Replacing Battery- Key stuck and windshield washers running

[lkn4wnd]

Battery was going low, slow to turn over and almost 5 years old. Time to replace the battery. Read the manual to make sure no funny sequences required. Removed old battery with no problems. When hooking up new battery, car acted like all systems running (ie large surge), windshield washer started running, alarm going, lights flashing. Tried to insert key into ignition (nothing happened) then disconnected battery cable. Now key is stuck, everything wet from washers, and have not tried to reconnect battery. Can't seem to find anything on the replacement process that I missed (obviously I did), was I or should I disconnect some fuses before attempting to reconnect battery?

I was hoping that I was pre-emptive on the replacement and I did not want to get stuck somewhere and need to jump the fuse box to open the front lid. Instead I am now stuck in my own garage.

2009 Boxster

[JFP in PA]

To my knowledge, there is nothing in changing the battery that will trap the key in the ignition; most likely, you can get that out by moving the steering wheel back and forth while turning it. But as inserting the key activates certain systems, you should not have left it in while disconnecting the battery.

Work on getting the key out, make sure everything is turned off, and reconnect the battery; you should be fine.

[lkn4wnd]

Thanks, I did just get the key out using the metal hook inside the fuse box panel. Again went to hook the battery up and car still acts like multiple loads on system. Washers running again, horn sounds, fan motor turns on, yet nothing was activated before I too out old battery. Unsure what next move is since I can barely get the battery connection on without everything turning on and unable to stop the actions.

Sooooo weird.

[lkn4wnd]

Removed battery and took back. Cell shorted out in battery. Replaced with another and problem solved. Sooo strange. Thanks for the help.

[wvicary]

That is really strange how a shorted cell could cause such an odd sequence of events, did you have to have any codes cleared?

[logray]

Theory that repeated on/off cycles from a short could cause such strange symptoms.