981 flat battery - advice sought
Discussion
Hi,
I've seen quite a few posts about this but cannot figure out what's the right course of action without getting ripped off, can someone advice please?
Basically a 981 has (I suspect) a flat battery.
Car was used a week ago last time.
Both fobs show the red light when pressing unlock, but nothing happens.
From the manual, I think I understand how to open it with the emergency key and how to open the bonnet.
So a few question here:
1) The emergency key doesn't reach 90 degrees. I only had a brief try and will try again later but is that normal to be hard to turn all the way?
2) Am I ok just buying a Porsche approved battery and replacing it myself? I can do some DYI, replaced a few batteries on non Porsche cars before.
3) Is 'coding' needed and if so can I do it myself?
Car is under extended Porsche warranty.
AA breakdown cover is in place.
Thanks!
I've seen quite a few posts about this but cannot figure out what's the right course of action without getting ripped off, can someone advice please?
Basically a 981 has (I suspect) a flat battery.
Car was used a week ago last time.
Both fobs show the red light when pressing unlock, but nothing happens.
From the manual, I think I understand how to open it with the emergency key and how to open the bonnet.
So a few question here:
1) The emergency key doesn't reach 90 degrees. I only had a brief try and will try again later but is that normal to be hard to turn all the way?
2) Am I ok just buying a Porsche approved battery and replacing it myself? I can do some DYI, replaced a few batteries on non Porsche cars before.
3) Is 'coding' needed and if so can I do it myself?
Car is under extended Porsche warranty.
AA breakdown cover is in place.
Thanks!
stewieyan said:
So a few question here:
1) The emergency key doesn't reach 90 degrees. I only had a brief try and will try again later but is that normal to be hard to turn all the way?
2) Am I ok just buying a Porsche approved battery and replacing it myself? I can do some DYI, replaced a few batteries on non Porsche cars before.
3) Is 'coding' needed and if so can I do it myself?
Car is under extended Porsche warranty.
AA breakdown cover is in place.
Thanks!
Having gone through this during Covid I’d suggest the following:1) The emergency key doesn't reach 90 degrees. I only had a brief try and will try again later but is that normal to be hard to turn all the way?
2) Am I ok just buying a Porsche approved battery and replacing it myself? I can do some DYI, replaced a few batteries on non Porsche cars before.
3) Is 'coding' needed and if so can I do it myself?
Car is under extended Porsche warranty.
AA breakdown cover is in place.
Thanks!
1) yes there’s quite some resistance I found as was worried about damaging the lock. A bit more effort unlocked the car easily.
2) yes design 911 sell Porsche approved batteries I believe and they are easy enough to swap over
3) imo coding wasn’t needed (I have a 718, during lockdown when mine went flat the dealerships were closed) and the replacement battery has lasted longer now than the original without issues. I understand the battery management system ‘learns’ the new battery after a few drives. Some posters will tell you it is essential to code but you can get a cheap code reader to do this. I can report no problems despite not having coded it.
Edited by jimbo761 on Tuesday 19th December 11:34
jimbo761 said:
Having gone through this during Covid I’d suggest the following:
1) yes there’s quite some resistance I found as was worried about damaging the lock. A bit more effort unlocked the car easily.
2) yes design 911 sell Porsche approved batteries I believe and they are easy enough to swap over
3) imo coding wasn’t needed (I have a 718, during lockdown when mine went flat the dealerships were closed) and the replacement battery has lasted longer now than the original without issues. I understand the battery management system ‘learns’ the new battery after a few drives. Some posters will tell you it is essential to code but you can get a cheap code reader to do this. I can report no problems despite not having coded it.
Thanks!1) yes there’s quite some resistance I found as was worried about damaging the lock. A bit more effort unlocked the car easily.
2) yes design 911 sell Porsche approved batteries I believe and they are easy enough to swap over
3) imo coding wasn’t needed (I have a 718, during lockdown when mine went flat the dealerships were closed) and the replacement battery has lasted longer now than the original without issues. I understand the battery management system ‘learns’ the new battery after a few drives. Some posters will tell you it is essential to code but you can get a cheap code reader to do this. I can report no problems despite not having coded it.
Edited by jimbo761 on Tuesday 19th December 11:34
I've checked with design 911... the approved battery costs £310 haha, what a rip off!
https://www.design911.com/p/99961108012-car-batter...
Do you need to buy anything extra in order to open the trunk through the fuse box?
Coding is always recommended by every car manufacturer. However, so long as you fit a battery of absolutely identical specification (doesn't have to be the same brand) coding isn't necessary. It just takes a while for your fancy electronic charging system to learn that it's dealing with a new battery and maximise charging efficiency.
The key point is identical electrical specification - not just any battery that's a physical fit.
The key point is identical electrical specification - not just any battery that's a physical fit.
stewieyan said:
Do you need to buy anything extra in order to open the trunk through the fuse box?
You just need a spare battery (I borrowed from a 2nd car) and jumper cables to connect to the fuse box terminal (+ve) and a neutral point (-ve)(think I used the door hinge). Believe the manual has a step by step guide.As has been said the fusebox is in the passenger footwell, remove the cover and there is a plastic clip you use to pull out the +ve terminal from memory, connect charger/battery to this and earth to chassis.
You should then be able to open the bonnet using the bonnet latch on the drivers sill.
To remove/replace the battery just remove the plastic surround at the rear of the frunk (if that's what we're calling it) and you will see the battery and terminals.
Not replaced one on a 981 but did on a 987.2, just had to drop the windows and back up to reset them, no coding back then
You should then be able to open the bonnet using the bonnet latch on the drivers sill.
To remove/replace the battery just remove the plastic surround at the rear of the frunk (if that's what we're calling it) and you will see the battery and terminals.
Not replaced one on a 981 but did on a 987.2, just had to drop the windows and back up to reset them, no coding back then
stewieyan said:
981Boxess said:
In theory not fitting the 'right' battery could present you with warranty issues if the battery later caused other problems.
The question is: can one buy the 'right' battery without spending £310+? How old is the battery?
stewieyan said:
The question is: can one buy the 'right' battery without spending £310+?
I went through the same thought processes a few weeks back for my wifes 718...and concluded it was a false economy. Just fit the design 911 one and it will all work with no niggles. Even a decent battery of similar spec is going to cost you upwards of £150 so why take the chance.The design 911 one is an exact drop in, same manufacturer etc etc. No brainer imo. Took about 20mins.
Funny old thing where the Banner with the Porsche branded battery label is twice as much as the identical battery made by banner without it. I dare say if the label fell off the old battery and found it's way onto the new, identical non genuine replacement nobody would be any the wiser. 
If you're on extended warranty you best check whether the serial number/code of the battery needs to be entered into the car to ensure there's no issue. During servicing I've found the battery seems to get a good deal of scrutiny so you don't want to fall foul of 'computer says no'.
How much is the battery from OPC with PCGB discount?
If you're on extended warranty you best check whether the serial number/code of the battery needs to be entered into the car to ensure there's no issue. During servicing I've found the battery seems to get a good deal of scrutiny so you don't want to fall foul of 'computer says no'.
How much is the battery from OPC with PCGB discount?
I was/am in a similar situation. 981 with extended warranty and a battery that doesn't seem to want to hold a full charge. I've had it on a CTEK since but haven't had the time/weather to take it out and see if it ends up dropping into limp mode like last time which I'm hoping was just the low voltage.
As said it might be asleep. Pull the door handle then try the fob again.
if no joy get a charger or jump pack and then in the driver foot well you pull off a cover and then slide out an orange thing and there is a metal point to connect one lead of the charger/jumper to then the other clip onto the metal door catch on the body and use the frunk pull switch on the sill to get into the front. I forget which way round but it is labelled. I think it's positive to the orange point then negative onto the metal catch but don't quote me on it.
With regards the battery I too was miffed that the Porsche stickered Banner item is £310 vs £200ish for the identical Banner battery with no Porsche sticker.
No sticker is https://www.design911.com/p/car-battery-80ah-banne...
If it arrives and looks exactly like the pics then it could be as simple as carefully peeling off the old sticker and reapplying it to the new battery!
Porsche OPC quoted me:
Battery - £339.03 inc VAT
Labour/code £234.00 inc VAT
As said it might be asleep. Pull the door handle then try the fob again.
if no joy get a charger or jump pack and then in the driver foot well you pull off a cover and then slide out an orange thing and there is a metal point to connect one lead of the charger/jumper to then the other clip onto the metal door catch on the body and use the frunk pull switch on the sill to get into the front. I forget which way round but it is labelled. I think it's positive to the orange point then negative onto the metal catch but don't quote me on it.
With regards the battery I too was miffed that the Porsche stickered Banner item is £310 vs £200ish for the identical Banner battery with no Porsche sticker.
No sticker is https://www.design911.com/p/car-battery-80ah-banne...
If it arrives and looks exactly like the pics then it could be as simple as carefully peeling off the old sticker and reapplying it to the new battery!
Porsche OPC quoted me:
Battery - £339.03 inc VAT
Labour/code £234.00 inc VAT
Gareth-C-1980 said:
If it arrives and looks exactly like the pics then it could be as simple as carefully peeling off the old sticker and reapplying it to the new battery!
Not according to the tech at the OPC.It isn't a question of fooling your OPC into believing the battery has not been messed with, it is a question of convincing the car it has had a new battery fitted for it to charge correctly.
981Boxess said:
Gareth-C-1980 said:
If it arrives and looks exactly like the pics then it could be as simple as carefully peeling off the old sticker and reapplying it to the new battery!
Not according to the tech at the OPC.It isn't a question of fooling your OPC into believing the battery has not been messed with, it is a question of convincing the car it has had a new battery fitted for it to charge correctly.
How do they arrive at over £200 just to fit a battery? Tell them. like one owner did on here, that you'll come down on your lunch break and fit the battery yourself. His labour cost was waivered.
Edited by Armitage.Shanks on Thursday 21st December 17:56
Armitage.Shanks said:
981Boxess said:
It isn't a question of fooling your OPC into believing the battery has not been messed with, it is a question of convincing the car it has had a new battery fitted for it to charge correctly.
That come be done by any decent Indy with PIWIS. Theorectically you wouldn't be changing the battery if you use the original battery label, the car will self learn the new charging demands on the new battery fitted without the need to code. I'm not sure if the serial number/barcode from an OEM battery is put into the car memory which with an non-OEM battery it probably wouldn't have one?How do they arrive at over £200 just to fit a battery? Tell them. like one owner did on here, that you'll come down on your lunch break and fit the battery yourself. His labour cost was waivered.
My car was in there for servicing, when my battery was flagged up as being below par I got a price from them, told them to stick one in the boot and I would fit it myself another time. The service bloke explained exactly why that wouldn't work, so charged me trade (I know them) for the battery, scanned it in and fitted it for free.
If it didn't need doing that way why would they have done that work for free, they would have just stuck it in the boot and took my money, they know I can physically fit it. To be fair for the little extra I paid to do it that way it was a no brainer, especially when you factor in any potential future warranty issues.
How do they arrive at the £200 battery fitting, the same way as I arrived at whatever we charged people for working on their cars, including supplying and fitting batteries btw, you give the customer a price and they either say yes or no, their choice.
981Boxess said:
How do they arrive at the £200 battery fitting, the same way as I arrived at whatever we charged people for working on their cars, including supplying and fitting batteries btw, you give the customer a price and they either say yes or no, their choice.
Do you work at an OPC? £200 to fit a battery in my view is daylight robbery!stanlow45 said:
981Boxess said:
How do they arrive at the £200 battery fitting, the same way as I arrived at whatever we charged people for working on their cars, including supplying and fitting batteries btw, you give the customer a price and they either say yes or no, their choice.
Do you work at an OPC? £200 to fit a battery in my view is daylight robbery!If your battery goes, you are not fussed about any potential extended warranty issues and you can get somebody else to do it properly for less do that.
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