battery problems

[colin smith]

I had the cab out yesterday and the sun started to shine, so I stopped to put the roof down , it went down fine but when I tried to restart the car it wouldn't. It turn over a few times and then started to click. So I had to call the AA.

He jumped the car and it was charging the battery at about 13.5v, so he thought it must be the battery. The battery looks fine, is a porsche one and doesn't look that old. Do they often give up the ghost, does putting down the roof really drain the battery that much? How much are new battery and should I get a porsche one?

Thanks

 

[Black_JPN]

Yes, when they go I believe they go. From my research the Porsche ones don't actually have a very good reputation at all for longevity so they maybe a false economy. The one in my Boxster failed in 2005 and I guess it had been in there since new so 5 years old.

I recently bought the relevant Halfrauds item for the 944 and the car starts fabulously as a result. Mind you it didn't help that one of the previous owners had fitted a battery that would have looked small even in an old Mini let alone a 944. They even went to the trouble of fabricating an extra plate to secure it as it was too small to fit between the screw holes. You'd have thought that would have been some kind of giveaway!

 

[Riverside]

I bought a Halfords one four years ago now & it's starting to get a bit dodgy & could probably do with replacing.

I remember reading somewhere once that sealed batteries have about a 3yr life expectancy, any more than that & you are doing well, any less & it's probably something else causing the problem (general rule of thumb).

 

[colin smith]

well I've been pricing up the batteries , they all seem expensive. They range from a £80 for a bosch from europarts, though £127 from porsche to £150 for a varta . I'm sure I only paid about £50 for a new battery for my old 911 3.2.

Any ideas?

Also anyone know what clutch fluid I should use to top up?

 

[Wigeon Incognito]

I bought a Varta Blue Top (the same battery as a Bosch Silver) from Tayna a few months ago for my S2 but it was definitely less than £100.

At the time it was cheaper than the equivalent good quality Halfords battery but I guess things may have changed.