Battery Blues

acer · Sep 15, 2014

[8D]
As usual my battery went kaput the other day!
Nothing nil poi,just a little ticking noise coming from the engine!Oh so annoying just when we get some sunshine ...
So this was my second Moll Kamina genuine Porsche type at around £170 odd quid!and I wave good bye to the thing,what with the rumours and the odd couple of explosions that other kind members have experienced Porsche should get involved with Varta or Bosch!
I decide to go for the Varta type same 80 Ah but the crank speed 740 instead of 380! and ordered whilst on my hols at F1 Monza
via the Iphone,what a lovely little device!
Ready for my return about a week later to Blighty!
I went for the Varta because I am sucker for the lovely blue and silver colour,yellow also that u get a 4yr warranty and my Moll only lasted 3yrs exactly Aug 2011-Aug 2014.
So fired the car up the weekend and the motor started first time very quickly am very impressed and for the £80 great value!
Am looking forward to the Porsche Festival,and Turbo power!!!![

]

Mark_Bennett · Sep 15, 2014

Do you use a battery conditioner?
I have one connected to the Boxster any time it is garaged, and my 1st Moll lasted 8 years. The second is 5 years old - so far.
You do also need to top up the electrolyte with distilled water now and again - the reason my 1st battery died was because I neglected this and it was only half filled in a couple of cells!

acer · Sep 16, 2014

Cheers Mark that's interesting,have heard this is true and that the battery should be charged every 2-3 weeks.
Have read on a forum that an American guy used a conditioner regularly but still only lasted 3 yrs.
My worry is that two Boxster owners have had explosions with this type of battery and it was lucky the front bonnet was closed down when it happened but still it burnt the battery cover and rear plastic trim to rear of the bonnet.
I would not like to think what could occur if it was open and the battery exploded acid!
Evidently it is caused by a small spark within the cells if one or two are weak!
If you have time to read Heathview posts which are interesting!
Just wanted peace of mind and the Varta or Bosch have heard some great feedback!
I do have the Porsche trickle charger,but unfortunately no power in my garage yet,will need to get this sorted over the Winter.
Last week bought one of those negative terminal quick release immobilser switch so need to fit it this weekend.
Happy dayz![8D]

BartyB · Sep 18, 2014

The Moll manufactured Kamina type batteries supplied by Porsche appear to have a high incidence of premature failure. In spite of regular use and using a battery conditioner and solar charger, I've had 3 of these crappy things in my Boxster and all have failed at around 3 years. All of these were found to have one of the cells dead. The last one failed 2 months ago and was replaced with a Varta Silver battery which has a higher capacity than the equivalent Moll, Bosch and Exide. It cost £90 from a local motor factor but I've subsequently found them cheaper at Mega Batteries in Tewkesbury who offer free next day delivery. A bonus is Varta offer a 5 year warranty.

As a footnote it was sad to see my failed Porsche branded battery still looking clean and fairly new sitting in amongst the obviously much older knackered batteries of all makes at the recycling centre. On looking at a random sample of these, the dates of manufacture (shown on labels or stamps on the terminals) ranged from between 1998 and 2008. Only my Porsche battery was date marked 2010!

It looks as though the message has finally got through to Porsche as it appears they now fit Banner manufactured batteries to new Boxsters.

Tony Parker · Sep 18, 2014

Does your cars ecu need "telling" it's got a new battery. My BMW does, it's because as a battery gets older the car boosts the alternator output to compensate for the ageing battery's performance. If it does know it has a new battery it will keep up the higher output resulting in shorter battery life. That's the theory anyway !

acer · Sep 18, 2014

Hi Barty,
Yep agree with all,it was the same thing when I took my Moll to the tip and the section where all the batteries were buried mine one looks brand new.
Am pleased to wave goodbye to it.

Mark_Bennett · Sep 18, 2014

Not in support of Moll or anything, but one reason our batteries will look "new" is that they are in a pretty well protected area of the car, unlike most that are in the engine bay and therefore subject to all sorts of dirt and water coming in through the various openings in the engine compartment...usually at the front of the car so getting forced in at 70 MPH!

I have to admit I tried buying a Varta Silver (or was it Bosch silver?) when I had to replace the original battery, but at that time I couldn't find one anywhere! The amperage needed is fairly high compared to most on the market if I recall correctly. So in the end Porsche got my money for a new Moll, which I fitted myself (saving about £40 on the book price "fitted"). The only issue I had was needing to find the radio code, and I think I had to reset the "top" of the electric windows (it tells you how in the Owners Manual).

If you are buying an imobiliser switch Acer, be prepared to have to reset the radio, windows, and possibly other things each time you reconnect the switch.