Battery

chrisr · Jun 24, 2004

made the mistake last night of leaving my side lights on [

], alarm started going off at 6ish - which I coudnt disable ( waking up all my neighbours - sorry ! ) despite trying to disable the alarm, coudnt release the boot catch so had to attempt to push start the lump to no effect. Got through to the battery which still woudnt start off jump leads . Gave up and rang the RAC who also had difficulty in starting her but eventually she roared back into life [

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] and the battery level indicator on the dash is again as always showing between 12 and 14 amp.

Is it worth replacing the battery as it has suffered total drainage and may be 12 ish years old ?

And also got soaked through to the skin, aagh good old Lancashire weather.

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John Sims · Jun 24, 2004

Is it worth replacing the battery as it has suffered total drainage and may be 12 ish years old ?

And also got soaked through to the skin, aagh good old Lancashire weather.

If it is that old (which I doubt) then I would say replace it. It is one less thing to worry about.

Considering battery life, unless you decant the electrolite (acid) and clean the sediment out of a battery, they only have a certain life span. The sediment builds up in the bottom and ultimately connects the plates. To this end you can almost bet that a battery advertised with a five year guarantee isn't going to last six under normal useage.

Domestic jump leads are generaly a complete waste of time. Unless you have the big heavy, expensive, commercial leads you might as well not bother IMHO.

It rained here last night as well, and we are in one of the driest parts of the country on record. I think you can take heart in knowing that the weather wasn't aimed at you personally. [

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chrisr · Jun 24, 2004

[

]Cheers John, went rummaging through all my papers and found that the battery is just over 5 years old so I think replacing it isnt a bad idea.

Quite glad that is also rained , South of Northampton [

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Guest · Jun 24, 2004

they only have a certain life span.

Reckoned to be 2-5 years, depending on use/abuse.

Domestic jump leads are generaly a complete waste of time

Mine are Halfords, and have worked for me every time - as much on giving as receiving a charge. All they have to do is start the engine, after all, and the alternator should take over.

Guest · Jun 9, 2005

Read up on what boats do for the house electrics.

The short of it is if you are going to be running various other electrical draws you want them on the house battery when the engine isn't running. You can get a deep cycle which will do better for long continous draw. Marine or golf cart type. You also won't knock down the starting battery so low that you can't start the engine. You don't have to do a whole system rewire, just get a switch (common in marine stores) to select which or both batteries to draw on/charge up.

You don't need a Porsche battery, that will actually perform poorer than a deep cycle for your needs. You are on an island, see what cheap deals are available on marine batteries and shop around for the switch, battery box, cables, etc. You don't want that battery laying loose if you stop fast or crash. It may go through the wind screen or crack your head wide open as in brains pouring out.

chrisdenton · Jun 10, 2005

You don't need a Porsche battery, that will actually perform poorer than a deep cycle for your needs. You are on an island, see what cheap deals are available on marine batteries and shop around for the switch, battery box, cables, etc. You don't want that battery laying loose if you stop fast or crash. It may go through the wind screen or crack your head wide open as in brains pouring out.

If I'm gonna crack my head wide open and have my brains pour out, I think I'd want it to be from a genuine Porsche product and and not some cheap imitation.....

mik_ok · Jun 10, 2005

Lets not be over-dramatic guys.

I think your brains would just seep or ooze out. [

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Fen · Jun 10, 2005

Still not a joke though. I know an acquaintance of a friend who hit a lamp post in a series 1 RS Turbo 2 or 3 years ago. He would have been OK except his subwoofer launched itself out of the parcel shelf at the back of his head. [FONT=verdana,geneva"]

Edited 'cause I realised I sounded like the forum's Dad. Not meant to but just to highlight that heavy things in cars can and do present danger. In the example above the brains stayed put, but maybe that was because they were smaller than normal to start with. [FONT=verdana,geneva"]

Guest · Jun 10, 2005

I must admit i never thought about the safety aspect of it. i'l just duck down when i crash.

i reckon i'm gonna break the record for "How much can you fit in a 944?").............hopefully it will all wedge itself in nicely and not move an inch. Either that or the whole lot comes out and as you said push my brains out!

Mikie_gb · Jun 10, 2005

i reckon i'm gonna break the record for "How much can you fit in a 944?"

Hmmm, you'd think.... the boys on this forum are apt to....

944 Jockey number 1: " Thats nothing.... we loaded up the 944 so full we had to crawl in through the air vent...."

944 Jockey number 2:"yeah yeah, we had so much stuff in our old '44 that we had to strap another '44 to the roof to sit in"

944 Jockey number 3:" Nah, we had so much stuff in the old '44 that it collapsed, made a black hole so dense it sucked the neighbours house into it".

944 T Jockey number 4:" Huh, I never load my '44 turbot. In fact I have lightened it so much I run along next to it and steer through the window....."

Diver944 · Jun 10, 2005

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Now we just have to put different names to the different types.

I think I know which one Fen is

Fen · Jun 10, 2005

Classic! On that basis there is no need to bother refitting the engine...

944 man · Oct 24, 2009

065 is on many fitment lists, but not all. 063 will work.

rav · Oct 24, 2009

I was wondering this too.

Im not sure how batteries are spec'd, but i guess AH is what im after?

944 man · Oct 24, 2009

No: many suitable ampere-hour or CCA rated batteries will not fit in the space available, hence the battery reference numbers.

spunge · Oct 25, 2009

Hi,
Thanks for your help. After buying one battery that physically won't fit in the space just looking for a bit of reassurance that this will work / fit.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_264157_langId_-1_categoryId_165762

Mike_Pollock · Oct 25, 2009

Think it varies with car age - early cars have a smaller battery than the later carsdue at least in part to its location - what year is yours? Square or oval dash?

Mike

944 man · Oct 25, 2009

An 065 will fit in an early car, although an 063 is more commonly fitted to 924Ss (which is smaller). An 065 will also fit into the rear or a RHD series two car.

Simon