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YOUR RESEARCH1999 996 Cabriolet Issue with Dead Battery and Opening Hood
Leading reported evidence
Replace from 99
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
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0
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1
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1999 996 Cabriolet Issue with Dead Battery and Opening Hood
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Leading evidence: 'Replace from 99' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace from 99' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Suggestion
Some folks use a 12v power source to unlock the car, and then open the frunk cable pull to open it.
1999 996 Cabriolet Issue with Dead Battery and Opening Hood
Use fuse box jump method is not
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Suggestion
The most common issue with people using the fuse box jump method is not using a strong power source or not getting a proper ground.
1999 996 Cabriolet Issue with Dead Battery and Opening Hood
Use jumper points in the engine bay
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Suggestion
A simple hook will get it, then you can use the jumper points in the engine bay to power up the car.
1999 996 Cabriolet Issue with Dead Battery and Opening Hood
Use key fob
Suggestion or failed attempt
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Suggestion
The very easiest way to do it on a 99 when the levers are locked, and no jumper post in the fuse box, is to put a good 12v power to the cig lighter, then use the key fob to unlock the levers, then use the lever to open the frunk.
1999 996 Cabriolet Issue with Dead Battery and Opening Hood
Use key fob
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Reported fixes
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Unsuccessful attempts
1
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Discussions that contain suggestions
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Suggestion
The very easiest way to do it on a 99 when the levers are locked, and no jumper post in the fuse box, is to put a good 12v power to the cig lighter, then use the key fob to unlock the levers, then use the lever to open the frunk.
1999 996 Cabriolet Issue with Dead Battery and Opening Hood
Use lever
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Suggestion
The very easiest way to do it on a 99 when the levers are locked, and no jumper post in the fuse box, is to put a good 12v power to the cig lighter, then use the key fob to unlock the levers, then use the lever to open the frunk.
1999 996 Cabriolet Issue with Dead Battery and Opening Hood
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32 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
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Hi,
So my 1999 Porsche 996 battery finally died after being maintained by the cigarette trickle charger for several years. What I did not realize is that there is an issue on how to open the hood to access the battery when it is dead. I looked at several threads which lead me to the fuse panel which supposedly has a place to jump the car. Unfortunately this is not the case on my 1999 Porsche 996. Is this only an issue on the 1999? The question is how to put in a dead battery if a battery is required to open the hood and the engine compartment. I do not know if it is specific to the 1999 Cabriolet but I found nothing as to the proper way of handling this. I am not a mechanic and do not think it should be necessary to have to tow the car to the dealership. If anyone can assist that would be great. Pictures would be even better.
On a side note, what activates the levers inside the car to be able to pull? Is it just when the key is turned and the battery is working?
Thank you all!
Just pop the engine compartment lid and place jumpers on the jump points shown in the owners manual. You don't need a battery to open the engine lid. I didn't think the '99 needed a battery to open the frunk, but I know my 2000 does.
Wow wow wow! You do have a pack of problems. The 99 should have the cable pulls for the frunk and engine lid. If it is locked down and the cable pulls don't work, then your best bet is to open the engine lid manually to get to the rear jumper points in the engine bay. Place some painters tape on the rear fender under the drivers side tail light, place a plastic wedge or something similar to create a space under the tail light and fender, get a hook (clothes hangar will work) and fish out the manual cable pull for the engine lid. One tug on that and you are in the engine bay.
Where are the cable pulls for the Frunk and Engine Lid? If you are talking about the ones just to the left of the drivers seat, they are locked and won�t pull up.
Thank you.
Why would the finest of German engineering do something so dumb? What were they thinking!?! Let�s make sure when the battery dies, the driver can�t access the battery to change it lol.
Like I said, the engine lid cable pull is under the drivers side tail lamp. A simple hook will get it, then you can use the jumper points in the engine bay to power up the car. Unfortunately, the cable pull for the frunk lid is under the passenger headlight. You would need to pull off the front passenger wheel, and then pull down the wheel liner to access it. You cannot remove the passenger side head light without the frunk lid open. Once you have everything working again, take the time to pop the headlight out and relocate the frunk lid emergency release cable to just inside the front bumper tow hook plug. Think how easy this would be if all you had to do was pop the tow hook plug and there is the emergency release cable. One simple pull and you're in.
Hey Bill!
So my car is a 1999 996 Cabriolet. Whether or not the silver pulls to the left of the driver seat by the door are electrical once unlocked I do not know. All I know is that you can't pull them up (they are locked) and require juice from the battery.
In the manual it specifically says: When the battery is discharged, the levers can't be unlocked. Please contact you authorized Porsche dealer. What kind of bs is that??? lol
Dude, I feel your pain. This is one of the most common problems with these cars. Their (Porsche engineers) thinking was to make a car more secure from thieves in the case of someone trying to steal the car. But this feature has caused more frustraition for owners than any potential thieves. As they say, "locks are only good to keep the honest people out!"
Now... the fuse box technique would be my first suggestion. The most common issue with people using the fuse box jump method is not using a strong power source or not getting a proper ground. I suggest a simple set of jumper cables and a fully charged battery sitting next to the car. Clamp on the 12V+ from the + on the battery to the fuse box slide terminal. Then clamp the negative to the horseshoe-shaped door lock as noted in the manual.
If this doesn't work, then you're going to have to locate the manual release cables. On the LHD 996, this cable is routed to the passenger side and usually can be accessed by removing the fender well liner. This is a mechanical release and so it take quite a bit of force to unlock the frunk. Good luck!
Unfortunately the fuse box technique will not work on my car because there is no mechanism for it in my 1999 Fuse panel (would have be nice). Someone was also mentioning using a screw driver where the pulls are? I just want to do it the correct way without damaging anything.
What do you have to do to use that screw driver technique between the two levers? Is there a video? Also, I have the porsche trickle charger to the cigarette lighter but it does not seem to give enough juice for the unlock mechanism to work. Is there another one that would work just enough to get the unlock mechanism to work?
Well, if you don't have the red pull 12V+ out (just above the 40 amp fuse), then you're going to have to use the manual release cables. There is also one for the rear deck lid. It's normally located below the driver-side tail light. Some people have mentioned successfully being able to noodle it out without having to go much further removing finder well liners and such. Once you access the engine bay, there is a 12V positive terminal that you can use to energize the car. But personally, I would start with trying to access the front manual release cable which will get you access to the battery compartment.
Try to rotate the wheel counterclockwise to provide clearance to remove the liner. The fender well liner can be disconnected and removed by unscrewing the various perimeter fasteners.
Are you referring to the door locks? He's saying the cable levers are electrical. I know that my MY2000 doesn't require a battery to open the engine lid. It's mentioned in the owners manual and I've done it. Maybe that was a change from 99 to 00? I thought all MK-I's had mechanical releases.
The cable levers themselves are manual and not electric, but if the battery is dead and you open the car with the key, the levers are locked and will not pull up because the key does not electrically register to the car. The trickle charger does not seem to give the car enough juice. Is there another way to give the car some battery life just enough for the key to register to the car and unlock the levers?
Getting to the front wheel well is not going to be easy and not sure if trying to find the engine release prying open the rear tail light is a good option either. Anyone have any experience opening up the latch area to override the solenoid?
MY 2000 must be different. Live and learn. My owners manual (page 92) says "When the battery is discharged, the lever for the front hood can't be unlocked." They give instructions for connecting jumper cables to the engine compartment jump points. Your best bet might be to try fishing out the emergency cable from under the driver side tail light. Also pop out the plug for the tow hook and check. Many people relocate the frunk release cable to the bumper so it can be accessed from that hole.
Bill,
You are absolutely right. The engineers and Porsche spent some money for the fix in 2000. Looks like I will be prying the rear drivers side tail light to get to the cable after all.
I am invisible and nothing I say matters, nobody reads my posts or listens. I gave you the solution in Post 7. The cable is just under the drivers side tail lamp. It takes almost nothing to make a bit of space under the tail lamp.
"Invisible man",, LMAOo thats funny !! I feel like that all the time Joe, don't feel like the Lone Ranger, I think its just an RL thing ..
The problem here is there is more than one way to "skin a cat" and more than one version of the cat..
The very easiest way to do it on a 99 when the levers are locked, and no jumper post in the fuse box, is to put a good 12v power to the cig lighter, then use the key fob to unlock the levers, then use the lever to open the frunk.
A trickle charger to the cig lighter wont do it, you need more power. Take an old phone charger/accessory ect and cut the cig lighter plug, and wire up a battery from your power drill/driver/saw (everyone has 12v-18v batteries nowadays).
