Fault: 997.1 no electrics - ideas please?

[Mikebarry202]

Hi all,

Issue: having just renewed the alternator/starter battery cable the car started fine, left running to warm and then drove great for 5 miles. On parking back in the garage I switched the car off, left it 10 seconds or so, but on turning the key the dashboard flickered and then the electrics just totally cut (no power from the battery to "anything”).

Background: I typically get the car out during the winter once a week or so for a half hour run. The battery is less than a year old and it always starts first time even after being left (I don’t have power in my garage so it’s not left on a trickle charger). I have no reason to doubt the charge in the battery. In recent months it’s been poor at cranking when the engine is hot, so not good at petrol stations.... hence me changing the worlds most horrendous cable!!

The key is currently stuck in the ignition as expected. I know how to open the bonnet to get to the battery.

I’m hoping that the + and - cables coming directly off the battery just need cleaning up where they go into/through the bulkhead, although I wonder if it is ignition switch related...

Very grateful for ideas, suggestions to look at and you experiences with this kind of problem please?

Many thanks in advance...

 

[Lancerlot]

Check earth to chassis lead and all mains cable connections. Clean and remove all corrosion where necessary and coat contact areas with Vaseline. I assume the battery still has a decent voltage across its terminals but check in case it’s become drained.
Regards,

Clive

 

[STiG911]

Assuming that your battery is still OK, I'd look at the Alternator next as these barely live more than 8 years or so before needing a change.
FYI even a run for half an hour doesn't fully replenish a battery to it's optimum level, specially if you've got the Radio, Heater etc. running at the same time, so doing that then leaving the car standing can kill a battery that's still fairly new to the car.

You shouldn't need to do anything to the cables where they go through the bulkhead (if's that's what you meant) as their shielded anyway, so just a dab of WD40 or light grease will help against dry corrosion on the terminals.