986 Alarm

[OldRocker]

After a period of non use, my battery got too low to start my Boxster 986. This prompted a siren type alarm to go off and it could not be stopped with the remote, it went off of its own accord after about 30 seconds. I had to remove the battery to charge it up and this darned siren went off again several times. I have ended up completely removing it from the car. At this point I must explain that this alarm seems to be an addition the the alarm that sounds the horn and flashes the lights which I presume is the factory fitted alarm. Am I right in assuming that the siren is an aftermarket fitment or have Boxsters got 2 factory fitted alarms.
Can anyone help?

 

[pjwakefield]

never herd of this before. where was this alarm located that you removed ?

 

[Mark_Bennett]

If the battery is too low then it won't have enough power to power the circuit that stops the alarm. (Either the remote signal receiver hasn't got enough power, or the trigger to stop the alarm isn't powerful enough).
If the battery is this low then typically any small drain on the battery - such as the interior lights coming on when you "wake" the car, will be sensed as if the battery is being removed and so trigger the "tamper" siren,

If you have to remove the battery then first turn the key to the first position in the ignition circuit - this should stop the alarm being triggered - which happens if the battery power is removed. The siren has it's own internal battery so that it will go off if someone tries to steal the car and tries to stop any alarm going off by removing the battery.

Yes they have a siren as well as the horns as part of the system.

 

[OldRocker]

Thanks for your replies.
The alarm is situated under the passenger side cover next to the battery.
Mark, if I have to turn the ign to pos 1 to remove the battery does this mean I have to leave the keys in the ign all the time the battery is removed to prevent it going off all the time? This would be a problem as my car sits on my drive at present.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

I'm not sure...[&:]

The idea is that it tells the system you are an authorised person who is allowed to remove the battery (otherwise, as you have the keys, you may as well just drive it away if you are stealing it). So I suspect that if you remove the key after you have removed the battery, (and maybe put it back to the 1st position again before replacing,) it will be ok.

Doing this with the key is also supposed to preserve your radio code, and stop having to reset the "top" position of the side windows, although I found I had to re-do both when I changed my battery!

 

[OldRocker]

Thanks Mark, I'll have to have a think about my next move. The battery is still out as I have had a bad back and cannot put it in at present. Not a problem in this dreadful weather we are having at present.

 

[Oscworth]

Possibly the worst feature of owning one of these is this flat battery / alarm business.
I haven't been able to get into mine for a while now and will soon angle grinder the bonnet and boot open to retrieve my belongings cut my losses and scrap it.

I also suffer with a bad back so feel your pain.

 

[OldRocker]

Hi Oscworth
Yes, in spite of being nearly hysterical with the alarm constantly going off and all my neighbours hanging out of their windows to see what the infernal din was, I managed to preserve enough presence of mind not to fully close the hood. There were moments when I wished I hadn't sold my Mustang!

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Oscworth,

There is a way to get it open - contact me through the Private Messaging system and I'll try and help you.

 

[pjwakefield]

you can get a cigarette lighter to cigarette lighter booster which will get you enough power to get the boots open

 

[Oscworth]

Thanks for the info pj.

@ OldRocker yes the alarm is VERY loud isn't it. My neighbours think it's great that my Porsche has these problems. None of them want a Porsche now. Not so sure I do either tbh.

Just to update on my problem, I know about putting power to the post in the fusebox and earth to the door hinge. I have done this, a few times before but this time it doesn't do anything.
My wheel lock nut key is in the front along with my jumper cables GRRR! Can't get the wheel off to find the emergency cable.
My back is killing me from trying & I'm just thinking it has to go now.

I have been made a pretty good offer for scraping it but I suspect the guy already has a buyer for parts.

 

[Motorhead]

There's plenty of info out there on this problem Steve which may be of use; this, for instance:

http://www.pedrosgarage.com/Site_5/Worst_Case_Scenario.html

It sounds to me as though you need to locate that release cable, either by removing the headlamp unit or the wheel arch liner.

And I suspect, Chaps, that Porsche's not unique in experiencing problems with the alarm when the battery's flat.

Hope you get the problems (and your backs.!) fixed soon.

Jeff

 

[Fred Hindle]

Have you got a cigar lighter plug with wires and a battery charger? Bare the ends of the wires. If you have then plug the plug into the lighter socket (always live on a Boxster). Clip the charger's crocodile clips onto a piece of cardboard or something that is non conductive, making sure they are unable to touch each other. Trap one of the wires under each of the clips (remember to check polarity).
Then plug the plug into the lighter socket (always live on a Boxster). Finally power up the charger. Leave for a while to allow the battery to get some charge in it.

After a period of time the battery should have enough juice in it to 'pop the trunk'

Hope this helps.

To prevent the same happening in the future may I suggest a solar powered trickle charger connected via the cigar lighter socket.

I am going to experiment with a small 12v battery (Something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Powersonic-12v-2-1Ah-Fire-Burglar-Alarm-Rechargeable-Battery-/200955145377?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_Batteries_SM&hash=item2ec9dc2ca1 to keep in the cockpit for eventualities such as this) Will also be good for charging small 12v light for tent)

Cheers,

 

[Oscworth]

Cigar lighter has never worked in my car...Really annoying when you need to power phone or sat nav.
I changed all the fuses trying to fix it ages ago, in the end gave up.
Thanks for posting though.

Motorhead you make it sound so easy to find this cable but my days of sitting / laying on the floor were over years ago.
Just walking my dog can lay me up in agony for weeks. Especially this time of year.
I've owned plenty of cars in my life and not once have I ever owned one that locks access to the battery when it goes flat.
German engineering my ass more like anti theft nightmare, a total inconvenience.

I don't want to waste anymore of anyone's time on my woes as I've read most of what has been posted already on here and other forums.
I do appreciate you all spending the time to reply though.

Sorry to OldRocker for hijacking your thread. I wish I'd bought your old Mustang

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Did you get my email?

Most of what was in there I'm sure you've already found (I didn't know that you even knew about the cable when I offered help), but you should be able to get the wheel off to get to it by buying another locking wheel nut key from Porsche.
Have you thought about getting a Porsche or Porsche Specialist to sort it out? Not everyone would even try to do it themselves, let alone spend time researching it and trying.

Got to be cheaper than scrapping it! [&:]

 

[OldRocker]

Oscworth, No apology needed, I got a lot of info from everyone who posted, thanks to all. I will update when I am able to refit my battery. Just a thought, Ford USA are bringing out a right hand drive Mustang next year!

 

[Oscworth]

No I never received your email Mark I just checked the junkbox nothing there either.

Since I've owned the car I've always used Porsche Colchester to do work on my car, they only seem to know £1000 as a minimum bill.
I know there is work needed on the car as I was told by them the brakes were getting low and steering rack will need changing soon.
Along with sorting out this flat battery which knowing my luck is some other electrical problem is probably going to be a few grand to put right.

I just can't help feeling it's time to cut my losses as these cars aren't worth much nowadays, even with under 50,000 on the clock like mine.
When I bought it I thought it was something special but in reality they aren't much better than most other performance cars and they cost 4X as much to fix.

I have a Ford Mondeo of the same year that costs me a fraction of what the Porsche does and it always starts even after months of not using it.

I also found that when you drive a Porsche you get quoted more for things, I've even had people say things like "if I knew you had a Porsche I would have charged you more" and no one let's you out of turnings. In all it hasn't been a good experience owning one.
I do sim racing on the pc and this gives me my fix of driving nice cars fast.
Driving on public roads is real chore these days too...not much fun.

I would try and sell it but lets be honest here would you buy a Porsche that you can't start or open the bonnet or boot on?
Scrapping it is a quick no haggling sale.

 

[Fred Hindle]

Sorry I couldn't help due to the socket not working.

There are specialists out there who do locking wheel nut removing (and don't charge the silly money that OPC do). The RAC have a nationwide service http://www.lockingwheelnutremover.co.uk/rac-service.html
You can even buy things like this http://www.rapidonline.com/Tools-Equipment/Draper-Expert-4-Piece-Locking-Wheel-Nut-Set-91-1567/?source=googleps&utm_source=googleps&gclid=CJ2f6cDWlrwCFQ_HtAods1AAJg

I shall be tinkering with my 986 to see if I can locate that cable in a place where I can get at it without having to open the bonnet beforehand - another great piece of German thinking!

Hopefully there is some Boden cable in the garage or shed if I need to extend it.

Good luck with the car (and the back).

Cheers,

 

[Mark_Bennett]

ORIGINAL: Oscworth

No I never received your email Mark I just checked the junkbox nothing there either.

Gah - there's half an hour of my time that didn't do any good then!

I think we've covered all it said in subsequent posts now.

Understand you are fed up - but scrapping a car because you can't get the bonnet open? Seems...um... extreme []

Have you asked Porsche? I bet the answer would be "No problem Sir". If you've had the car serviced there they know you are not trying to steal your wheels - I'm sure they could provide the correct puzzle key. They've seen it all before - and probably much worse!

 

[Motorhead]

ORIGINAL: Oscworth

Motorhead you make it sound so easy to find this cable but my days of sitting / laying on the floor were over years ago.

An obvious passing shot, but if you have breakdown insurance (with Home Start), you should be able to get the technician to do this for you. Might be worth a final punt before sending her to a rather harsh end with the "recycler".

Jeff