A cry for help! 20 years+ PCGB member now with a purchased from new May 06 C2S. Guildford OPC said charge the battery, so I have for 18 hours. Same result. Each time I try to start it, I just get lots of clicking (from engine bay) and lights flashing (apologies for the lack of detail); the engine does not turn over, sounds very electrical. Everything else seems to work - locks, lights, etc. Has anyone seen this before? I think I read somewhere in PCGB that there was a way to do a "full reset"? Did I just image it! Car is not used daily, but does get condition charged from time tot time. All assistance most welcome.
C2S won't start
- Thread starter zyquix
- Start date
Black80XSA
New member
Sounds like the battery is on its way out - holding enough charge to operate electrical items but no start the car.
Multimeter across the battery will probably be 10.5 volts or less i suspect.
If you can jump starter pack, or with leads from another car, then do so. With the engine running you should see 13-14volts across the battery terminals showing the alternator is working correctly.
Swapping the battery out is fairly simple - levae the ignition on to avoid the alarm going off.
New battery
OPC - £280 fitted
Halfords - £100 with 4 yr guarantee
Tyre depots - £80-130
Costco a good option - i got my Bosch Silver S5 for £25 as they were selling them off, Bosch discontinued them.
A non Porsche battery MAY affect you used warranty if you have one.
Multimeter across the battery will probably be 10.5 volts or less i suspect.
If you can jump starter pack, or with leads from another car, then do so. With the engine running you should see 13-14volts across the battery terminals showing the alternator is working correctly.
Swapping the battery out is fairly simple - levae the ignition on to avoid the alarm going off.
New battery
OPC - £280 fitted
Halfords - £100 with 4 yr guarantee
Tyre depots - £80-130
Costco a good option - i got my Bosch Silver S5 for £25 as they were selling them off, Bosch discontinued them.
A non Porsche battery MAY affect you used warranty if you have one.
dereksharpuk
New member
Over a period of time a battery will 'sulphate'. ie deposits from each plate will fall to the bottom of the battery. Over a period that pile may, like a stalagmite, reach the appropriate cell and short it out. If that cell is in the middle or at the end, the battery will lose performance. If it is at the beginning, the battery will fail and not accept a charge. Remember, all rechargable batters fail eventually.
More over, if the battery has lost complete charge and has been recharged too quickly, the heat generated may buckle a cell or cells and ruin the battery. It is always best to trickle charge a battery. Your battery may have been misused before you purchased the vehicle
Solution? Buy a new battery.
More over, if the battery has lost complete charge and has been recharged too quickly, the heat generated may buckle a cell or cells and ruin the battery. It is always best to trickle charge a battery. Your battery may have been misused before you purchased the vehicle
Solution? Buy a new battery.
2fast4u
New member
Get a new battery, exactly the same happened to me this year with my 3 year old C2S. I got the OH to trickle charge the battery and still struggled to get the doors locked as the windows wouldn't go up. Tried to charge over night again and gave up. Bought my battery and the acid pack from my local OPC for £119. Don't get them to fit it as that would probably cost another £119!!!!! [
]kim x
Thanks for the detailed replies. One more question if I may. If I simply disconnect the existing battery, will I lose any key settings e.g. radio code etc.? I have seen some nasty stories on the web. I know, for example, that I mustn't close the "boot" because its opened electrically only. Any other "gotchas"?
dereksharpuk
New member
Original 996/Boxster had a major problem when the battery went flat. The battery is in the front boot and requires a good battery to open the boot. Hence dead battery = no boot opening = no new battery. Great design. For the last 6 years or so, there is a terminal near the drivers rt foot which, when energised, will open the front boot.
There is no radio code.
Never charge the battery in situ. Make sure you get the correct polarity. Read the book!
2fast4u
New member
Hi,
Yeah, don't make the mistake my OH made and close the bonnet after taking the battery out as you'll not get it open again without connecting a donor battery to the plug in the footwell!!! As for the new battery, I was told by the opc to fill it up with the acid and leave it 24 hours before putting it in the car which I did and everything has been fine ever since.
I too couldn't believe the battery runnig flat on a 3 year old car. It's a disgrace really.
kim x
Yeah, don't make the mistake my OH made and close the bonnet after taking the battery out as you'll not get it open again without connecting a donor battery to the plug in the footwell!!! As for the new battery, I was told by the opc to fill it up with the acid and leave it 24 hours before putting it in the car which I did and everything has been fine ever since.
I too couldn't believe the battery runnig flat on a 3 year old car. It's a disgrace really.
kim x
dereksharpuk
New member
A 997 battery will go flat in anything over 3 weeks of non use! Too much is still draining the battery when the car is parked. If you go away for more than 2 weeks, connect up a battery conditioner (quite cheap from halfords). Not sure what you are suppose to do if you park the car at the airport.
david_yorkshire
New member
can anyone answer the question as to why Porsche choose to fit this type of battery to a rather expensive car ?
EVERY porsche I've owned has had it's battery die at 2-3 yrs old !
I don't know of another mass market manufacturer who fits this type of battery.....
David
p.s. - I agree - it's yer battery !!!
EVERY porsche I've owned has had it's battery die at 2-3 yrs old !
I don't know of another mass market manufacturer who fits this type of battery.....
David
p.s. - I agree - it's yer battery !!!
david_yorkshire
New member
not the one's Porsche supply !
and therin lies the problem - how many of you check your battery acid level ?
This is my suspicion as to why they die early - everyone (me included) looks to them as a sealed unit.
and therin lies the problem - how many of you check your battery acid level ?
This is my suspicion as to why they die early - everyone (me included) looks to them as a sealed unit.
dereksharpuk
New member
no, this is symptomatic of a relay trying to stay open when the charge is insufficient to keep it open. This is exactly how my Porsche behaved when my battery went almost flat.
mikec
New member
Sounds like a battery problem, I had the same a few weeks ago with my Cayman. New battery from Costco sorted that out. It was a Saturday and I knew the local OPC wouldn't be any use. I think my problem was I went away for a couple of weeks and forgot to put the Accumate on. Weird thing was the car opened perfectly ok the day before but the next day, zilch. I also use a solar charger for the old car which gets left outside all the time, this keeps it topped up and cuts down on my carbon footprint as well......
I'd the same issue with my TT too, it must be something to do with all the peripheral electronics on modern motors which constantly drain the battery. Maybe car makers could integrate a solar panel into the car during build to help reduce this problem. Mind you if your garage is totally blacked out then that idea sucks.
I'd the same issue with my TT too, it must be something to do with all the peripheral electronics on modern motors which constantly drain the battery. Maybe car makers could integrate a solar panel into the car during build to help reduce this problem. Mind you if your garage is totally blacked out then that idea sucks.
Jamie Garside
New member
You haven't cancelled your sub for the PVTS with Cobra have you?
I did that last year, went to a meeting at a motorway service station. When I got back in the car, it wouldn't tick over but the dashboard was lit up. After 6 hours of recover to Porsche Centre - they ascertained in 30 seconds that Cobra had immobolised my car by mistake. Big compensation!
I did that last year, went to a meeting at a motorway service station. When I got back in the car, it wouldn't tick over but the dashboard was lit up. After 6 hours of recover to Porsche Centre - they ascertained in 30 seconds that Cobra had immobolised my car by mistake. Big compensation!
dereksharpuk
New member
Oooooo, I should read the book. I did not realise that Cobra could do this!
On the point of batteries, it does seem that Porsches suffer more than most other cars.
dereksharpuk
New member
Well I have now read thoroughly my Cobra VTS service booklet and owners manual and nowhere does it say they could immobilise the vehicle. If you come to think of it, that would be very dangerous. The OPC that told you that must be pulling your leg!
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