981 warranty issues/claims

chrisH · Apr 28, 2013

Could you check your handbook to see if there is any mention of the aux sockets powering off after 30 mins?
I believe 981 Boxsters don't have this issue and so it is not in the manual whereas it is stated in the Cayman on page 207.
There are no set up options, cars are PDI'd according to their VIN number.

I got a call from Porsche Reading last week to say they are investigating this for me with their technical dept and the same query I raised whilst at the factory when I saw all the delivery 991/ Caymans/Boxsters being charged via their aux. sockets, has also been referred to them.

gouldian · Apr 28, 2013

My handbook has no reference to a timed switch off and Porsche Reading are testing a Boxster to establish the position, and my contact there said a Cayman was also being tested at the same time, as another owner, (ChrisH I guess) had a similar query to mine. As with Brian's car mine was on a Porsche charger for 9 weeks and started first time. Reading said that would be the case now as a more powerful battery is installed and lasts longer because all power shuts down after 30 mins. At the time their technical section said I could have some re wiring and a change to the computer that would take 2 hours. However, the plot thickens as Derek's cubby box outlet works provided the charger is installed with the ignition on and then turned off. Another OPC told me that the only outlet that stays live is the passenger footwell. To quote from a Beatles song of yesteryear "There must be an answer" but what the bloody hell is it?! I may find out this coming week!

mnk303 · Apr 30, 2013

Interesting call from dealer today all 981's require PDK update ASAP, but must be important , I guess as in 25 years of Porsche ownership i have never had a call and required to booked it in . Maybe nothing much, not noticed anything strange about the PDK box . Nice to be called though and get a good service ........not something BMW ever do for me.

chrisH · May 1, 2013

ORIGINAL: gouldian

My handbook has no reference to a timed switch off and Porsche Reading are testing a Boxster to establish the position, and my contact there said a Cayman was also being tested at the same time, as another owner, (ChrisH I guess) had a similar query to mine. As with Brian's car mine was on a Porsche charger for 9 weeks and started first time. Reading said that would be the case now as a more powerful battery is installed and lasts longer because all power shuts down after 30 mins. At the time their technical section said I could have some re wiring and a change to the computer that would take 2 hours. However, the plot thickens as Derek's cubby box outlet works provided the charger is installed with the ignition on and then turned off. Another OPC told me that the only outlet that stays live is the passenger footwell. To quote from a Beatles song of yesteryear "There must be an answer" but what the bloody hell is it?! I may find out this coming week!

It seems Reading are making it up as they go along and are now admitting what I have been telling them all along, that the power is shut down after 30 mins. My OPC has done some tests with the charger being connected within a few minutes or whilst the ignition is on and the socket remains powered normally, as it deducts the current and leaves it powered up. I have sent this info to Reading who previously didn't check this. There is no way they are going to rewire your car, that would invalidate your warranty and is complete rubbish IMO.
I have asked if this is the case why doesn't the drivers manual state it, after all it states in my manual about the power down but nothing about connecting whilst the ignition is on which is bad practice IMO as a charger should never be connected when there is any load switched on as it may blow the chargers fuse. But I'm old school and maybe modern ignition systems done take much current.

mnk303 · May 1, 2013

Chris as an electronics engineer I think I can explain the technical side, however it would be a guess without circuit diagrams. Bottom line Porsche need to state the method correctly in the manual, its like a game of "who really knows in Porsche" it's not rocket science and I have had similar vague experiences with Reading before, drove me nuts, in the end I sold the car.

Pity there is no direct access to the development team

gouldian · May 1, 2013

I have now had the long awaited feedback from Reading tech. They have had a 981 "S" on test for several days before, during and after the last weekend and have confirmed that the outlet in the passenger footwell of the car does not shut down at all and may be used for keeping the battery maximised. I know Derek has found the cubby to stay live if connected when ignition is on, but given my ability to easily use the footwell connection this is my way forward to hopefully ensure that this battery lasts 12 years as did the one in my 986. I hope Chris that Reading get you a definitve response and this forum certainly does have its uses.

chrisH · May 1, 2013

ORIGINAL: gouldian

I have now had the long awaited feedback from Reading tech. They have had a 981 "S" on test for several days before, during and after the last weekend and have confirmed that the outlet in the passenger footwell of the car does not shut down at all and may be used for keeping the battery maximised. I know Derek has found the cubby to stay live if connected when ignition is on, but given my ability to easily use the footwell connection this is my way forward to hopefully ensure that this battery lasts 12 years as did the one in my 986. I hope Chris that Reading get you a definitve response and this forum certainly does have its uses.

Well, they told me this too, but I refuted their findings about the pax footwell socket, I tried that one and it went dead within a few minutes as my charger went offline. The techie at my OPC conducted some tests which I forwarded to Reading as they evidently had not looked ito it thouroughly. The tests proved that this only works if the ignition is switched ON at the time, or within a few minutes of the charger being plugged in to draw current. Dereks info is correct and seems to apply to all the aux sockets.
I wouldn't believe what Reading tell you, the guy told me he was not techical and only heard this from sonene else to pass on to me, not impressed.
I'm also told by my OPC techie that ALL the 991 and 981 Drivers Manuals state there is a 30 min power off of the aux sockets.
Im using the battery connection method now and my conditioner stays on for days at a time proving that the in car shutdown is due to the sockets and nothing to do with the battery being fully charged which Reading told me.

chrisH · May 1, 2013

You do know that your 981 uses "AGM" with high starting current (800 A) and not lead-acid type battery and uses current sensing technology to shed unwanted loads. They reckon these batteries shouldn't go flat after periods of no use.
Whether they will last longer remains to be seen, my wifes MX5's battery is original with the car which is 2000 so almost 12 years old.
I intend to continue to use my Porsche Conditioner to maintain it when not in use, just to be sure[

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mnk303 · May 1, 2013

ORIGINAL: chrisH

You do know that your 981 uses "AGM" with high starting current (800 A) and not lead-acid type battery and uses current sensing technology to shed unwanted loads. They reckon these batteries shouldn't go flat after periods of no use.
Whether they will last longer remains to be seen, my wifes MX5's battery is original with the car which is 2000 so almost 12 years old.
I intend to continue to use my Porsche Conditioner to maintain it when not in use, just to be sure[]

Just some technical waffle from me.

Yes they are gel type (most quailty cars now use them) and because the internal resistance is much lower and therefore can provide higher currents , they don't have the issues of lead acid batteries , they are of a sandwich construction rather than a plate type, they can also withstand much lower temperatures , don't give off gases when charged and vibration resistive.
Points of negative on AGM batteries they can't be discharged below 50% where a lead type can do 80% , you must not overcharge an AGM battery as this will shorten its life. Generally though as most will find if you use your Porsche every 4 weeks it will not need trickle charging. I have stopped putting it on the CTEK of ate and it fires every time on the button, where my RS woud fail after a week or two.

Motorhead · May 2, 2013

Interesting stuff.

Does that mean that AGM batteries are genuinely sealed-for-life Martin? I presume that there is no facility to top them up.

Jeff

mnk303 · May 2, 2013

ORIGINAL: Motorhead

Interesting stuff.

Does that mean that AGM batteries are genuinely sealed-for-life Martin? I presume that there is no facility to top them up.

Jeff

Jeff yes they are very different construction being a honeycomb and the need to top up is not necessary as there is no evaporation of gas. In theory the battery will last much longer as the plates don't erode , eventually the honeycomb will disintegrate ......maybe after 5 years plus. Reason they can generate more current is the surface area of the plates is very large.