Battery performance - 993
Discussion
Last year I had a worrisome oil leak and stopped driving my 993 until I got my local indie to do the full works (repair all oil leaks, full house service, replace rusted supports on rear PU valance, etc.) - the parts required for the rear valance took a while to acquire, so I didn't drive the car for a couple of months.
The car was on its original battery and when I came to get it going, it was dead as a dodo. Removing the battery and trickle charging didn't help so the battery was evidently dead. I replaced the battery with the best Halfrauds could offer (3 year warranty calcium thingy?), the car started immediately and off it went to the indie to be thoroughly refreshed.
This was back in October and the car gets reasonably regularly driven - I don't drive daily but every time I take it out I end up taking a long route cos I love it
so the battery should be retaining charge.
Before Christmas, too much boozing meant no driving for a week, and I've been skiing for a week, so the car hasn't been touched for 2-3 weeks. Trying to start it (in very cold temperatures) recently and not only would the car not start, but the battery gave up after 4 attempts at starting.
It's a new battery and I'm not aware of any unusual current drain. Is this normal behaviour for a Halfords battery? Will I just be able to jump start it, go for a long drive and everything be OK? Could this just be cold weather reducing battery capacity?
PS. I don't think the supercharger loads the engine on startup so it shouldn't be harder to start than a standard Carrera 2.
The car was on its original battery and when I came to get it going, it was dead as a dodo. Removing the battery and trickle charging didn't help so the battery was evidently dead. I replaced the battery with the best Halfrauds could offer (3 year warranty calcium thingy?), the car started immediately and off it went to the indie to be thoroughly refreshed.
This was back in October and the car gets reasonably regularly driven - I don't drive daily but every time I take it out I end up taking a long route cos I love it
so the battery should be retaining charge. Before Christmas, too much boozing meant no driving for a week, and I've been skiing for a week, so the car hasn't been touched for 2-3 weeks. Trying to start it (in very cold temperatures) recently and not only would the car not start, but the battery gave up after 4 attempts at starting.
It's a new battery and I'm not aware of any unusual current drain. Is this normal behaviour for a Halfords battery? Will I just be able to jump start it, go for a long drive and everything be OK? Could this just be cold weather reducing battery capacity?
PS. I don't think the supercharger loads the engine on startup so it shouldn't be harder to start than a standard Carrera 2.
It doesn't sound like there is necessarily anything wrong with the battery. Two to three weeks in cold weather would kill most batteries. Remember, the cold weather zaps the battery power and also makes the engine harder to turn over.
BTW I've had a Halfords battery in my Golf for over five years. It starts faultlessly first time in all weathers.
pp
BTW I've had a Halfords battery in my Golf for over five years. It starts faultlessly first time in all weathers.
pp
Are we talking permanent internal chemical damage here, or simply temperature-related deterioration in reaction rate?
If it's just the cold then I'll warm the battery up and try again - if the 4 attempts at starting with the cold battery have sulphated the lead cathodes then surely I'll need a new one?
Surprisingly for a Porsche consumable, that Halfords battery was cheaper than the one I needed for my old Smart when I sold it... perhaps that's the reason why - I could only fit 8 D-cells in the space next to the spacesaver spare, perhaps I should try lithium metal hydride ones? Or perhaps 24 AAs instead?
Seriously though - a bog standard jump start from my other motor should be OK on a 993 surely? Or to be on the safe side, should I remove the battery and re-charge it offline? I'm sure the ECU should be OK but mine has a secondary ECU for the blower. I know the 993 ain't that modern and sophisticated but I've heard some crazy stories of people knackering their cars by doing good ol' jump starts....
(and no, Nervous hasn't hacked my login
)
If it's just the cold then I'll warm the battery up and try again - if the 4 attempts at starting with the cold battery have sulphated the lead cathodes then surely I'll need a new one?
Surprisingly for a Porsche consumable, that Halfords battery was cheaper than the one I needed for my old Smart when I sold it... perhaps that's the reason why - I could only fit 8 D-cells in the space next to the spacesaver spare, perhaps I should try lithium metal hydride ones? Or perhaps 24 AAs instead?
Seriously though - a bog standard jump start from my other motor should be OK on a 993 surely? Or to be on the safe side, should I remove the battery and re-charge it offline? I'm sure the ECU should be OK but mine has a secondary ECU for the blower. I know the 993 ain't that modern and sophisticated but I've heard some crazy stories of people knackering their cars by doing good ol' jump starts....
(and no, Nervous hasn't hacked my login
)When you leave the car for a couple of weeks do you leave it with the alarm set? I had to replace the porker battery on my 993 because the alarm ran it down when I was on hols and it wouldn't hold a charge properly. If you are not leaving the alarm on then I'd agree that something is fishy about it discharging so fast.
My battery goes flat every 10-21 days if left standing. I tend to trickle charge it (while still connected) after about a week just to make sure I can actually use it if required.
The cold weather will shorten the period between charges and once the battery has been left completely flat for a week or two then it's nearly always a lost cause. If not, a long trickle charge should do it.
The cold weather will shorten the period between charges and once the battery has been left completely flat for a week or two then it's nearly always a lost cause. If not, a long trickle charge should do it.
Cheers lads - will pull the battery out tomorrow, put it on trickle charge and then start using that solar trickle top-up dashboard panel I bought months ago but forgot to put in the car 
If the home charger doesn't work then it's new battery time again? Pain in the arse - none of the other 2 993s I had did this, perhaps I need to do a lot more driving...
If the home charger doesn't work then it's new battery time again? Pain in the arse - none of the other 2 993s I had did this, perhaps I need to do a lot more driving...
You might have a current drain somewhere but tracking it down is a PITA - there might be a procedure on the rennlist boards. It's a whole lot easier to buy a trickle charger. I bought an Airflow charger which has lights to show you how much charge there is.
I also trickle charge my battery in the winter as Ican hear the starting turning over more slowly if the car is left for a week. After two weeks, I might not have enough to start it.
I also trickle charge my battery in the winter as Ican hear the starting turning over more slowly if the car is left for a week. After two weeks, I might not have enough to start it.
Those calcium batteries must be utter toilet. Tried to jump start it today and the fecker wouldn't even turn over (the jump leads weren't exactly super heavy duty mind you, and it was pissing with rain).
I am very reluctant to assume there is a problem with the engine or starter, it was fully serviced very recently and the car was running like a dream.
I will get a German battery from somewhere, sling it in and see how we go (with trickle solar charger on the dash)
I am very reluctant to assume there is a problem with the engine or starter, it was fully serviced very recently and the car was running like a dream.
I will get a German battery from somewhere, sling it in and see how we go (with trickle solar charger on the dash)
sleep envy said:
If you are near a German & Swedish or Euro Car Parts i think they stock Bosch Silverlines, they're pretty good.
As always Pete gets there first with the advice I'd offer. Should be cheaper than Halfords too.
local stockist - £44 ! way cheaper than the crap one i bought from Halfords
www.boschautoparts.co.uk/pcBatt10.asp?c=2&d=1
>> Edited by woof on Sunday 8th January 18:05
Pickled Piper said:
It doesn't sound like there is necessarily anything wrong with the battery. Two to three weeks in cold weather would kill most batteries. Remember, the cold weather zaps the battery power and also makes the engine harder to turn over.
I disagree, my car regularly spends up to 6 weeks in the winter without use and starts immediately. That's with a Bosch Silver.
Bosch it is then, will try a few local motor factors, they should be able to get me one.
Question is, if the Bosch battery is only £44 (much less than I expected) then can I really be bothered to waste time laying into Halfords for their '3 year guarantee' on their calcium crap? The battery was probably filled with milk for all the good it did my Porker.
I suppose one benefit is that replacing the battery will reset the ECU, and with the cold temps currently I'll be able to get serious boost out of the blower and not auto-retard the ignition...
Question is, if the Bosch battery is only £44 (much less than I expected) then can I really be bothered to waste time laying into Halfords for their '3 year guarantee' on their calcium crap? The battery was probably filled with milk for all the good it did my Porker.
I suppose one benefit is that replacing the battery will reset the ECU, and with the cold temps currently I'll be able to get serious boost out of the blower and not auto-retard the ignition...
cyberface said:
Sorry all for being an utterly lazy layabout.
Anyone got the code / model number / whatever for the required Bosch Silverline battery for a 993 (1994 non-turbo (obviously) model) - I'm going to have to order one in and don't want to order the wrong battery.
BOSCH BATTERY TYPE 096 75Ah 420/720 278Lx175Wx175H 0/1 B13 BOSCH - 100 - £52.50
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