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    No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    Tried to jump start the dead battery in my '08 C4S using a Powerpack (no 2nd vehicle/battery required).  Only got a clicking sound when I tried to start my car, plus some white smoke coming from the negative terminal which I had connected to the trunk latch as a ground.

    My objective is just to get the car to the dealer to have the battery replaced.  Should I have it towed or try using booster cables with a service vehicle? My battery was dead from storage as I have no power outlet in my garage to keep it charged.SmileySmiley


    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    You are under warranty (not for the battery though), so my advice is to definitely call Porsche Assistance as soon as possible.

    They will arrange for a low-loader to take your car to the dealer and provide a suitable courtesy car for your use in the meantime.  I've always found their service to be excellent.Smiley


    --
    "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."

    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    John H, thanks for your reply.  I could try and change the battery myself, although would have to borrow/buy the right tools.  I don't know the wrench sizes and recommended type required, etc.  and I assume the battery is also bolted down which may require a different size tool?  Smiley

    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    As I said - much better just to phone Porsche Assistance.  That way your OPC will be able to check for any other related faults as well as fit the new battery.


    --
    "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."

    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    ridleyguy:

    Tried to jump start the dead battery in my '08 C4S using a Powerpack (no 2nd vehicle/battery required).  Only got a clicking sound when I tried to start my car, plus some white smoke coming from the negative terminal which I had connected to the trunk latch as a ground.

    My objective is just to get the car to the dealer to have the battery replaced.  Should I have it towed or try using booster cables with a service vehicle? My battery was dead from storage as I have no power outlet in my garage to keep it charged.SmileySmiley

    I suspect you may be reluctant  to call out Porsche Assistance, since you will be paying the bill yourself anyway and, Canada being a big country, it may be a relatively big bill for a trivial problem.

    The clicking sound means that voltage at the starter motor is too low, even using the power pack. From the poorly-earthed front trunk latch to the rear mounted starter is a long way, and the body was not meant to take the starter motor's high current.  Try connecting both of the power pack's cables directly to the car battery's appropriate terminals instead.The hefty leads from the battery to the starter should allow the power pack to do its work.

    It used to be possible to connect the positive jump lead cable to a dedicated connector near the starter motor on the 996, and the negative pole to an engine casting. I don't know off-hand if that connector is still available on the 997. The driver's manual does not mention it.


    --
    fritz

    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    I had the same problem, so I bought a new battery and replaced it myself.  Very simple to do. 

    I also took the opportunity to buy the trickle charger to prevent the problem from happening again.


    --

    "Socialism:  We work harder so you don't have to work at all!"


    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    fritz:

    I suspect you may be reluctant  to call out Porsche Assistance, since you will be paying the bill yourself anyway and, Canada being a big country, it may be a relatively big bill for a trivial problem.

    --
    fritz

    Fritz - his car is an '08, so well within warranty.

    Why then will he be paying for Porsche Assistance?  Sure he'll have to pay for the battery, but he would anyway.  Isn't it better to have the car checked for other reasons for a battery discharge?



    --
    "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."

    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    You should get 3-5 weeks of storage without ruining (draining) battery.

    I'll bet your car is drawing TOO MUCH current when parked and killed the battery. Porsche should find the reason for the faulty current draw (most likely the PCM- it happened to me), fix it and give you a new battery under warranty.

    Good luck!

    Here's the official Technical Service Bulletin on battery life expectation:

    batterydischarge.jpg


    --
    2007 997 Turbo

    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    I believe the terminal bolts are 10mm, and the hold-down bolt is 13mm--you'll need a socket with an extension at least 6 inches long to reach the hold down. Takes 5 minutes to replace or remove battery.
    --
    2006 997 carrera coupe

    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    John H:
    fritz:

    I suspect you may be reluctant  to call out Porsche Assistance, since you will be paying the bill yourself anyway and, Canada being a big country, it may be a relatively big bill for a trivial problem.

    --
    fritz

    Fritz - his car is an '08, so well within warranty.

    Why then will he be paying for Porsche Assistance?  Sure he'll have to pay for the battery, but he would anyway.  Isn't it better to have the car checked for other reasons for a battery discharge?


    I assumed it on the basis of the following sentence in the first post:

    "My battery was dead from storage as I have no power outlet in my garage to keep it charged".

    If the car has been stored over the Canadian winter in a garage without a power point, I'm guessing it has been there for several weeks. If there is no power point in the garage, it is also unlikely to be heated, so the temperature will have been very low, probably below freezing point.

    If you compare these conditions to the advice quoted in MMD's post above, you'll see that it would be easy to interpret the battery failure as a "self-inflicted" problem. (No offense to the poster intended by the use of that term. Shit happens.)

    I think the poster realized this, and that was why he wanted to resolve the immediate problem (dud battery) himself, rather than involving Porsche Assistance or the dealer.

    Elementary, dear Watson. Smiley


    --
    fritz

    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    I always thought you must be a Private Detective in your spare time.  Smiley Smiley


    --
    "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."

    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    John H:

    I always thought you must be a Private Detective in your spare time.  Smiley Smiley

    Troubleshooting in an engineering environment also involves problem analysis. Smiley

    So all we need now is for Ridleyguy to come back and say that all my assumptions and conclusions were wrong. Smiley


    --
    fritz

    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    Maybe you guys figured this out aready. Please tell me if I'm wrong.

    Porsche Roadside Assistance is merely a "rebranded"  form of AAA? The same  tow trucks come to your aid as they would if you had AAA

    PRA will tow your car to the closest P-dealer and take care of  your (reasonable) overnight accommodations FOR FREE if you wind up on the roadside for ANY reason (except maybe for collision/accidents?)


    --
    2007 997 Turbo

    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    Thanks to everyone who posted for your advice. I have decided to use Porsche Roadside Assistance, to be on the safe side in case there are other issues with the car, and I believe this is covered under my warranty (but not the new battery unfortunately). 

    John H regarding the garage, the car is parked in an underground garage and there are no low temperature issues, but there are no electrical outlets in my parking spaces. 


    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    I think you made the right choice...Smiley


    --
    "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."

    Re: No Luck Jump Starting Dead Battery

    End of the story ... the battery had two dead cells and was replaced.  The car had been in storage for 3 1/2 months at a temperature of over 60 F.

     
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