Poor cranking on start?
Discussion
I recently bought a Bosch S5 Silver battery because the engine wasn't cranking very fast when I started it. With the new battery, the crank over is a bit better, but it's not as lively as I would have expected. Is it just the way it is with the 997 C4s, my car is stored in a garage and I use it once a week, unfortunately there is no power to the garage and I can't get any power to the garage. I had a 996 C4s before and it definately cranked over quicker than this.
I have a optimate charger which I use when I stay at a friends, but I'm a bit concerned with this cold weather if I leave the car for more than a week or if it gets colder, then maybe the car won't start.
The car does start very quickly, i.e. first or second turn of the engine, but as I say it doesn't sound very lively and being as this is the bigger of the batteries and only a few weeks old, I'm just wondering if that is normal.
Obviously it's subjective what you might think "lively" means, but I'd be interested to know if anyone has similar experience and if there is something wrong what could be the problem.
NB When the car is charged on the Optimate for a whole weekend, it is a bit better, but not much different!
I have a optimate charger which I use when I stay at a friends, but I'm a bit concerned with this cold weather if I leave the car for more than a week or if it gets colder, then maybe the car won't start.
The car does start very quickly, i.e. first or second turn of the engine, but as I say it doesn't sound very lively and being as this is the bigger of the batteries and only a few weeks old, I'm just wondering if that is normal.
Obviously it's subjective what you might think "lively" means, but I'd be interested to know if anyone has similar experience and if there is something wrong what could be the problem.
NB When the car is charged on the Optimate for a whole weekend, it is a bit better, but not much different!
Not my Porsche but, I have this problem on my daily driver BMW. If its a few degrees above zero it fires on the button, starter sounds fine/quick, and it runs lovely.
If however it is getting close to zero or under it spins over lazily, is lumpy for 20-30 seconds, etc. I just put it down to how thick the oil gets due to the cold. The extra pressure requires a bit more cranking.
I have a spare battery in the garage but haven't bothered trying it. Only thing you could do if you're concerned is get your battery tested by you're mechanic, also check what you're charging at. A new battery should be faultless but sometimes they aren't. Very rare though, especially with a Bosch.
Good luck getting sorted.
If however it is getting close to zero or under it spins over lazily, is lumpy for 20-30 seconds, etc. I just put it down to how thick the oil gets due to the cold. The extra pressure requires a bit more cranking.
I have a spare battery in the garage but haven't bothered trying it. Only thing you could do if you're concerned is get your battery tested by you're mechanic, also check what you're charging at. A new battery should be faultless but sometimes they aren't. Very rare though, especially with a Bosch.
Good luck getting sorted.
Pope said:
Get the main battery lead tested - a few 9x7's have had connection issues (high resistance in the terminals near the transmission or starter).
Volt drop in the cable should be less than 0.3volts over its full length
Pope's da' man. I had this problem and it turned out to be the earth strap between chassis and starter.Volt drop in the cable should be less than 0.3volts over its full length
Martian O said:
Pope said:
Get the main battery lead tested - a few 9x7's have had connection issues (high resistance in the terminals near the transmission or starter).
Volt drop in the cable should be less than 0.3volts over its full length
Pope's da' man. I had this problem and it turned out to be the earth strap between chassis and starter.Volt drop in the cable should be less than 0.3volts over its full length
Chris_ said:
Martian O said:
Pope said:
Get the main battery lead tested - a few 9x7's have had connection issues (high resistance in the terminals near the transmission or starter).
Volt drop in the cable should be less than 0.3volts over its full length
Pope's da' man. I had this problem and it turned out to be the earth strap between chassis and starter.Volt drop in the cable should be less than 0.3volts over its full length
Chris_ said:
Martian O said:
Pope said:
Get the main battery lead tested - a few 9x7's have had connection issues (high resistance in the terminals near the transmission or starter).
Volt drop in the cable should be less than 0.3volts over its full length
Pope's da' man. I had this problem and it turned out to be the earth strap between chassis and starter.Volt drop in the cable should be less than 0.3volts over its full length
On the 911 battery side, may be completely different thing but I have had a problem with mine (see my topic from last Friday) - it seems that mine was with the battery never getting to full charge as I do not do a lot of miles. The battery seemed ok with all diagnostics but would not turn over at all on Friday morning. However after 4 hours on the commercial charger at my local garage, it cranked over stronger than ever and the trickle charger managed to get back to green, which it has not done for months.
I know nothing about batteries but the mechanic commented that the 911 battery's cold cranking amps rating is very low compared to most cars so maybe if it was not fully charged when you bought it, or you do a lot of short journeys, it is never getting fully charged?
Ian187 said:
I recently bought a Bosch S5 Silver battery because the engine wasn't cranking very fast when I started it. With the new battery, the crank over is a bit better, but it's not as lively as I would have expected. Is it just the way it is with the 997 C4s, my car is stored in a garage and I use it once a week, unfortunately there is no power to the garage and I can't get any power to the garage. I had a 996 C4s before and it definately cranked over quicker than this.
I have a optimate charger which I use when I stay at a friends, but I'm a bit concerned with this cold weather if I leave the car for more than a week or if it gets colder, then maybe the car won't start.
The car does start very quickly, i.e. first or second turn of the engine, but as I say it doesn't sound very lively and being as this is the bigger of the batteries and only a few weeks old, I'm just wondering if that is normal.
Obviously it's subjective what you might think "lively" means, but I'd be interested to know if anyone has similar experience and if there is something wrong what could be the problem.
NB When the car is charged on the Optimate for a whole weekend, it is a bit better, but not much different!
Oh dear - I've just bought the 85Ah Bosch S5 to solve the same problem and I'm now worried that I might not have needed it ... I have a optimate charger which I use when I stay at a friends, but I'm a bit concerned with this cold weather if I leave the car for more than a week or if it gets colder, then maybe the car won't start.
The car does start very quickly, i.e. first or second turn of the engine, but as I say it doesn't sound very lively and being as this is the bigger of the batteries and only a few weeks old, I'm just wondering if that is normal.
Obviously it's subjective what you might think "lively" means, but I'd be interested to know if anyone has similar experience and if there is something wrong what could be the problem.
NB When the car is charged on the Optimate for a whole weekend, it is a bit better, but not much different!
As a few of you have said, I've done a bit more exploring and apparently there was a Porsche technical note to tell of alternator cable issues, which are often mis-diagnosed as faulty battery or faulty alternator or starter motor...
Seems the replacement cable is a lot thicker now than was originally made, but from what I can tell people are reporting that the cable gets very hot in the engine compartment and the sheilding melts causing degradation of the cable or in particular the end where the lug is crimped onto the cable and attaches to the alternator. (I'm just paraphrasing here).
I've also heard that this is common for 06 997.1 cars (which mine is!)
Anyhow, I'm going to get mine looked at and I'll let you know.
Seems the replacement cable is a lot thicker now than was originally made, but from what I can tell people are reporting that the cable gets very hot in the engine compartment and the sheilding melts causing degradation of the cable or in particular the end where the lug is crimped onto the cable and attaches to the alternator. (I'm just paraphrasing here).
I've also heard that this is common for 06 997.1 cars (which mine is!)
Anyhow, I'm going to get mine looked at and I'll let you know.
Pope said:
Get the main battery lead tested - a few 9x7's have had connection issues (high resistance in the terminals near the transmission or starter).
Volt drop in the cable should be less than 0.3volts over its full length
Replacing this cable on the '7S.1 I had (2005 MY) made all the difference.Volt drop in the cable should be less than 0.3volts over its full length
I had the same issue on my 996 Turbo, and it turned out to be the starter motor.
Everyone said "battery", and just as you describe it seemed better for a while, but then faded again.
I tried another new battery, same issue, and then my Indy checked the starter motor. It was far from rude health, and he replaced it. Whizz bang!
Now I have perfect starts every time, even in the current conditions (-10).
Everyone said "battery", and just as you describe it seemed better for a while, but then faded again.
I tried another new battery, same issue, and then my Indy checked the starter motor. It was far from rude health, and he replaced it. Whizz bang!
Now I have perfect starts every time, even in the current conditions (-10).
Sorry for late reply, but... I took the car to an indy and he found that the connections were just generally a bit corroded and "gunked up"
He gave the connections at the starter motor a good clean and it all seems good.
BIG difference and it cost me pretty much nothing (he was doing some other work so didn't charge me for it!).
Car now cranks fine and the battery seems to charge fine.
Definitely worth checking out before changing starter motors or wiring looms etc...
He gave the connections at the starter motor a good clean and it all seems good.
BIG difference and it cost me pretty much nothing (he was doing some other work so didn't charge me for it!).
Car now cranks fine and the battery seems to charge fine.
Definitely worth checking out before changing starter motors or wiring looms etc...
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