996 flat battery woes

[danielmelbourne]

Hi all, I’m after some advice please, I have foolishly let the battery go flat on my 2001 C2 tip. Having searched for a solution to opening the front hatch and realising that Porsche had installed a solution for this very eventuality, I bought a new battery to replace the one installed and with some jump leads tried the official solution. Unfortunately no luck. Frustratingly I have an optimate 3 charger and a cigarette socket adaptor that I hadn’t been using! As I can’t open the bonnet with a Battery, will using the trickle charger now revive the battery enough to open the bonnet? One concern is with the charger plugged into the cigarette lighter socket, there appears to be constant solenoid activation noises from both doors. What is this? will they burn out? will they "fight” the trickle charge and drain the little juice the charger is trying to put in. Apologies for the long winded questions. Any help gratefully appreciated.

 

[danielmelbourne]

As a follow up can anyone categorically say which side wheel arch the pull release cable is located, drivers or passengers? I’ve read conflicting information.

 

[Gordon Attar]

Just checking that you pulled the red/+ve connector out a cm or so from the fuse box then connected the positive cable then connected the -ve to the door jam before trying the bonnet switch. If it doesn't work wiggle the jump leads whilst still connected. I've never had a car where it hasn't worked.

The clicking solenoid is due to the lack of power via the cigarette lighter and the windows trying to wind down. Leave it for a few minutes it may stop and start charging. Make sure everything is switched off even bulbs.

 

[TheOriginal996]

Yep.. about 19 years ago, returning from hols I has same problem in railway car park, but I could enter my 1999 c4 car (with key in driver lock) but not open boot nor bonnet. If you have the 996.1 then they are cable pulls and you (I got AA recovery to do it!!) can remove the locked panel by door kick board and then he could pull the cable bypassing the central locking. I had to wait for second AA man because he needed "long" allen keys!

The ex
If I get an inkling of a bad charge, central locking stops working, I jump the car with a NiCAd booster these days.. Ill do anything rather than blooming have to reset all my Digital Radio radio settings. Ive had serval batteries in the last 18 years and added the biggest I could, personally I no longer blame the battery I think there some small current usage at rest, and also the battery has to then get current has to go a long way to the starter motor, so I got a tiny NiCad booster - works every time - haven't had to reset setting for ages - even after 4 weeks in lockup...

But if you have the electronic bonnet release, then ignore what Ive said!!!

Mark

 

[danielmelbourne]

I believe they are switches not cable operated. Yes I pulled the red positive contact out and connected a new battery via jump leads using the door latch as the negative. With the battery connected I can hear what sounds like a flasher unit or solenoid activating very fast Operating the switch at this point doesn’t do anything. It is so frustrating having a battery I can’t replace. I’ve also started to pull the drivers side inner wing liner looking or the cable release. I can’t see it. Although it’s difficult as the wheel is still fitted due to the locking wheel but being under the bonnet!!

 

[Jenik1914]

Hi the cable is located at the side or the base of the headlamp support tray, hope this helps!

 

[danielmelbourne]

Thanks for the info, and this is on the driver's side? I'll have another look tonight when I get home.

Hi the cable is located at the side or the base of the headlamp support tray, hope this helps!

 

[joneslight]

A colleague recently had this problem on his Boxster and eventually got the bonnet open by using seat frame bolt as a charge point rather than the door clamp, if you get what I mean! Its a better earth.

 

[danielmelbourne]

Thanks, any suggestions gladly received. Ill have a go later.

 

[Motorhead]

I think you'll find that the emergency release cable can be reached from the driver's side wheel arch. Just turn the wheel to gain better access to the liner.

Jeff

 

[danielmelbourne]

Do you have a decent picture of it.
I’m looking and i can’t see it.

I think you'll find that the emergency release cable can be reached from the driver's side wheel arch. Just turn the wheel to gain better access to the liner.

Jeff

 

[Jenik1914]

 

[danielmelbourne]

Great thanks for the picture. Ill have another look now i know where I'm looking.

 

[danielmelbourne]

Having had a look and not being able to locate! I have now undone the 2 allen bolts holing the front and realise bonnet and boot switches. They unfortunately are definitely switches not cable operated. As I now have this off ( putting it back together is going to be interesting) can I apply power directly to the connector for the switch? I am faced with 4 contacts, Im assuming brown is earth and red and black is live, what is the white and grey?

Honestly im having a mare today, my photo from flickr will not load either.

 

[danielmelbourne]

Well, as an update, I have exhausted any resolution. Through my own stupidity of not putting the car on trickle charge, this is now going to start costing me money and probably lots of it.
I cannot see an emergency pull cable in the right hand wheel well even with the photo kindly provided by Jenik1914, although my inner wheel well doesn't look like the photo. I don't have the black hose shown crossing the thick sheathed cable that goes to the gland!? And the Porsche official solution of connecting a new battery via a jump lead to the red + contact on the fuse board and the negative to an earth point on the car just makes what sounds like a relay flasher unit cycle, no power to the switch.
To say this has soured my first foray into Porsche ownership is an understatement. Im absolutely gutted.
Ill be contacting a local Porsche specialist tomorrow to see if they can help.
Thanks for the the advice from everyone and Ill keep you posted.

 

[Roger Goode]

Daniel
I‘m sorry to read your tale of woe.
I would have suggested the same as others, solutions that should have worked. This may sound silly but have you viewed YouTube videos on the subject? They should give you clear picture of what you’re looking for.

Good luck.
Please update us on how you solve the problem which I’m sure you will. Once your behind the wheel and enjoying driving it again the problems you’ve had will fade away quickly.

incidentally the independent I use, Revolution Porsche, strongly recommend using only Bosch batteries since they’ve dealt with many problems when other batteries have been fitted.

After 2 years of finding a flat battery on my VW CC. after about 7 days, I’ve replaced the 2 year old Yuasa battery with a Bosch and the problems have gone. Halfords tested the Yuasa several times and just said all it needed was charging! I’m bench testing it now.

 

[andywill]

Hi sorry a bit late but RHD 996rMK1s the cable is under the passenger side wheel arch and I think it's hit and miss as to location on mk2s. Should be easy to locate
Good luck
Andy

 

[danielmelbourne]

ok thanks, so I’ll have to try under the opposite, ie passengers wheel arch. Could be interesting considering I reversed the car into the garage, so not a great deal of room that side. What is classed as a mk1 996? Mine is 2001 and has the electric switches for the bonnet and engine bay release.

 

[TheOriginal996]

My understanding is 996 mk1 or 996.1 has a 3.4 engine, the flat headlights with the corner that was shared with the Boxster, and the GT2 Lemans winning car... the mk2 or 996.2 has the rounder fried egg headlights, 3.6 engine and a glovebox.
My 1999 996.1 has cable release but I think they replaced it with electrical release in the following year ...

 

[Jenik1914]

Hi again just a thought....when you connected the battery to the fuse box and the door striker did you leave the key in the door lock? In Richard Hamilton’s Ultimate Guide this is what he says to do, if the alarm sounds just switch it off by locking and unlocking with key in the door then try the switch again, maybe worth another try before you start stripping the car down any more!