Flat Battery Hood Opening ! Boxster S MY02

[Donie]

I've been away for a few months and suspected my battery would be very low on my return, and so was prepared to just open the hood and hook up jumpers before even trying to start.

However the battery is totally flat and won't even open the hood on my MY02 Boxster S.

I've pulled out the special 'Tab' in the fuse box and connect a 12 volt supply to it and the door catch but that's not working either and I can't understand why.

This is the only way to access the front hood on this model.

Can anyone suggest a reason why this connection in the fuse box is not working?

Edited April 15, 2006 by Donie

[0586slb]

Try cycling the locks locked and unlocked via the switch on the dashboard whilst you have the auxiliary power hooked up. If the Central Locking control unit still thinks the doors are locked, it will prevent the hood switch from working. What are you using for your 12V supply? It needs to be something with plenty of oomph to pull the hood solenoid.

[Donie]

I've solved the problem !

For some unknown reason the door catch wasn't making a ground! I don't know how that can be, but when I connected the ground cable to the check strap on the hinge end of the door I got power to the switches, and managed to open the trunk.

In order to avoid any repeat of this operation I've just order a CTEK Battery Maintainer, a very sophisticated electronic unit, which has received 'best buy' reviews in all motoring mags, and for the equivalent of about $35 will keep the battery in tip top condition.

[Guest]

On my 996 I have had the same thing happen. On my car though the rer engine hood will still open and thier is a positive and negitive post to attach the cables too. Very easy, I would have thought if the boxer locks the hood the same way you guys should have the same jump points. This is all in the manual.

[Tool Pants]

The Boxster does not have the jumper posts like a 996. I guess because we have a mid-engine.

When I bought my Box in 1999 the first thing I did was to extend the emergency release cable for the front trunk to the side marker. I can never be locked out.

[Donie]

I've just confirmed what I've always believed, i.e. that alternators are not capable of restoring a flat battery to top condition.

During my flat battery episode two weeks ago I used just an ordinary battery charger with about 4 amps output to bring the battery up over a period of about 24 hours.

The car started ok. but was cranking a bit slow. Since then I've driven the car for several hundred miles, and when cold was still cranking a bit slow.

I received my battery conditioner/charger/maintainer. which I had ordered, and after about 18 hours of charge the batttery is now back at top charge.

To anyone who leaves their car unused for extended periods I would suggest getting one of these maintainers which can be left connected.

[jmatta]

I concur. My '02 S sits alot and the battery finally died, probably because I did not use a charger. A quick trip to the dealer cost me $204 for a new one, however, I've heard the maintainers sometimes "overcharge" the batteries causing additional problems. Even though they sense the charging level, they may not be totally accurate?

JM