Boxster battery

Guest · Jul 25, 2005

I have ordered a new Boxster 2.7. Until a couple of years ago I owned a 964. There were times when the car did not go out much and almost invariably after about 3 - 4 weeks the battery went flat. A friend who has a 996 has had the same problem. Is this an inherent Porsche problem (I have not experienced this with a BMW or Jag) and would I be advised to use a battery conditioner or consider a stronger battery. Mind you probably the best solution is to use the car a bit more!!

Mark_Bennett · Jul 25, 2005

A battery conditioner (NOT Trickle charger!) is what you want.

A search for "Battery Conditioner" will bring up lots of advice here [

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Brian Halling · Jul 25, 2005

After three weeks' holiday my 987 battery started the car first time - as ever.

My previous experience with a variety of lesser-used fun cars is that the alarm systems used to drain the battery in standby mode. Apparently this has now changed and alarm systems have power saving modes. I guess you don't need any special device.
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thboxster · Jul 25, 2005

I don't know that it would be described as an inherent problem, but if you consider what is still going on with the car when it's tucked safely away in it's nice warm cosy garage getting some shut-eye, then it probably won't come as a complete surprise that after a time (some weeks) the battery could be a little flatter than you would like.

I have left mine, while away for 2-3 weeks, and it has always started reliably on return. I can't say how close it might have been to being a problem but I didn't encounter one.

I did have a problem with it last winter, but that is partly my own fault (and a design issue by Porsche). I left my Snooper plugged into the cigerette lighter for a few days when it was sub-zero and didn't drive the car for 10 days. The whole thing was flat when I next tried it.

I now have a battery conditioner and it works nicely thank you very much.

Mark_Bennett · Jul 25, 2005

Actually Brian, whilst it is true that the built-in alarm does go in to "sleep" mode (necessitating the "waking the car up" process after a week or so), add-ons such as Tracker etc do seem to drain the batteries quite often.
...At least so it seems going by the number of calls we get as Register secretaries from people whose cars have flat batteries! [

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Guest · Jul 25, 2005

Thanks for your advice; I will see how it goes but a battery conditioner sounds a good move.

Elliot Davies · Jul 26, 2005

Halfords sold a draper conditioner for less than £20
ive been using mine for years on the 964 and BoxS with no problems

Guest · Jul 26, 2005

Mine died after a two week holiday. Got a little device called an Accumate from Specialist Cars.

Just come back off another two week break, car started fine.

Guest · Jul 27, 2005

My cigar lighter is only live with the ignition switched on so if I got one of these conditioners and stuck it in the cigar lighter how do I get the cigar lighter socket to be be on without the ignition because presumably it would not work otherwise

thboxster · Jul 27, 2005

The one I have "Draper power master" plugs into the mains and connects directly to the +ve and -ve of the battery.

Elliot Davies · Jul 27, 2005

See here
http://www.drapertools.com/draper/templates/draper/products.asp?param=28&ig_id=8183&title=12V+BATTERY+MASTER

Mark_Bennett · Jul 27, 2005

I understand the power can be enabled to the power accessory socket by an OPC if necessary.

I think some later cars have the accessory socket power turned off after a few hours (to stop the battery being flattened by radar detectors etc!) so they need the modification to enable constant connection as well.

In my case I use a carcoon conditioner, and this is plugged on to a small loom (2 wires and a connector!) connected to the battery posts. The wire feeds down under the top of the front boot (by the wipers) and everything closes and locks without any problem.

thboxster · Jul 27, 2005

Any idea which of the 3 is an "accessory socket" on a 987?

Mark_Bennett · Jul 27, 2005

All of them?

bryno · Dec 2, 2007

PCs quote £232 for a replacement battery (fitted) when you can get the same spec battery for £70 or £80. Lots of us are using non Porsche batteries, check the thread on changing a Boxster battery and sourcing the correct spec battery.
If you don't use your car regularly and don't have any sort of intelligent battey charger(more threads on ther forum for info) that's the quickest way to knacker a battery.

Suggest you source the correct spec battery, if you don't use the car regularly (100+miles per week with only 2 or 3 starts) get an intelligent charger ( info in forum). Ensure when you change the battery that the terminals are shiny clean, clamp them up tight and lub with vaseline to prevent oxidation.

Good luck let us know how you get on.

scaramanga · Dec 3, 2007

Completely agree - had to change mine recently... OPC quoted around £260

fitted it myself (thanks to some help here on the forum) in 15 mins, and high quality Bosch Silver batter cost around £80.

glewis · Jan 21, 2014

There is a feature which turns off the receiver on the alarm system after a period of no-use to save power. I thought it was a little longer than 5 days, but could be wrong.

To reactivate the receiver, put the key in the drivers' door and unlock it - BUT DON'T OPEN IT !! (The alarm will go off).

Remove the key from the door lock and push the button on the fob. The doors should now re-lock. Press again to unlock and disarm the alarm.

Nick_USA · Jan 21, 2014

If your car is a 987 a simple tug on the drivers door handle will also re-activate the remote system.

Motorhead · Jan 21, 2014

ORIGINAL: glewis

There is a feature which turns off the receiver on the alarm system after a period of no-use to save power. I thought it was a little longer than 5 days, but could be wrong.

On my 987.2 Cayman it's 7-days.

ORIGINAL: Nick_USA

If your car is a 987 a simple tug on the drivers door handle will also re-activate the remote system.

Doesn't work on my 987.2..!

Jeff

Nick_USA · Jan 21, 2014

ORIGINAL: Motorhead

ORIGINAL: glewis

There is a feature which turns off the receiver on the alarm system after a period of no-use to save power. I thought it was a little longer than 5 days, but could be wrong.

Click to expand...

On my 987.2 Cayman it's 7-days.

ORIGINAL: Nick_USA

If your car is a 987 a simple tug on the drivers door handle will also re-activate the remote system.

Click to expand...

Doesn't work on my 987.2..!

Jeff

Just curios .... I wonder ..... (mine is LHD) ..... Would those devious German engineers left the programming on the left hand door aka UK passenger side ?