With a 2006 987 it is very easy to have an electrical draw that is hard to trace. The ignition key can get locked in, windows may not work, a worn door handle assembly and stretched cable can trick the module into thinking the door is open.
Those who have thought of just disconnecting the battery (with or without a remote solenoid) have learned that's a bad solution because it can play havoc with the control module by interrupting its data or whatever (far beyond my pay grade).
For this reason and because its anti theft benefits, I'd like to explore the idea of a separate battery/power supply for the module so it would not be affected by a battery disconnect.
Has anyone else explored this idea, or have solutions? Or is it just a dumb idea?
I have owned my 2008
Cayman
since 2009 and been on these
Porsche
web sites since then as well. The reason for that comment is in that time, I have not read about anyone else having a control module problem because they disconnected their battery. Worst case they may lose a couple settings that are typically easy to reset. And as a retired old guy, I spend way too much time on these kinds of sites, darn near every day, absorbing all the information that is shared.
Thanks much. I am inclined to agree with you based upon my own experience:
For over a year before the faulty discharge could be traced (I took it to two 'experts') who failed to diagnose the problems) I routinely disconnected the positive cable from it's post when I parked the car. (then I'd leave the front lid unlatched, with a rag jammed to prevent accidental closure.
Two reasons: 1) Prevent drain on the battery, 2) Anti-theft, since I could not remove the key. The control module did not need to be replaced after a year or more of this.
Nonetheless,
Porsche
mechanics and dealers preach this is a terrible idea because of the resetting of the module. So, after years of worry about all this, I have an ingrained fear of shutting the front lid, and disconnecting (or leaving connected) the battery,
Anyway, thanks. I hope you're right. After all, the battery obviously needs to be disconnected or changed from time to time.
Its very common for many to completely remove the battery from their car during winter storage and bring it inside. It will not cause any harm to anything. The worst that can happen on a modern
Porsche
is the windows may need to have the endpoints set again, or the steering angle reset, and both together is a less than 5 minute procedure outlined in the manual.
You mention going a year with the key in the ignition which is a problem within itself. Leaving the key in the ignition activates all sorts of activity and parasitic drain on the car and can kill a battery on any
Porsche
within 24hrs in some cases. They key should never be left in the ignition when not in use. There is a way to remove the key mechanically in an emergency if stuck electronically
Google Search
Yes, the key should never be left in the ignition, for several reasons. My key was not left in voluntarily, at least by me. Don't know for sure, but a brother-in-law who was going to sell it for me may have done so. Otherwise, one day it just wouldn't release.
At any rate, I'm really happy to have the 987 back. SO fun to drive, reasonably priced and one of the best looking Porsches ever, reminiscent of the 550, James Dean's "Lil' Bastard."
I guess what I missed from your posts is that your story happened some time in the past and that even though your reaction to it was questionable, you eventually got everything sorted out and once again are enjoying your car. Right? Obviously that's a good thing but, I also didn't see what you found to be the problem, or what the solution to your problem/reaction was, only that you still worry about it and are looking for some kind of bypass should it happen again? And since I don't know what the problem or solution was, I can only suggest that some of your steps during investigating it, look like they would have contributed to the problem versus the solution. For example, leaving the key in the ignition when there is a procedure to remove it will definitely make the battery go dead. So instead of removing the key you removed a battery cable? Was there ever a parasitic drain or was it the key? Do you know? This story seems somewhat convoluted. Or maybe it's me. Sorry.
No, your reply made sense. This had been going on for several years and I didn't drive it much. A
Porsche
specialist shop said it needed a new module (wrong). In the mean time a guy who was selling it for me may have left the key in, but that was long after it had the discharge problem. It sat a month at "Promise Big-Deliver Nada Automotive." Finally took it to Simonson Auto in Pasco, WA. They diagnosed and solved the problems quickly to the tune of $1700 (approx). It was the door and cable issue that prob'ly started it all. They key issue came later. I am to blame for my inattention and leaving it with people who don't know
Porsche
's quirks (that includes me
). Anyway, thanks much. The remaining issue may be psychological: fear of discharge [pun intended
]. Besides new tires, I need to cut the nut off the stripped battery clamp so I can install my
NOCO GENIUS2D, 2A Direct-Mount Onboard Charger
Great to have it back. Decided not to sell. My wife 'stole' my Ford F-150. Now she wants to give it back and steal the 987.
So all is good.
Thanks again,
_ Dan
