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Battery scare
- Thread starter kenwardc
- Start date
If you have a local Euro Car Parts, they will have it (or could get one) for about £75.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...
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
adrian996
New member
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.
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!
adrian996
New member
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!
adrian996
New member
All the best.
Adrian.
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!
devans
New member
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???
adrian996
New member
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!! [] What a shame!
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!
adrian996
New member
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.
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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