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    Oct 25, 2007 5:53:56 PM

    lukestern
    Expert
    lukestern
    Loc: Somewhere , United Kingdom
    Posts: 1377, Gallery
    Registered on: Mar 15, 2005

    Is it time to change my battery?

    The last week I've noticed that it is more difficult to start my car... When I turn the key in the ignition-switch I'm starting to get worried if the car will start up at all, but up untill now it has started all the time allthough it seems to be more "difficult". It's also getting colder here in Sweden now, but still no winter time and I think this can affect the situation as well. My car has almost 4000 km on the clock and is exactly 3 years old. Is this considered to be Normal?!

    Should I let my Porsche dealer switch the battery or can I easily change that myself? Anyone who have experience doing this? Maybe I should look in the manual, but I currently don't have that nearby where I am at the moment....

    Also, can I select any type of battery or are there preferred batteies that Porsche recomend? I don't wanna get ripped off by my local porsche center

    Any advice on this topic would be greatly appreciated!

    Many thanks

    /Lukas

    Oct 26, 2007 9:30:53 AM

    percymon
    Senior
    percymon
    Loc: Chester
    Posts: 765, Gallery
    Registered on: Aug 23, 2005
    Reply to: lukestern

    Re: Is it time to change my battery?

    Porsche batteries normally last 3-4 years in the UK, so 3 years in Sweden is a likely situation. Bosch Silver Series are a good alternative to the Porsche unit, and about half the price - the Porsche dealer will charge you about 200 euros for the battery and about 150-200 for fitting !

    A Bosch unit should be available for around 130 euros

    Oct 26, 2007 1:14:23 PM

    MMD
    Rennteam VIP
    MMD
    Loc: usa
    Posts: 9652, Gallery
    Registered on: Dec 16, 2004
    Reply to: percymon

    Re: Is it time to change my battery?

    First thing I'd do is get a Porsche Battery Maintainer. Use it everytime you park the car. Maybe this will keep your current battery in service for a bit longer. Use it for the new battery but maybe every other time you park it.

    I suspected my now-gone 997S had a defect where the battery was constantly being drained more than specifications.

    Have dealer check your current draw when parked (see below attachment).

    New battery? I'm not sure anymore since in my car-owner history the batteries lasted many many years: maybe they are making them cheaper nowadays.

    One thing's for sure, if your battery had been sigificantly discharged at any point in it's life that life will be shortened.

    Getting a replacement battery (non-porsche part number) is fine IMO, I heard there's only a dozen or so places around the globe that actually make car batteries. The Porsche battery is probably made a factory which makes hundreds (?) of different (but same _quality_ dependent on warrenty) batteries. Just guessing.

    Here's the charge specs, have your dealer check. If it's drawing more current than spec: they owe you a battery under warrenty: IMO.

    Oct 26, 2007 3:26:07 PM

    Leawood911
    Rennteam VIP
    Leawood911
    Loc: Kansas, USA , United States
    Posts: 6920, Gallery
    Registered on: Aug 29, 2006
    Reply to: lukestern

    Re: Is it time to change my battery?

    The battery is shot. You need to drive the car more but then again my battery was also done after 3 years (and 40K miles). Porsche replaced mine under warranty so I let them do it else I would have just run to the local walmart, bought the battery ($75) and installed it. Who here would serioulsy pay more that $5 labor to install a battery in a car? Anymore and it would be a crime. I will never understand why items like batteries, light bulbs, wiperblades etc. are not installed by Porsche for free as a courtesy. It would be so easy to do and so much goodwill could be generated! I recall the dealer wanted $75 to change the bulb in my headlight - a 2 minute job. All I can say - money must be cheap for some.

    Oct 26, 2007 3:39:20 PM

    easy_rider911
    Rennteam VIP
    easy_rider911
    Loc: London , United Kingdom
    Posts: 22190, Gallery
    Registered on: Nov 8, 2004
    Reply to: Leawood911

    Re: Is it time to change my battery?

    Quote:
    Leawood911 said:
    I recall the dealer wanted $75 to change the bulb in my headlight - a 2 minute job. All I can say - money must be cheap for some.



    True but another explanation is that dealers exploit in the most obscene way the lack of self-confidence and knowledge of their customers.

    Nov 1, 2007 7:51:45 PM

    lukestern
    Expert
    lukestern
    Loc: Somewhere , United Kingdom
    Posts: 1377, Gallery
    Registered on: Mar 15, 2005
    Reply to: easy_rider911

    Re: Is it time to change my battery?

    Thanks for all the great input as always in here
    I just wanted to give you an update... i switched my battery at my local porsche dealer today after that I did found out that the battery actually was CHEAPER or priced similar as with other suppliers of batteries that I've checked with.

    One interesting thing though.. I bought my car in Germany and exported it private to Sweden after it was brand new... The battery in the 2005 carrera was apparently 70mAh. It is possible to fit 70, 80 or 95mAh in the 997 and my dealer suggested that I should fit a 95mAH which I also did. The price difference was not very high and here in the Nordic region where we have winter a more powerful battery is preferrable... I ended up paying 180EUR for the battery and my dealer installed it for free in my car - great service!

    The car now start up like a charm, it really is THAT difference.. so I'm glad I did this change before it's getting colder here in Sweden.

    Nov 3, 2007 3:31:35 AM

    FLORENT KAVADAS
    Co-Pilot
    FLORENT KAVADAS
    Loc: Corfu Greece
    Posts: 264, Gallery
    Registered on: Aug 22, 2006
    Reply to: easy_rider911

    Re: Is it time to change my battery?

    Correct ! A lot of us also are worried especialy when the car is new that we may lose the waranty if we do something non officialy i.e. by an OPC on the car.....

    Nov 5, 2007 3:41:50 AM

    Over the Hill
    Pilot
    Over the Hill
    Loc: Bellevue, Washington, USA
    Posts: 386, Gallery
    Registered on: Aug 16, 2006
    Reply to: lukestern

    Re: Is it time to change my battery?

    Quote:
    Lukas said:
    Thanks for all the great input as always in here
    I just wanted to give you an update... i switched my battery at my local porsche dealer today after that I did found out that the battery actually was CHEAPER or priced similar as with other suppliers of batteries that I've checked with.

    One interesting thing though.. I bought my car in Germany and exported it private to Sweden after it was brand new... The battery in the 2005 carrera was apparently 70mAh. It is possible to fit 70, 80 or 95mAh in the 997 and my dealer suggested that I should fit a 95mAH which I also did. The price difference was not very high and here in the Nordic region where we have winter a more powerful battery is preferrable... I ended up paying 180EUR for the battery and my dealer installed it for free in my car - great service!

    The car now start up like a charm, it really is THAT difference.. so I'm glad I did this change before it's getting colder here in Sweden.



    If you have an electrical outlet near your car I would recommend you follow MMD's advice and purchase a Porsche battery maintainer. It should cost around 100 euros, and if used faithfully, it could possibly double the life of your battery.
     
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