Battery Problems

[Guest]

Requst an indication as to how much current is taken from the 12 volt battery when vehicle garaged but unlocked. (Boxster 2.8 ). Vehicle fitted with a tracker system. Recently battery drain excessive, resulting in starting problems.
RAC etc state battery in good condition.
Thanks
Ger

 

[BrianJ]

Over what period? Not clear whether you mean overnight or over weeks. I have a 2.7 Tip with a tracker but I never leave it unlocked, even in the garage. Locking it does two things to save battery - firstly the interior lights, dash display etc go out immediately. Second after 5 days the remaining systems power down almost completely to save more juice. I've left mine for 3 weeks with no problems at all. And I prefer to know it is locked. But also, batteries decline over time. I've just replaced my original after 4 years because even though the voltage was OK, the cranking speed deteriorated markedly. The car still started first time at very low cranking speed but I decided to replace before it let me down. Now cranks about 3 times faster than previously.

 

[Glyn]

40 Milliamps is typical, plus any tracker or other stanby equipment you have fitted


Glyn

 

[Guest]

Many thanks for reply. Recently battery flat after only four/five days of non vehicle use. Boxster now has been taken to Cardiff for investigation by Porsche Dealer. Will await their report.

Thanks

Ger

 

[Guest]

Info appreciated.

Regards

Ger

 

[Motorhead]

Stephen,

If it's the dreaded Moll battery then battery failure is relatively common (some people on here have even reported a battery explosion!), although I believe that Porsche now use a different supplier for the 981-series cars. Unfortunately, if your car is under either the factory or the extended warranty then you're tied into fitting a genuine Porsche replacement rather than a superior Bosch or Varta item.

If the car's not a daily drive then you may want to consider investing in a battery conditioner, something like a CTEK.

Jeff

 

[CLIFFWILKINS]

Sounds about right for Porsche moll batteries Tracey had 2 on her 987 both lasting circa 2 years and the cars used everyday.
When the second was deemed dead we went for a Bosch not such trouble again with that £80 and 3 year warranty
Job done.

 

[farleton]

Cliff
Thanks. My only surprise is that this is my 5th Boxster and never had a problem with any of the previous 4

 

[CLIFFWILKINS]

Just unlucky l guess like with us on the 987 battery the way it goes sometimes.

 

[Chappelle]

I've had two replacement Bosch batteries, both from Costco. Cost circa half that of a Porsche battery. First Bosch battery died but replaced for free sit was inside the 5 year guarantee. Latest battery covered for 4 years.

Strongly recommend the CTEK charger too

Richard

 

[heathview]

I had my Moll battery explode when I went to start the car a couple of years ago, the battery was just over 2 years old. The previous owner had it replaced when I bought the car, fitted a Varta now it's been fine ever since. Now the only problem is the remote key fob.................that's another story. I've had over 50 cars over the years and never had a problem with key fobs. The amount of times you hear of these failures is unbelievable on cars that are £41K plus when new! Mine's a 2002 3.2S.

Regards,

Martin

 

[Steve Brown]

Are there any tell tale warning signs to look out for before the battery dies completely? My car's on its original still (maintained with a CTEK), so is 5.5 years old. It would be nice if I could predict any failure prior to being stranded somewhere!

 

[Motorhead]

Unfortunatey it's a bit of a lottery Steve, although there may be some tell-tale signs like slow engine cranking, dimming headlamps when you switch on the heated rear screen and have the blower motor on max or when operating the windows, and the display lighting up like a Christmas tree with spurious warning lamps. But most of the time a battery cell just dies, leaving you stranded.

Jeff

 

[Steve Brown]

So would you be tempted to replace the battery based on age before it dies, or is a new one (Moll, as the car is under warranty) still a lottery as to whether it could pack in any day? If you'd replace on age, then how old?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Motorhead]

Steve,

Even with your 10% Club discount, Porsche seems to charge a lot more for their Moll battery than something like the Bosch equivalent, and I suppose the law of averages says that a new one is as likely to fail as not. The worst thing to do is let a battery discharge completely, so provided you use the car regularly and keep it on a battery conditioner the battery may well soldier on for many years. If you're really concerned then bite the bullit and replace it, but bear in mind that Porsche will insist on you fitting their approved Moll battery to preserve the warranty conditions.

If you've got the Porsche extended warranty you'll probably have their breakdown cover too, so if you do have a battery failure the AA will come to your assistance. I doubt that they'd have a Moll battery on the van though and you'd probably be having an interesting conversation with your PC afterwards.

Just my tuppence worth of course.

Jeff

 

[Nick_USA]

You do indeed need a Porsche Moll battery in the car for it to pass the warranty renewal inspection and that the battery is usually excluded from the post 3 year new car warranty. However, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out how to get the car through the warranty inspection; it does however require a good mate with a Porsche with a Moll battery.

Not that I would be condoning this behaviour, say no more []

 

[Glyn]

Nick_USA - my thoughts exactly.
The Moll battery suffers from sudden death, fine when you park it up - then in the morning diddly squat, try to charge - starts the car but dies again within hours.
If I had a car under OPC warranty and the battery was over 5 yrs old - not only would I think that was a miracle I would take it out and put it in the garage connected permanently to a Ctec, fit a Bosch S5 for about £90 and the Moll goes in the car only when it needs a service or other work at the OPC - but unlike Nick (officially) I do condone that behaviour.

 

[BartyB]

I've had three Moll batteries fail at between 2 and 3 years in the years since I've had my car. When the car wasn't used it was always on a conditioner so never got the chance to go flat due to lack of use.

After doing an autopsy, each time I've found it's just one cell that has died meaning the battery fails to hold a charge above 10.5 V. After the last one failed, and the car was no longer in warranty, I was glad to fit a decent Varta battery (which comes with a 5 year warranty incidentally) like our other cars. No problems since.

 

[Ray]

Stephen,

If it's the dreaded Moll battery then battery failure is relatively common (some people on here have even reported a battery explosion!), although I believe that Porsche now use a different supplier for the 981-series cars. Unfortunately, if your car is under either the factory or the extended warranty then you're tied into fitting a genuine Porsche replacement rather than a superior Bosch or Varta item.

If the car's not a daily drive then you may want to consider investing in a battery conditioner, something like a CTEK.

Jeff

I hook mine up every evening. This just keeps the battery on top of its job. I do short runs and this time of year with many ancillaries in use the battery starts to use more energy than gets replaced especially for starting the vehicle when maximum charge is essential. I use an Optimate smart charger but many of these chargers are much the same.