Don't I feel like an idiot!

[Bobbysaks]

Hi there, i'm new to this forum and would really appreciate some help. i have a 2003 Porsche 911. stored for the winter, regularily go start it up etc. over the years never had a problem. this year i let a couple weeks go by and the battery drained low enough not to start but still had some power for doors locks etc.

so i jump started it with my ford explorer. the porsche battery both cables were black and honestly i just didnt see the "+" so i mixed up the polarity. while the ford was running i jumped into the porsche realized smoke was coming from the cables at the porsche. ran to the front disconnected the cables. Cables melted and were garbage. 45 mins later new set of cables show up i realize the mistake and properly jump start the porsche.

It started on the first attemp. i drove it back into the storage unit. Ran the porsche for a half hour. turned it off, then started it and it did all dashed board lights were normal, clock, odometer temperature etc. no abnormal dashlights.

the next day 12 hours later i went back, started the porsche no problem all dash board lights seem fine again nothing abnormal. Ran the car for another half hour. turn off and then restarted it fine. headlights, inside light, gears etc all work "normal" from what i can tell

Now that i've explained just how stupid stupid can be..... can anyone tell me if i screwed my Porsche up? i explained the story to my mechanic / porsche dealer... they said that if anything "blew" it would've have immediately. they think i might have escaped disaster but that i should monitor the alternator. given nothing electronic seems to have been damaged the alternator is the next thing to get damaged.

does the porsche battery and or the car have reverse polarity protection? i've read that some people believe the battery and car do and some dont think so.

Any and all thoughts are welcome please.

Thanks, Bob

[Justin@Athens]

Sorry to hear about your troubles Bob. Look at it this way--you may have narrowly avoided disaster, but at least you cam to the right place looking for help, sort of anyway.

If you haven't noticed any ill effects by now, I'd agree with your mechanic and say you are probably ok and have not done any lasting damage.

Since you have a later water cooled car, this forum probably won't be the best resource for you in your future endeavors. I would check out the water cooled 996 section of this BBS for further reading. Also Rennlist is an excellent forum for the newer cars.

Good luck,

[tonythetarga]

Welcome to the board. Firstly, you also successfully renewed your "Manly Man' membership card for another year because we don't need to research or check the manual before we do things

Given that the car started and did not light up the dash, you may have gotten away with this one. You could have easily destroyed the computer that controls all. You'll have to wait and see I guess if the charging system has been impacted.

The main reason I am writing is that your practice of starting the car frequently for a short time is not a good practice. You should leave the car off and have a battery tender provide a charge as needed. Unless you plan to start and drive the car so that all components get fully warmed up, all you are doing is allowing the moisture to stay in the oil and exhaust system and not get burned off by coming to full operating temperatures. You have a lot of oil in the car and the oil needs to circulate until it is all at the hot operating temp. I suggest you buy a battery tender, connect it to your battery and use it all year round unless you drive the car every day in the season.
Check your oil cap, chances are you'll see some 'mayonase' on the underside of the cap. That is moisture in the oil.

No doubt others will provide advice to you about electronics. You could also cross post in the 996 section for additional input.

[CCM911]

If the car runs fine, you should be OK. If anything is eventually going to let go, it will be your alternator. Apaarently, they do not like reverse polarity.

Best of luck. Looks like you won this time.

[Porchcar guy]

If you have the time to start it and let it run, unless you have the wheels off, take for a 30 minute drive. It will make you smile and the car will love it ! +1 on the tender !! BTW...we are all idiots here one time or another :=)

[ivangene]

I have seen it go both ways - hook it up wrong and be OK

hook it up wrong and get the check book out to pay for a LOT of problems

sounds like you got lucky

I would advise you against these "starting the car and warming it up" trips - there is no reason if you are not going to drive it to do this....just get a battery maintainer, hook it up and leave it alone till spring

many many many cars are parked for a lot longer than that with no ill effects

save yourself the frustration and store it right - then drive it right (meaning warm it up by driving it like the manual says, then near redline the car at least severl times/trip and keep the RPM's up at all times - cool down and park it till tomorrow - these cars like to be driven - so drive it....they would rather be stored than repeated starting and idling to warm up and put back to bed

post some pics...find a water cooled forum and enjoy your good fortune

[wholberg]

I did this once on an old International truck when I was trying to jump it at night. About 10 seconds after i hooked up the jumper cables, i looked up and saw that the dome light was on and the cab was full of smoke. The truck always ran fine afterwards, but over the years when I had to open some of the wrapped wiring harness I frequently found wires with partially melted insulation on them.

As long as they didnt melt through and short or catch fire, you probably dodged a bullet. I had that truck for 10 more years and then ran into the guy I sold it to after another 10 years and he had never had a problem. I would count your blessings and be thankful you had some good karma on account.

[dshepp806]

'tis a matter of the wires' handling of the event,..many looms of stuff carrying mal-directed current....

crap shoot....but hoping for the "dodge" (if it only happened for a short time, that is a good thing).

Time will tell......

Doyle