath the glovebox. Assume same for yours.

If you drive the car all year round, you'll be maintaining charge anyway. I keep my cars in rural countryside and the roads are a disaster zone in the peak of winter and they're too low and risk damage so tend to keep them off through the worst of winter so have around 4 months of inactivity to deal with. When resolving my situation, most views of people I trust is that batteries should last 6-8 years on normal cycle and that conditioners should work to keep them to 'normal cycle' and preserve their life. Views on what the best brands are vary with two schools of thought: OE manufacturer or Porsche and Bosch.