996 Flat Battery

Hi all, Car been stored for a while and I charge the battery periodically but I missed a couple of weeks and the battery is totally flat and cant open the boot to get to the battery as its electronically opened. I believe there is a charging point in the engine bay but that is also electronically opened so cant get in. I seem to remember there was a way of jumping from the fuse box and a quick internet search revealed some people jacking cars up and removing wheel arch trims to get to the bonnet release. I did a search on the forum and couldn't find the answer.... can anyone point me in the right direction please? Thanks in advance, Rob

There are several options, but the easiest one is shown on the attachment. You can use a couple of 1/4" blade connectors if you don't have a fuse to modify. There is also an emergency release cable for the engine compartment lid. This is located behind the rear left hand light cluster. You can retreive it by fishing under the bottom edge of the light with a bent wire. Give it a tug and the rear lid will open. There is a black plastic cover marked + over a jumping point. Use the rear mounting point for the air filter as an earth if you are going to jump start. There are ways of releasing the locked lever on the sill, but the above are simpler.

Rear Lid release cable:

I guess the car in your signature isn't the one you're talking about? ;-)

You can also purchase (from Halfords) a lead which you plug into the cigarette lighter socket of the Porsche and the socket of another vehicle and after a few minutes this will enable the Porsche release mechanisms to operate to get access to the battery - worked for me[ ]

Incidentally, you're right about the front lid release - my car has a pull cable near the offside headlight, reached by removing the front portion of the offside front wheel arch. Fiddly, though.

Hi Richard, As ever, a gold mine of valuable information and thanks for getting back to me so quickly and apologies for my tardy reply

Hi Geoff, Thanks for that, I did see them advertised somewhere and looks like a good idea. Will try the fuse box idea first and see how I get on. Thanks, Rob

Thanks guys, Finally up and running and on the road after nearly 18m! I didn't manage to find the cable under the rear light cluster but the article about bridge fuse 3 worked - just. One point to note that on mine at least, the process worked but using the key or remote to activate the central locking and unlock the boot / engine compartment lids did NOT work. While the fuse was being jumped (and the alarm screaming at me) I put the key in the ignition and turned it on (not started) and that then enabled me to use the CL and open both compartments. Bit of a mission, my garage is quite tight and a tiptronic meant I couldn't push it out. So, new tyre, Bosch battery still surprisingly OK!, in for a service, MOT, Taxed and the front PU bonnet being re-sprayed because of stone chips and I am all set and delighted to be back in the fold again. Looking forward to a great summer and attended PCGB and R20 events!