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Battery scare

Right! Off to Halfords. They don't have the 85AH only the 77, so will have a gander at other stock there before making the choice.
 
ORIGINAL: kenwardc
Halfords online price for the battery is £119 which sounds a little high. However, I'm fairly stuck on getting the Bosch so will probably end up paying that for it...
If you have a local Euro Car Parts, they will have it (or could get one) for about £75.
 
Here is a recommendation from a satisfied customer , try Tayna ltd (do a web search). Their prices are very reasonable and they deliver.
 
Thanks again for all responses to my original query. I ended up just getting down to Halfords and buying the battery. Will put it in the beast tomorrow.

Cheers
Chris
 
Jumping into an existing thread here- so apologies to the OP :)

I've just got a 2004 Carrera 4 (picked it up yesterday and drove it 50 miles home). Had been serviced, and also had a full OPC service, including new battery 6ooo miles ago.

I don't know how long it had been sitting at the dealers, but it seemed to have plenty of life in it when they started it, and during subsequent starts yesterday. I did do a few PCM setups with the ignition on, and the engine stopped, but notbing I'd suspect of being a big drain. Radio/CD and all lights were off.

This morning it was almost dead- enough to turn a few turns then 'click,click,click'. An odd thing is that then the windows moved down a couple of inches and the spoiler extended. Voltmeter was showing nothing, but all warning lights were on.

I've had to dash to work in another car so no time to test more, but is this just a very low battery, or something more radical? Will try jumpers later if appropriate.

Thanks for any advice

Neil
 
I very much hope so! Thanks :)

I do know the battery was left connected in the showroom, because the radio etc was working, but they were restricting access to those genuinely interested!
 
Hi Neil. I'm afraid that you battery is (maybe temporarily) dead. The window lowering and the rear spoiler extending are the results of a confusingly low amperage going to your OBC and the computer then telling the different things to do inappropriate things at inappropriate times, a bit like being really drunk - whatever that's like...[8|]

Your battery may well have a duff cell. Can you get the tops of the cells? If so check the acid levels and do a test (if you've got a hydrometer?). Failing that try to get the battery off and take it to your local auto-electrical place and ask them to put a test on it for you. Please remember to leave the key in the ignition with the ignition turned on before you try to remove the battery - follow the link that Richard put up on this thread earlier. Here it is: http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=331718

It's quite possible that your car has been sat around with this duff battery for some time and that the OPC just kept it on a battery conditioner to stop the alarm going off. If just one of the cells has gone then the battery is knackered - despite the fact that there are five others to keep things running!

All the best.

Adrian.
 
Thanks- thats most useful!

The current battery was only installed (new) last year, 6k miles ago so hopefully ought to be OK. The danger is that it has become terminally low at some point, damaging a cell.

I'll try with jumpers later, but may need to get back to the dealer for a replacement battery :)

Thanks for the info on battery removal (but I can't access it as I'm not (yet) a member of PCGB)! Think I saw another link somewhere!
 
No problem, Neil. The salient point in the link that you can't access is to make sure that you leave the ignition turned on before you try to loosen either of the terminals on the battery. When you've got the battery off leave the key where it is too! If you don't do this the alarm will go off and you'll feel like George Foreman in round eight and your neighbours will be striking you off their Christmas card lists! (Trust me, I had to learn the hard way on this one!)

Adrian.
 

ORIGINAL: adrian996

No problem, Neil. The salient point in the link that you can't access is to make sure that you leave the ignition turned on before you try to loosen either of the terminals on the battery. When you've got the battery off leave the key where it is too! If you don't do this the alarm will go off and you'll feel like George Foreman in round eight and your neighbours will be striking you off their Christmas card lists! (Trust me, I had to learn the hard way on this one!)

Adrian.

OK- seems to be sorted now (I hope!)

When I got home I tested the voltage and it was down to 8.5V. Tried it on a charger for a couple of hours (a not very good one admittedly) and it made little difference so connected to wife's car with jumpers. Initially still nothing, but after about 5 minutes letting it top up it started. All displays and settings preserved OK.

Have now driven it about 100 miles over the last 2 days and it has started 1st time each time. Voltage with engine off showing 12V and running showing 14.2V.

Dealer has been helpful- offered to pick it up or come over with a new battery if the problem recurs, so I'll see what happens in the next few days.

Thanks again for the help!
 
Ok Neil, glad you're sorted. 14.2 volts does sound like your battery is calling for more charge from your alternator - the usual reading is around 13.7 volts at tick over. It's probably just because the battery isn't quite back to where it should be yet. It probably just needs a really good long slow charge.

All the best.

Adrian.
 
Sounds like I need to invest in a decent charger then!

Car will normally be used every day for around 12k miles per year, otherwise I'd get a conditioner. I'll see if normal driving gets it topped up over the next week. Hadn't crossed my mind that the higher charging voltage could be due to increased demand!
 
I've had the bosch silver in my car 80ah. It lasted for 2 years but as i recently have had problems starting the car i took it back to eurocarparts and they simply changed it for another new one at no cost. They didn't even test it....must be my honest look!!!!
Good job they have changed it without cost cause i'm now fitting a new alternator as i believe this to be the problem. I suppose if one goes, the other is also at risk.
Got the old alternator off. Thinking oof purchasing an alternator from rotating electrix as it seems to be half the price £120 as opposed to £280. Anyone used these before???
 
Haven't used that firm but I had to get a new alternator at 14K miles [:'(] and I got my indi to get me an equivalent one to the Porsche one - but without the Porsche sticker. I think it was around £160 as opposed to something like £300. Unbelievable!
I've since learnt that I might have been able to just replace one part of the alternator instead of the whole thing...? Not sure what the part is called though...? You should have seen the 'old' alternator when it came off the car; it was like a new one out of the box!! [:mad:] What a shame!
 
After much sole searching on the internet i was gobsmacked to find a local alternator repair company. Cost me £133 including vat, done in less than 3 hours turn around. with 12 months warranty all i need to do now is re fit and get the car back on the road. yippee!!!
 
Resurrecting an old topic here, but my battery problems appear to be present still!

Since my last report, all has been well, but the charge rate has stayed at just above 14V most of the time.

Yesterday, I needed to have the A/C regassed so took it to KwikFit. At the end of the process (just over 1hr) they tried to start the car, and it failed, with the alarm blaring in the workshop! Luckily a jump lead was handy and it started.

I asked if it had been left with anything switched on during the regas but apparently only the door/bonnet was left open, so the courtesy lights were on. They put the battery on their Bosch tester; itr came up as the alternator fine, but the battery 'unservicable'. Their advice was to take it to an electrical specialist to trace whether the fault was the battery itself or a related circuit. The A/C is now fine and the 'grinding noise' gone, so £49 well spent there!

As for batteries, I've heard good things about Shield batteries which are made in Bishops Stortford, which is 4 miles from me; they have a sales counter. Their 'heavy duty' model for the 911 is rated at 75AHr which is a little lower than the one fitted. Would this be within tolerance? Price is good at £68 +VAT cash and carry, fully charged.

The symptoms all point to a dodgy battery, so I'm tempted to just change it without going in for further testing!
 
Hi Neil. So this is still the original battery that was giving you trouble - or did you change it for a new one? If it is the same one then it sounds like it's had its day. But it does seem odd that it has been giving out a good voltage and then just failed. I'm no electrical expert but it could be that there is what someone once referred to me as sedimentation on the bottom of the battery. This could be effectively shorting the plates out and you're then loosing all of your charge. This was more prevalent is acid batteries rather than the newer gel ones, I think.

It sounds like you might be on to something with Shield. There'll almost certainly be someone there who would be able to tell you what's happened.

Adrian.
 
Yes- it is the same one. Although apparently only fitted in 2009 by an OPC, it is a 'no-name' battery. I strongly suspect sitting in the showroom for a while may have knackered it!

It seems OK until it is put under some sustained load, then it just dies quickly. I suspect a dodgy cell somewhere, or as you say something amiss inside. I've decided to replace it anyway- but changed my plan and now gone for a 100AHr Varta for £100.
 

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