Batteries again??

I don't use her often, so she was sat all week in the garage and then ran at the weekend. I did one long-ish run, followed by several short runs. I went out this morning to start her and I am not happy with the turning over of the car. The battery is showing 12 volts before turning over, it drops drastically when cranking and all lights dim quite a bit on the dash. The car fires after two or three turns, but the battery doesn't seem to either A) be holding the charge or B) enough cranking amps to crank the car over that well. The first time I fitted the battery I notice an improvement over the old, but again it's sluggish. I popped the battery cover off today, and checked the battery specs, to my surprise it has the AH and CCA of an S4 battery, but the label clearly states s5?? I'm a little confused, so I called the place that supplied, and apparently the S range come in varying specs depending on application and it is not determined by the actual product family of the battery? To say I am annoyed is a bit of an understatement, as I have not got what I paid for. As a result I am returning to the supplier for a full refund (I may as well of bought an S4 with the same rating for less cost). I understand that I left it for a few days, but there is no way it should not be cranking as well after such a short time, and to add to that, it is not as advertised. I also popped the voltmeter on the terminals when the 996 was started to check the voltage again from the alternator and it is a solid 13.9 volts, so it is providing enough current to keep the battery topped up. As a result, I'm not ordering a replacement from these guys! I called the OPC, and I have been advised that they recommend a minimum of 80AH although he couldn't tell me the CCA.They buy the MOLL unit in, and fill / charge themselves at a cost of aprox £180.00. That could explain why the lower rated Bosch I was supplied is not really up to the task. I've been reading up, and some people have recommended that the OEM MOLL battery not be used, as they have a lifespan of only a couple of years, and a lot of people opt to upgrade to a heavy duty exide battery. With that in mind I have now found this: http://www.battery2u.co.uk/Car-Batteries/Exide-Car-Batteries/Exide--110TE- It's 85AH and 800CCA - quite a bit more than the 74AH and 680CCA I was supplied with. I'm just checking with you guys that this should be ok - I have found a couple of sites that list it for the 996 but thought I would check as I'm hoping to get it right this time.... Cheers,

Hi Steveo, I have had my 2003 plate car since 2006, in that time she has had 4 batteries, the original OEM one died 2 months after I purchased her thus only lasted 3 years. Got it replaced with a Unipart 60AH heavy duty for £70, halfords I think which lasted 2.5 years. I replaced this with a Porsche 85AH heavy duty for £125 from an OPC, that died yesterday so circa 2 years of life. Done a direct replacement and bought through the AA with another unipart 60AH one , this cost me £99.96. has a 3 year warranty, any issues and replaced. Cannot see the CCA figure on the new one and do not recollect seeing it stamped on the other one. Batteries do like the cyle of discharge-recharge. If the car is sat in the garage only doing short runs they hate it. Also lots of debate on trickle charge, some support it, others argue best to do a recondition every so often so the battery does the 24 hour discharge and recharge at a low 2amp input. Think the £180 is steep. Threads on here about recommended batteries, however all I can say in the 60AH has worked for me over the OEM one. Horses for courses, you can buy 2 batteries and possibly get twice teh life for the cost of the £180, depends if there is a warranty of course?? Regards Alan

Hmm 60Ah isn't really enough Have a look here http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=331718 I used the Bosch Silver 85Ah from Costco. Its basically a battery you would use in a Transit van, but has the same dimension to fit the 911 and works a treat. I think it was around £85 Steve

In good faith from a total amateur... My car went to the 911 clinic on Saturday. The only thing "wrong" was that the battery was only 70% charged. I was a bit puzzled as it was a new one, fitted only three weeks ago ( Bosch Silver S5 010 from Halfords - £125 inc fitting). But, in the words of the OPC technician "a new battery will never get fully charged while it is on the car". As you said, he says they fully charge a new Moll battery before fitting it to any car. I must say I was surprised by the finding but I've now bought a conditioner and hope that all will be well using that.

Thanks for your input guys. Steve, that's proved the chap I spoke to was right then, I searched for an 85AH Bosch Silver, and it too comes up as an S5: http://www.boschbatteries.co.uk/Products/S5010--or--110-BOSCH-SILVER-PLUS-Car-Battery-12V-85Ah.html S5010 / 110 BOSCH SILVER PLUS Car Battery 12V 85Ah (Short Code: S5010) (BOSCH DIN: 585 200 080) 5 Years Guarantee Specifications & Dimensions (mm) Voltage - 12V Capacity - 85Ah CCA (EN) - 800A 315L x 175W x 175H BOSCH SILVER PLUS This is above the Spec of the S5 advertised on their website, so it just goes to show, that you have to be careful when ordering such things off of the net and taking the picture / add to be correct (even though it should be!). I think I will go with the Exide 85AH and 800CCA, as that sounds like the same spec that you are using, and I want something that gives everything enough juice. Cheers, Steve