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Starting Issues

k9moir1

PCGB Member
Member
My Cayman has been sitting idle for 15 months but on a constant trickle charge. Tried to start it - dead as a dodo. Clicking sound, headlights flashed, drivers side window started to open. Got PSM Failure and ABS Failure messages on the dash.
Could the constant trickle charge have killed the battery off?
 
If a trickle charger is connected constantly it could damage the battery. In those circumstances you should use a battery conditioner which charges and then allows discharge and keeps the battery healthy.

The symptoms you describe are certainly those of a fairly flat battery and should correct themselves when you restart the car and drive it a short distance.

 
Thanks Terry - so the unit that has been plugged in for the last 15 months is the Porsche Charge-o-mat (CTEK). Any particular model no. of a suitable battery conditioner that is recommended?

 
Kenny,

I've been using a CTEK conditioner for more than 9-years on my Cayman without problems, albeit not continuously like you. Terry was referring to a trickle charger rather than a battery conditioner like your unit which should have been safe to use for an extended period. Indeed, I believe that such devices are commonly used in vehicle storage facilities, so there shouldn't be a problem using one.

Maybe the conditioner malfunctioned and allowed the battery to discharge completely? You don't mention the age of your car and if the connection was directly to the battery or via a cigarette/power socket. Direct connection to the battery is probably more reliable for long-term operation, especially if a fault develops unnoticed with the socket during the storage period.

As Terry says, the symptoms you describe are typical of low battery voltage.

Jeff

 
The car is a 2007 model and I have owned the car since 2009. That CTEK charger that I use has been used successfully since 2009. The longest that the car has been on the charger previously has been approx. 11 weeks, but normally it is on for 6-7 weeks.

The charger is normally plugged into the cigarette lighter socket.

I did disconnect the charger and then reconnect, so maybe I shall try and restart in 24-48 hrs.

 
It sounds as though we've both been using our CTEKs for about the same time Kenny. I'm not sure whether or not it's relevant but although originally I was using the cigarette lighter socket, I started using a direct connection to the battery terminals with croc clips when I began experiencing an intermittent connection and haven't had any problems since. On the 987-series cars you can connect safely to the terminals because the negative terminal connects to the body directly.

When you reconnect the conditioner I'd keep a watchful eye on it. When mine went intermittent the unit kept flicking between charging (red light) and charged (green light). I've always assumed that the problem lay with the socket connection rather than the CTEK.

Jeff

 
When using the cig socket connection method the car must be "active". That is the ignition must have been switched on within 20-30 mins of the Ctek charger being connected. This allows the car to acknowledge the connection and keep the socket live rather than letting it be switched off. With your battery seemingly dead you may want to connect directly to the battery to charge your dead battery and then use the cig lighter socket in the future bearing in mind the above. Hope this helps.

 
Graham,

I think that only applies for the 981 and 718-series cars. For the OP's 2007 987.1 car the negative battery terminal connects directly to earth and, as far as I know, there isn't any battery monitoring circuitry. That's why you can connect to the battery terminals directly rather than use the remote body negative post you have on your 718.

Jeff

 

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