My Boxster S was stored for the winter connected to a Ctek trickle charger. Car started with no issues. We drove the car about 20 miles the parked it for a few hours. When we returned to the car it wouldn't start needing a boost. I reconnected it to the charger for a few days and it ran without any problem. Today I tried it and she wouldn't start so she's back on the charger. I'll take her into the dealer in the morning. So I either need a new battery or replacement of the alternator. Car has 40,000 miles on the clock. What length of time do these batteries last? Have there been any issues with the alternators on these cars? I appreciate your feedback. Thanks.
Did you check the water level in the battery after such a long period on a trickle charger? If low fill it to the top of the plates and put it back on the charger to see if it comes up to full charge. Use distilled water, not tap water. I doubt it is an alternator since you got no warning lights or a CEL.
Willing to bet it's the battery. And if it's the original, no doubt. If I get 3-4 years out of one I'm pretty happy.:cheers:
I agree. If I get 4 years out of any battery I change it period. The same goes for tires after 5 years.
Some batteries will die in a year or two. Some will go more than 5 years. Your can try rejuvenating it with the Ctek, and the cold weather position might work better, but you probably got your money's worth with 40k miles. You'd see a charging trouble light and low battery voltage if your alternator is bad. I'd just replace the battery and move on.
And remember, any unusually severe discharge of a battery will shorten the life. A Diehard might be able to start the car after leaving the lights on all nite, but it just lost a chunk of its life doing that test. So try not to do any Diehard battery testing. Like leaving the Bose stereo on all day while u wash and detail it. Make sure you put your Ctek charger on it for such occasions, and for sure supply it if having your car detailed. You know they all leave the radio on all day, and these amps can draw a lot of power.
I check my battery several times a week during cold start after leaving it over nite. One of my PCM display lines is battery voltage. I turn the key on along with my stereo. I watch to see what the voltage settles to. Typically it's 12.3-12.4 V, fully charged. Then I hit the starter and watch the low point of the village during the start. Typically that's about 12.0-12.1 V. My CS is a little less than 2 years old and has 3500 miles on it, and the morning oil temp is typically in the 70s before starting. Hope this helps...
Turned out to be the battery which I replaced. The non-Porsche shop said the alternator should be checked as it is not throwing out what it should. So off to the dealer I go!!!
