Instrument cluster completely dark and gauges not moving. How to save $5000 in 3 easy steps.

[LuckyBoy]

Instrument cluster completely dark and gauges not moving.

How to save $5000 in 3 easy steps.

2002 Boxster S

41,000 mile

Tiptronic

Here is my story, the problem AND THE SOLUTION.

My story:

I have a 2002 Boxster S which was sitting for approximately 6 months unused. As you might expect the battery was dead when I went to use it. It was easy to jump with a portable jumper starter. The car started right up and it was easy to drive. However, when I stopped to get gas, the dashboard instrument cluster went crazy and all the idiot lights came on. Even though I had driven the car for about a half-hour the battery was dead, so being prepared, I use my portable jumper starter. The car started up fine, however all the idiots lights stayed on. The instrument cluster otherwise worked. Drove home, left the doors slightly open so that I would not get locked out, and open the hood so I could get to the battery, then turned off the car. Shortly thereafter drove to get a battery, but now all the idiot lights were on and the instrument cluster was completely dark. Gauges were not moving. Nothing! The battery was replaced while the car was off. After restarting with a new battery, the gauges were not moving, the instrument cluster was dark and now only the check engine/oil pressure idiot light was on. Drove home and turned the car off. However, the check engine/oil pressure idiot light stayed on, even though the car was off. I asked my local mechanic who recommended, "Just take it to Porsche". So I called the Porsche dealer, who could not take the car for a week, but figured it needed a new instrument cluster and after diagnosing fees and the all the other fees and costs would be a few thousand dollars. So, I decided to search the web. I did not find an example exactly like mine, but after my research it seemed that the main computer might have been confused by too many low-voltage signals since the battery was weak. I was sure there had been no overvoltage situations or sparks. I had little to lose, so I thought I'd try the following which worked!

The solution:

Tools needed: 10 mm socket wrench and portable jumper starter.

Step 1:

Disconnect the negative (black) cable from the battery using a 10 mm socket wrench.

Step 2:

Wait overnight.

Step 3:

Reconnect the negative (black) cable to the battery using a 10 mm socket wrench.

If needed use the portable jumper starter to start the car.

Step 4:

Smile and save $5000.

The instrument cluster is working perfectly and all the idiot lights are off, even the radio works! Hope this helps someone else!