My Boxster is dead
Discussion
Dougs1968 said:
Thanks for your response, thought this place may have been helpful....
As my car has never done this in the past (runs like a wee dream) it just seemed a bit strange for it to be totally dead. I only asked to be sure it was nothing worse than a charge.
Had a similar thing with my 928 a couple of years ago.As my car has never done this in the past (runs like a wee dream) it just seemed a bit strange for it to be totally dead. I only asked to be sure it was nothing worse than a charge.
Came back from a job and it was dead, had been away 6 weeks so put it down to alarm etc draining it out.
Charged it up and took it for a drive, next day dead.
Tested the battery and alternator all OK having given up and closing the garage door on the problem I noticed a faint light coming from inside the car.
There is a courtesy light in the passenger footwell and it was on, probably been knocked by a passengers foot.
Turned it off problem solved.
Obviously no such courtesy light in the Boxsters footwell but could be something equally stupid!
P.S. I always leave my Boxster with my mate when I'm away as i no longer have a garage so I couldn't comment on how long it can go with out regular use.
Edited by Roberty on Wednesday 30th March 16:43
coanda said:
Have you left it for over a week? As I recall, the car goes into an energy saving mode. There is a procedure to get it back online. Should be in the manual I think.
This although I never did RTFM.When mine was unused for a week or so you would have to open it with the key, ignore the alarm and turn on the ignition/start it up (alarm should stop at that point). Turn off, close door and hey presto you an lock and unlock at will again.
If this doesn’t work then it's likely a flat battery. Not sure if you have a normal manual release for the front boot as mine had in which case it's dead easy or if you have those new fangled button type things in which case it back to RTFM.
Sorry for the glib reply, but you didn't really give any indication as to what you're looking for suggestions on.
You didn't tell us how long you'd left it for, how old the car is, or how old the battery is so there's no way to work out whether it's "normal" or if there's something amiss.
Batteries go flat when they're left a while. That's just the way things are.
My wife's 2010 Boxster battery went flat as a pancake after three weeks of being ignored in the garage over winter, and we ended up jump-starting it. So long as there's enough charge left in the battery to open the front luggage compartment so you can get to the battery there's no drama - just grab a friend and get wired up.
The power-saving mode that kicks in after seven days is documented in the driver's handbook, but it only affects the remote opener and since you didn't use that, it's probably not a factor here.
If you leave it for an extended amount of time, hook it up to a battery tender of some sort to avoid any chance of problems.
You didn't tell us how long you'd left it for, how old the car is, or how old the battery is so there's no way to work out whether it's "normal" or if there's something amiss.
Batteries go flat when they're left a while. That's just the way things are.
My wife's 2010 Boxster battery went flat as a pancake after three weeks of being ignored in the garage over winter, and we ended up jump-starting it. So long as there's enough charge left in the battery to open the front luggage compartment so you can get to the battery there's no drama - just grab a friend and get wired up.
The power-saving mode that kicks in after seven days is documented in the driver's handbook, but it only affects the remote opener and since you didn't use that, it's probably not a factor here.
If you leave it for an extended amount of time, hook it up to a battery tender of some sort to avoid any chance of problems.
I had a similiar issue with my boxster years ago - I used to keep it in a barn (before my garage was built) in the winter. One morning I went to start it (after not driving it for 3 weeks) and nothing, completely dead!!! I called the RAC, they tried to start it, nothing! I then decided to call Porsche and asked them to pick it up, so off it went on a low loader (Not even my tracker kicked-off, so I knew something seroius was wrong). Anyway, the next day, Porsche called and told me I had a small issue.........A mouse decided to make a nest behind the engine and chewed through the wiring loom - They even found nuts and other food!!! Porsche even took pictures, the cheeky sods!! They were, however, quite sympathetic about the issue and didn't charge me the time it took to find the issue, which was 4 hours worth, apparently. I still have a picture somewhere, must dig it out and post it.
The problem continues.... Followed the instructions in the handbook. Open door leave key in door, attached a jump lead to the emergency hood lift in the fuse box, connect the positive jump lead, connect the negative to the door latch then lock and unlock and the alarm will turn of.... No it did not! Neither did the hood open. I'm now at a loss. HELP!
Something is not right on that procedure. I've understood it to be that the key must be in the ignition and in position one to kill the alarm should it go off.
But, there seems the be something more fundamental at play here. when connecting the donor battery do you get no power to any of the electrics?
There is another way of gaining access but best taken off-board and perhaps cross that bridge when we come to it. you also need to start exploring why the battery drained as fast, unless of course it was on its' last legs.
Rgds
Pops
But, there seems the be something more fundamental at play here. when connecting the donor battery do you get no power to any of the electrics?
There is another way of gaining access but best taken off-board and perhaps cross that bridge when we come to it. you also need to start exploring why the battery drained as fast, unless of course it was on its' last legs.
Rgds
Pops
You are doing everything correctly,the fuse box in footwell is the place to connect to, make sure you have got the connections and such like exactly correct. There is nothing wrong with your car! the management systems drain the battery to within an inch of its life. I have extended holidays in Spain and I have this problem EVERY time I get back. Also happens with the Merc. I just get AA out and tell them to get on with it. If you are in RAC ask them to send their Porsche specialist out (they are Porsche assist).
Expensive but if push comes to shove get an indie or OPC out. I would be amazed if this is not the problem.
Also if you are going to leave it for some time get a trickle charger attached, you know like I never do!
Expensive but if push comes to shove get an indie or OPC out. I would be amazed if this is not the problem.
Also if you are going to leave it for some time get a trickle charger attached, you know like I never do!
Just back from a trip to Aberdeen and my Boxster almost dead after being left at the office from Friday. Solenoid clicking but no start. Luckily, enough power to open the hood when the AA man arrived. The battery is 6 months old.
He said it was a common problem with Porkers especially with the Porsche (Moll) battery. I guess these guys know.
There has been talk of increasing the voltage to 48V on future cars to decrease line voltage losses, but until that happens, cars with a battery at one end and a motor at the other will be an issue.
Anyhow, the trip home was wonderful after M way miles in a Honda Diesel.
He said it was a common problem with Porkers especially with the Porsche (Moll) battery. I guess these guys know.
There has been talk of increasing the voltage to 48V on future cars to decrease line voltage losses, but until that happens, cars with a battery at one end and a motor at the other will be an issue.
Anyhow, the trip home was wonderful after M way miles in a Honda Diesel.
Mine's just done the same. Ok last sat & sunday, but last night exact same symptoms. When I put the key into the ignition the car was completely dead. Big big fright, I suspected the worst and was imagining all sorts of huge bills.
Imediately searched the forums and All forums say battery is 1st choice for most similar faults, so I got a new maintenance free one to replace the old lead/acid cell one.
Left key in ignition on to remove old battery to stop alarm sounding. Big Big relief when I heard sounds of life when I connected the new battery.
Now seems completely ok. It has been ok all through winter as well, so has me foxed why it suddenly gave up the ghost.
My Optimate only shows old battery was only partially drained and reports it fully charged tonight so I would not have normally suspected the battery.
Hope this helps.
Imediately searched the forums and All forums say battery is 1st choice for most similar faults, so I got a new maintenance free one to replace the old lead/acid cell one.
Left key in ignition on to remove old battery to stop alarm sounding. Big Big relief when I heard sounds of life when I connected the new battery.
Now seems completely ok. It has been ok all through winter as well, so has me foxed why it suddenly gave up the ghost.
My Optimate only shows old battery was only partially drained and reports it fully charged tonight so I would not have normally suspected the battery.
Hope this helps.
This also happened a few weeks ago on my dad's 986; It had been parked up most of the winter as he had recently got a 996. I tried to start it a few weeks back as it was due to go for a service. Once I got it open I performed the following steps.
1. Pop the fuse cover off
2. Pull out red terminal for manual bonnet release
3. Connect manual bonnet terminal to positive terminal on donor battery with jumper cable.
4. Connect negative terminal to door catch with jumper cable (as soon as this is connected the alarm should sound).
5. Disable alarm with key in the door.
6. Manual bonnet release should now work.
Following the steps above I performed a jump start and got the car up and running again. I took the car for a long run that afternoon to try and get some charge back in the battery. It did start the next morning but just barely. I took it for another long run and the same thing the subsequent morning. After a few days without progress the battery had to be changed.
FYI The 986 mentioned is a 2003 Boxster with 103k miles. Until a few months ago it was driven every day from new without a problem. I think that is 3rd battery the car has had.
1. Pop the fuse cover off
2. Pull out red terminal for manual bonnet release
3. Connect manual bonnet terminal to positive terminal on donor battery with jumper cable.
4. Connect negative terminal to door catch with jumper cable (as soon as this is connected the alarm should sound).
5. Disable alarm with key in the door.
6. Manual bonnet release should now work.
Following the steps above I performed a jump start and got the car up and running again. I took the car for a long run that afternoon to try and get some charge back in the battery. It did start the next morning but just barely. I took it for another long run and the same thing the subsequent morning. After a few days without progress the battery had to be changed.
FYI The 986 mentioned is a 2003 Boxster with 103k miles. Until a few months ago it was driven every day from new without a problem. I think that is 3rd battery the car has had.
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