Porsche Battery/Starting problem - "Ignition key not removed

[HiFry]

Can someone help? My 2005 Porsche 997 has just had a new battery - the old one was flat (for about the 20th time...) but would not take a charge. When I last tried to start it after 3 weeks, the window went 20% down and the engine wouldn't even turn over. Replaced the battery just now - windows stayed 20% down and nothing happened. Just a click. It says "Ignition key not removed" (it has been and the key does go in and out). Any views on what I can do? Thanks C

[mellowman]

Flat battery issues can cause all kinds of gremlins which can take a while to sort themselves out.

What happens when you use the spare key instead?

Have you checked the new battery out? Maybe it needs a bit of conditioning?

Have you got an OBD2 diagnostic reader that can flag up any obscure issues?

What's the mileage on the car? Ignition barrels and key fob electronics do go flaky from time to time.

I've had problems with my windows automatically staying down or not dropping as they should. There is a simple relearning procedure that usually sorts this.

[HiFry]

Thanks Mellowman - sorry for the late reply - car in lockdown too...
Eventually after trying every route I rang up a dealer who came round, put a new Bosch battery in, and kick-started the electrics somehow (they were evasive on how...) and took it away to see if there was a discharge point anywhere (there wasn't). Something about an intermittent fault on the brake lights which could have caused it...which I don't quite believe. £300 later...
CTEK trickle charger on order...
Thanks for reply. C

[E-bmw]

HiFry said:

Something about an intermittent fault on the brake lights which could have caused it...which I don't quite believe.

Feasible if the fault is that the switch makes when the pedal is not pressed & the brake lights are on a constant live, don't know if they are obviously, could be irrelevant.

[HiFry]

Thanks. If you press the brake pedal normally (it's an automatic) then it won't start the large majority of times. If you pump it a few times, then it'll start. Seems like it doesn't know that the pedal is depressed. PSM/ABS not working light comes on the first journey, then will go off with a next start.

The dealer wants it back as "it could be a number of things" - brake sensor do you think? The dealership always gives me a huge list of things that is wrong with it when it goes in - generally small stuff, but with huge bill resulting - but it is immaculate, infrequently used, and with only 38,000 on the clock (2005 model).

I'd like to sell it sometime this year to a good home, but could do without the expense in the meantime... C

[Piersman2]

Might be worth checking the ignition barrel. My old Boxster (2001 mind) was exhibiting some wierd and wonderful electrical gremlins, like NOT powering down when I took the key out, lights randomly working, etc...

Turns out it was the ignition barrel electronics connector at the back of the key barrel was shot. I intially bought a cheap ebay version which was even worse then tracked down the actual exact Porsche replacement which 30 minutes later after fitting sorted everything.

Might be the same on the 911 of this era???