Electric (PCM2 and CD) problem following battery change

[RJN]

I decided to change my battery (2003 C2) as it was getting on for 4.5 years old and the cranking was getting slower each time, so thought best to nip the issue in the bud. No problems huh? Yeh how could ANYone mess up chagning a battery?! Read on - I am disgusted at my own idiocy.... :cursing:

Went to OPC to get the new Porsche battery, (separate story - took 4 trips they are that bad, due to being closed, having no batteries ready, forgetting to get a battery ready and then finally 4th time lucky.) Price of battery was GB£150 circa US$290. Bit more than anticipated but hey its got a Porsche logo on it, and it must be the right battery etc.

Got the new battery and proceeded to install. I'm not an unintelligent person, I know my way around electrics generally (Domestic AC and DC) and generally don't do stupid things. Took the old battery out, even managing to avoid setting the alarm off when disconnecting the old battery. Dropped the new one in and had it all lined up and connected the vent tube.

Right, here's where warning 1 should have gone off in my mind - this +'ve cable seems a bit taut compared to when I took it off? oh well, must be me.

Warning 2 - this +'ve cable seems very loose - Hmm they must have changed the post size (Yes I even know the + and - Posts are different sizes).

OK, you see where this is going, as I go to connect the -'ve cable, small spark and I realise what I've done - connected the battery momentarily with the wrong polarity. :censored:

How could I possibly be that stupid? Well, it turns out the answer is that the vent tube can be installed on either side of the battery, and the dealer had set it up to come out of the right hand (incorrect) side of the battery, so when I then dropped the battery in with the vent on the left side, the battery was turned around and so had the wrong polarity. Totally my own stupid fault for not checking the polarity, but a warning for others if you are using an original Porsche battery, check that the vent is installed on the -'ve side and not the +'ve one like I got it. The dealer then swapped out the vent plugs (they can only be used once, you destroy it getting it out) and the tube was on the correct side.

So, I drove home thinking everything works phew! BUT turns our the PCM2 and CD player (CDC4) are totally dead. Cant eject the magazine. Got home and checked the fuses and the D9 fuse had blown, and I replaced that, but still no joy.

As I hang my head in utter disbelief and anger at my own idiocy, anyone have any thoughts on potentially not having blown internally the PCM2, Bose Amp and CD player, requiring complete replacement? I'm guessing £5k....

I guess I'll just have to hand it over to the dealer and say bill me. I'm still really really angry at myself for being such a dork..... :angry:

[Loren]

Did you check D8 and E6 also?

D8 is the radio and D9 is the other audio option package.

E6 is the CD Changer fuse.

[RFM]

There is a fuse on the back of the PCM, don't forget it.

[RJN]

Thanks, did check D8 and E6 (I checked every single fuse in the box 1 at a time!).

I'll pull the PCM out tonight when I get home - I didnt know there was one on the back of it - would anyone have the spec of that fuse?

I guess I'm still feeling stupid :blush: , but its only a car, it can be fixed. Irritates to me to give OPC money when they are by and large (in the UK) rude unhelpful people!

Edited April 10, 2007 by RJN

[RFM]

Hi

It's a 10 AMP fuse. I hope for you that all the other systems are OK.

Success

[RJN]

Success Indeed! :thumbup:

It was the fuse on the back of PCM, cost was £1, and its all working now!

Phew. Very lucky person me thinks!

[RFM]

Great to hear that!!