Battery emptied by hazards, won't recharge with CTEK trickle charger, flickering lights

[Gee_Ell]

Greetings everyone, 

(This is a noob question! However, since I have not yet found a decisive answer I turn to the community. Please direct me to the correct post, if it exists! )

 

Carrera 4S 2008, 997.1 was put on hazards for 24 hours.

 

Afterwards, it appeared the battery was dead as hazards had gone off. Remote unlock was non-functional. 

I plugged in the CTEK trickle charger ("car mode": 14,4V / 3,3 A) in the cigarette igniter. The car immediately exhibited the following behaviors:

 

-hazards lights flickering regularly, at approximately 3-4 Hz

-hazard button flickering at the same pace.

-Sport chrono's hands waving around erratically

 

I left the car in that state for 5-7 hours. After that period, I pressed the hazard button and the flickering stopped. I assumed the car was now charging. 

 

Coming back to it 10 hours later, I unplugged the trickle charger; the battery was still dead. 

 

I replugged the trickle charger, on car mode, and the flickering resumed. I gave it 12 hours. 

 

This morning, I observed the flickering was still on. I tried to turn on the engine, to no avail. The car key remained locked in the ignition. 

 

I could not pop the hood in order to obtain a voltage measurement from the battery's poles. 

 

My hypothesis is that the electrical system is in a faulty state and needs a hard reset, before charging can occur. Perhaps I also need a different piece of equipment. 

 

Any help... HELPS!

 

 

 

 

[JFP in PA]

1 minute ago, Gee_Ell said:

Greetings everyone, 

(This is a noob question! However, since I have not yet found a decisive answer I turn to the community. Please direct me to the correct post, if it exists! )

 

Carrera 4S 2008, 997.1 was put on hazards for 24 hours.

 

Afterwards, it appeared the battery was dead as hazards had gone off. Remote unlock was non-functional. 

I plugged in the CTEK trickle charger ("car mode": 14,4V / 3,3 A) in the cigarette igniter. The car immediately exhibited the following behaviors:

 

-hazards lights flickering regularly, at approximately 3-4 Hz

-hazard button flickering at the same pace.

-Sport chrono's hands waving around erratically

 

I left the car in that state for 5-7 hours. After that period, I pressed the hazard button and the flickering stopped. I assumed the car was now charging. 

 

Coming back to it 10 hours later, I unplugged the trickle charger; the battery was still dead. 

 

I replugged the trickle charger, on car mode, and the flickering resumed. I gave it 12 hours. 

 

This morning, I observed the flickering was still on. I tried to turn on the engine, to no avail. The car key remained locked in the ignition. 

 

I could not pop the hood in order to obtain a voltage measurement from the battery's poles. 

 

My hypothesis is that the electrical system is in a faulty state and needs a hard reset, before charging can occur. Perhaps I also need a different piece of equipment. 

 

Any help... HELPS!

 

 

 

 

 

It is a common misconception that a battery maintainer is capable of recharging a severely discharged battery.  In reality, the maintainer simply cannot produce the current (read amps) necessary to recharge the battery, if it can be recharged.  Many times, a deeply discharged flooded cell battery simply cannot recover and will not take a charge.

 

Try recharging the battery on a real charger capable of 20 amps or more.  If it does not recover, replace it.

[Gee_Ell]

Thank you very much for this blazing fast reply. 

 

Any suggestions on the appropriate battery charger?

[JFP in PA]

As I mentioned, one with at least 20 Amps out put; in the shop we use a commercial charger that can throw over 100 Amps when needed.  I would look for one with what is called "smart charging", which simply means it uses modern electronics and software to control the charge cycle.