Parasitic battery drain 986 boxster - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Hi, I’ve noticed that if I leave my wipers in any of the on positions, they continue to move even after I take the key out of the ignition and lock the car. This is causing a the battery to go flat and the alarm to go mental. I had the ignition switch replaced about 6 months ago after the key got stuck in the ignition barrel so its unlikely that this would be giving me problems due to being recently changed? All the interior lights are off apart from the backlights on the headlight dial as I can’t switch them off. This is causing a parasitic loss of charge in the battery, has anyone else had this issue? Thanks

No Did you change the ignition switch yourself or someone else? Is it the little black round multi plug thing like this? Have you considered a new stalk for the wipers?

Sounds like the light switch is also faulty, no?

Fnumber1user said: Sounds like the light switch is also faulty, no? I'd start by just unplugging all this stuff - cockpit side. If OP unplugged ignition switch and wiper stalk and light switch then see what's happening. If car is good he just needs new switches. If its not then he knows switches are fine but not sure where I'd look next.

Fnumber1user said: Sounds like the light switch is also faulty, no? The backlit lighting for the headlight switch will be triggered by the ignition switch or door microswitch not by turning the headlight switch itself.

ATM said: No Did you change the ignition switch yourself or someone else? Is it the little black round multi plug thing like this? Have you considered a new stalk for the wipers? Yes that’s the part. I had it replaced by a Porsche specialist about 6 months ago. I have also since recharged the battery and started the car up, but the alarm keeps blowing despite the engine running. The car is going to the specialist to repaired at the end of the month. I will report back to tell you what needed doing. Edited by HEC2907 on Wednesday 18th January 13:58

Is it wet under the passenger seat?

Ok so I got the car back last week, and it turned out to be the ignition switch. Strange as this is the second time this year, but the garage was good enough to replace it under warranty. All the carpets are dry and no other electrical issues to report apart from a tiny amount of pixel damage on the digital speedometer. Although I’m not sure is this is related to an electrical or something else like being sat out in the cold for a while.

HEC2907 said: Ok so I got the car back last week, and it turned out to be the ignition switch. Strange as this is the second time this year, but the garage was good enough to replace it under warranty. Ok good to know. You assumed it was not this as it had already been changed. Sometimes we assume new parts are good but they can fail too. I am still changing this on one of my 9x6 cars. Which I have been in the middle of for weeks and weeks because it is a B of a job. I lost enthusiasm but I will try to get it done soon.

ATM said: Ok good to know. You assumed it was not this as it had already been changed. Sometimes we assume new parts are good but they can fail too. I am still changing this on one of my 9x6 cars. Which I have been in the middle of for weeks and weeks because it is a B of a job. I lost enthusiasm but I will try to get it done soon. Are your cars kept in a garage or outside? Also how often are they driven? Just curious as mine is usually kept in a garage but ours is being rebuilt so it’s been sat outside this winter. Just wondering if this issue is related to temperature or how often the car is used. My boxster is my daily so it gets regular use, but I’m not brave enough to do the job myself in case it leaves me stranded and unable to get to work.

HEC2907 said: Are your cars kept in a garage or outside? Also how often are they driven? Just curious as mine is usually kept in a garage but ours is being rebuilt so it’s been sat outside this winter. Just wondering if this issue is related to temperature or how often the car is used. My boxster is my daily so it gets regular use, but I’m not brave enough to do the job myself in case it leaves me stranded and unable to get to work. All outside as I dont have a garage. I try to only fiddle with one at a time if it means the car wont drive but occasionally I have 2 or even more which dont work. You will get some damp in this weather. I think there is moisture in the air and then when the temps drop it condenses on the inside of the windows. Then it will stay put inside the car. Then new air comes in and the process repeats. So if you are not using a car it can build up. My 986 had a serious damp problem but I think I got to the bottom of that. Water was coming in by the pollen filter and then into the passenger footwell. So now I have dried it out and I am using it regularly it seems fine.