Discussion
Well it's happened. Haven't used the car for about a month and went to get in it this morning and the battery is as flat as a very flat thing. Not even enough power to turn on the interior light!!!! New official Porsche battery about 6 months ago.
Of course there is no power to open the boot or bonnet to get to the terminals or battery so a quick call to Tonbridge OPC and they suggest taking the panel around the boot and bonnet handles off to release the central locking. Once the battery is out I then have to deep charge it for 3 days to get it back in tip top condition. I questioned them about the emergency handle under the nearside wheel arch but was advised it's difficult to locate when the car is on the ground.
I'm off for a few days over Xmas so it can wait till I get back but I have now put a battery conditioner on Santa's list so it doesn't happen again.
Of course there is no power to open the boot or bonnet to get to the terminals or battery so a quick call to Tonbridge OPC and they suggest taking the panel around the boot and bonnet handles off to release the central locking. Once the battery is out I then have to deep charge it for 3 days to get it back in tip top condition. I questioned them about the emergency handle under the nearside wheel arch but was advised it's difficult to locate when the car is on the ground.
I'm off for a few days over Xmas so it can wait till I get back but I have now put a battery conditioner on Santa's list so it doesn't happen again.
if its a 3.6 theres a live terminal in the fuse box, plus connect to door check strap for negative, to power the lock solenoids to open boot/bonnet or even slow charge.
if its a 3.4 then 5mm (IIRC) allen key. remove 3 little bungs in cover - (if its electric seats pain in the ar3e - seat in way and you cant move it - you will need to be able to cut 1/2 inch off your allen key !) - loosen bolts DONT REMOVE - and the whole unit lifts relatively easily - first time might need a bit of a tug. facing outwards you'll see the lock mechanism - just pull aside with your finger and pull boot/bonnet release. sh1test design ever...
if its a 3.4 then 5mm (IIRC) allen key. remove 3 little bungs in cover - (if its electric seats pain in the ar3e - seat in way and you cant move it - you will need to be able to cut 1/2 inch off your allen key !) - loosen bolts DONT REMOVE - and the whole unit lifts relatively easily - first time might need a bit of a tug. facing outwards you'll see the lock mechanism - just pull aside with your finger and pull boot/bonnet release. sh1test design ever...
Vesuvius 996 said:
In Total911 this month there is a device on test which is a small solar panel which plugs into the cigar lighter.
Sounds like a good idea to me.
30 sheets IIRC.
It's probably a bit dark in moi garage for one of those to work unless of course i run the lead outside.
Once I'm back up and running I'll get an Optimate or similar.
fidgits said:
mine was sat for about 10 days in the garage, started first time yesterday...
what's the sort of life of the batteries then?
what's the sort of life of the batteries then?
OPC Tonbridge reckon a good battery will flatten in a couple of weeks at this time of year if you don't use a conditioner.........so good job you didn't wait another 4 days
Vesuvius 996 said:
In Total911 this month there is a device on test which is a small solar panel which plugs into the cigar lighter.
Sounds like a good idea to me.
30 sheets IIRC.
At £100 a go for a new battery, its a good idea though.
Just a quicky tip..dont start to charge your battery if the outside temp plummits. This is not good.
Take the battery off the car and stick it in your house for a couple of days to get it upto temp then charge it.
Maybe stick it under the Christmas tree..nice touch.
I have a 997s and I have the porsche charger (same exactly as ctek) but more money naturally. That just plugs into the ciggy lighter, or is that now called the battery charging hole?? Everyone tells me that older cars are reliable?? So if you park you car at the airport and go sking for two weeks your knackerd then!? Good anti-theft device, even if it only works after two weeks!!!All good fun eah..
Take the battery off the car and stick it in your house for a couple of days to get it upto temp then charge it.
Maybe stick it under the Christmas tree..nice touch.
I have a 997s and I have the porsche charger (same exactly as ctek) but more money naturally. That just plugs into the ciggy lighter, or is that now called the battery charging hole?? Everyone tells me that older cars are reliable?? So if you park you car at the airport and go sking for two weeks your knackerd then!? Good anti-theft device, even if it only works after two weeks!!!All good fun eah..
Denis O said:
OPC Tonbridge reckon a good battery will flatten in a couple of weeks at this time of year if you don't use a conditioner.........so good job you didn't wait another 4 days
What exactly do they base this on ?
A £70k car has a battery that is exhausted in 2 weeks ?
A 70amp hour battery.
Do the electrons just run for it taking all the potential difference from the battery?
Where's the current flowing in a car that switches the alarm off in 5 days ?
Ive never heard such tosh.
V=IR
Edited by stuttgartmetal on Wednesday 20th December 07:41
9hellheaven said:
Just a quicky tip..dont start to charge your battery if the outside temp plummits. This is not good.
Take the battery off the car and stick it in your house for a couple of days to get it upto temp then charge it.
Maybe stick it under the Christmas tree..nice touch.
I have a 997s and I have the porsche charger (same exactly as ctek) but more money naturally. That just plugs into the ciggy lighter, or is that now called the battery charging hole?? Everyone tells me that older cars are reliable?? So if you park you car at the airport and go sking for two weeks your knackerd then!? Good anti-theft device, even if it only works after two weeks!!!All good fun eah..
Take the battery off the car and stick it in your house for a couple of days to get it upto temp then charge it.
Maybe stick it under the Christmas tree..nice touch.
I have a 997s and I have the porsche charger (same exactly as ctek) but more money naturally. That just plugs into the ciggy lighter, or is that now called the battery charging hole?? Everyone tells me that older cars are reliable?? So if you park you car at the airport and go sking for two weeks your knackerd then!? Good anti-theft device, even if it only works after two weeks!!!All good fun eah..
The C-tek plugs directly to the Battery, it comes with a connector plug (like radio control car battery connectors) which you can hard wire onto the Battery/ground positions. I have found this very good so far and have had no Problems!
Where you say don't start to charge the battery when cold, I assume it is ok if its charging now but started when it was warmer? If you know what I mean?
stuttgartmetal said:
Denis O said:
OPC Tonbridge reckon a good battery will flatten in a couple of weeks at this time of year if you don't use a conditioner.........so good job you didn't wait another 4 days
What exactly do they base this on ?
A £70k car has a battery that is exhausted in 2 weeks ?
A 70amp hour battery.
Do the electrons just run for it taking all the potential difference from the battery?
Where's the current flowing in a car that switches the alarm off in 5 days ?
Ive never heard such tosh.
V=IR
Edited by stuttgartmetal on Wednesday 20th December 07:41
My SL does the same, and thats a 100ah battery. It lasts about 2-3 weeks.
If the battery has got flat enough to not even power up the interior light then you'll probably find that it's knackered and won't hold a charge properly, even after conditioning. You might have to add to your xmas present list....
One tip - when you go to buy a new battery, measure up the existing one and the orientation of the terminals, then buy the biggest Ah rating battery you can find that will fit.
One tip - when you go to buy a new battery, measure up the existing one and the orientation of the terminals, then buy the biggest Ah rating battery you can find that will fit.
nel said:
If the battery has got flat enough to not even power up the interior light then you'll probably find that it's knackered and won't hold a charge properly, even after conditioning. You might have to add to your xmas present list....
One tip - when you go to buy a new battery, measure up the existing one and the orientation of the terminals, then buy the biggest Ah rating battery you can find that will fit.
One tip - when you go to buy a new battery, measure up the existing one and the orientation of the terminals, then buy the biggest Ah rating battery you can find that will fit.
Not bad advice Nel, Id thoroughly agree with the first bit. If your battery doesn't hold the charge, get yourself down to German and Swedish, or at least a Bosch dealer, and buy a new one. They are usually 68 or 70 a/h [ amp/hour ] batteries. Bosch is the battery of choice IMO.
These cars are cold and hot temp tested pre production.
They are built for the cold wastelands of Deutchland, come on, dead in 2 weeks FFS ?
Anything more than 70 a/h overloads your alternator.
Stick to what the eggheads at Zuffenhausen recommend.
Some twonk in a shiny suit in OPC Tewkesbury recommends a conditoner if your battery doesn't last 2 weeks ? Yeah right.
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