Electrics have gone Haywire...

[geofashton0852]

Any advice or words of wisdom?

My [brand new to me] 2005 987 Boxster S has just thrown a complete wobbler on me - Having just owned the thing for a week, this is a tad disappointing...

I was sat in the stationary vehicle, setting up radio, sat nav etc on the PCM when all of the electrics just seemed to go mad - All warning lights came on, all fault messages came up on the OBC, emergency lights flashing and worst of all; it won't start now!

It was outside for 24 hours in heavy rain on Tuesday, but I would like to think the Germans have designed the Boxster to withstand a few raindrops. But I guess water ingress would figure high on the list of possible causes

It does not seem to be a battery issue. Everything electrical is working strongly/brightly [albeit at the same time...]

Anyone had this problem themselves?

Thanks a lot

 

[Rodney Naghar]

Is it wet under the passenger seat?

 

[geofashton0852]

Not under/behind the passenger seat [nor, indeed, the driver's seat], but it IS wet at the base of the driver's door on the strip of carpet/fabric trim

 

[tex]

what do you mean by it won't start does it turn over when you turn the key or does it do nothing

 

[geofashton0852]

It does nothing. No attempt to turn over the engine or anything

When I insert the key, it starts to inform me that everything has failed [airbags, PSM, brakes etc]. When I try to start, it just clicks and random things happen, like emergency waning lights flashing and the like

Thanks

 

[tex]

well dont quote me on this but i get the same problem with my pathfinder everything goes daft all needles flutter and lights come on all over the place and nothing apart from the click...have u got a volt meter check battery might not have enough juice to get the starter to turn the click is the relay and if you get it started check the battery and make sure the altenator is charging

 

[Rodney Naghar]

Sounds like your door membrane needs to be replaced, which is the cause of your damp patch.

The alarm controle module sits under the passenger seat, when that gets wet you often get the electrical symptoms you've noticed, but you say it's not wet.

Perhaps the water ingress into your door has shorted the electrics and caused the problems.

 

[geofashton0852]

Thanks for your help, Rodney. Is the door membrane replacement a big [expensive?] job?

 

[Rodney Naghar]

It's not a big job, you can do it yourself, there's a DIY on the 996 forum but you have to be a member to access it.
You could take it to a Porsche garage, they'd be able to do it for you in under 2 hours and be able to plug it in to see what error codes appear.

 

[Glyn]

The battery is low on charge, The clicking you hear is the starter solenoid trying to engage the starter, when it does this the starter draws a massive load, the battery cant maintain the power to the solenoid so it shuts off - as it shuts off power is returned to the solenoid so it tries again - it does this rapidly.

 

[notechmike]

Sounds like a flat battery. With the Boxster's you cannot have the radio/PCM on without engine running for more than a few minutes without draining the battery. The original Porsche batteries are not great. If you need a replacement then go for something like a Bosch Silver 5010 (Cheaper, larger capacity and comes with 5yr Warranty)

 

[tex]

ah cheers glyn got solenoid and relay mixed up...DOH, was having a bad day yesterday LOL.

did u get it sorted geoff

 

[geofashton0852]

Great! Thanks to you all for your helpful advice

The dealer I bought it from is taking it back into his workshop this afternoon to check it out - I'll pass on all your advice

Cheers