If front hood left open, does the cargo light turn off? If so how long

[J_STATUS]

If front hood left open, does the cargo light turn off? If so how long til'?

Reason I asked, it's because I charge my battery once a while with the trickle charger and charges it from the front (main battery connections) and I leave the front hood open while it's charging.

It gets annoying having to unplug the light from the harness every time.Thanks!

[White987S]

Few things come to mind:

1) Don't use a trickle charger, only use a quality (Porsche or C-Tek for example) battery maintainer.

2) Plug the battery maitainer into your cigarette lighter, and close the door on the cord. On some 986/996 Porsche even put a slot under your door for the card to pass. Check it out, and see.

3) When not being driven, have it be plugged in. This will greatly extend the life of your battery.

4) On my 993 Turbo, when I did charge the battery with a Porsche maintainer connected directly to the battery via a quick dis-connect, I'd just manually close the hood latch with my finger, and lower the hood. The light would eventually turn off. You would then be required to manually un-latch the hood lock in the cabin, prior to closing the hood, after you take the car off the maintainer.

[creekman]

I believe that the trunk light is on the same circuit as the interior lights, so when the interior lights go off the trunk light will go off... I have an issue w/ the trunk micro switch since it doesn't turn off the light. It was suggested by one of our members to try some electrical contact cleaner on the micro switch before replacing the $75.00 switch. However most of the time you don't need the trunk light on anyway so I installed a lighted switch which allows me to control the trunk light.

[Loren]

I am pretty sure it does not go off if the microswitch shows the lid open.

I have had mine open several hours and the light get very very hot.

I agree a better charging solution is a battery maintainer through the lighter socket.

[gchu]

For my 2002, the light doen't go off with trunk opens. The blub gets very very hot and I got my skin burned by touched it only couple seconds.

[fpb111]

Why don't you close the hood?

Run the wire from the windshield side under the hood. There are no sharp edges or seals to crush wires between there and the battery. The charger wire will be free to move around some.

I put a two pin "trailer" plug on my battery and maintainer, plug them together and close the hood.

Edited December 26, 2012 by fpb111

[J_STATUS]

Thanks for the input guys!

[kbrandsma]

The front trunk light goes off in about two hours or so. Below is a copy of the manual regarding the electrical system and battery maintenance. I agree with Loren however, that in two hours the light gets extremely hot. I sometimes pull the light out of the prongs especially if the keys are left in the ignition. The switch looks like a great idea.

Edited December 27, 2012 by kbrandsma

[J_STATUS]

thanks man

[Long Islander]

For my 2002, the light doen't go off with trunk opens. The blub gets very very hot and I got my skin burned by touched it only couple seconds.

That's one of the reasons why I replaced the front trunk and rear engine lid bulbs with LEDs. They draw less power and don't get hot.