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Battery or Alternator
My car has been not starting more and more frequently over the past few months.
It started with me leaving the driving lights on for like 2 minutes while I got out of the car. It wouldn't start after that. Then, it got worse; if I had the door open (and hence, the dome light on) for more than a few seconds, the car wouldn't start. Now, as a precaution, I have both dome lights (cockpit and trunk) turned off and the radio and rear defroster off every time I turn off the car. This morning, after it sat all night, I STILL had to jumpstart the damn thing. Here are the symptoms: the lights and radio will come on, but the car won't turn over. When the car is jumpstarted, it will start immediately after the cables are attatched to both cars. After the car is jumpstarted and run for a few minutes, it will start again after being shut off. When this happens, the battery light DOES come on normally when the key is put into the ignition. I don't know whether or not the battery light comes on before the car DOESN'T start... If I remember correctly, no battery light when the key is put into the ignition means that the alternator isn't holding a charge... right? I think I might have an extra battery in the garage, so I am hoping that is the problem...
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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08-15-2003, 02:05 PM
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How old is the battery?
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Hugh - So Cal 83 944 Driver Person NOT a 'real' Porsche -- Its Better!!!! When was the last time you changed your timing and balance belts and/or cam chain and tensioner? New Users please add your car's year and model to your signature line! Never break more than you fix! |
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08-15-2003, 02:18 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 396
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Alternator doesn't hold a charge.
Go to a Parts America or someplace, they'll load test the battery and alternator for free. Or, if you have a Volt/ohm meter in your tool box(and everybody should!), simply check the voltage at the battery with the car running. Anywhere from 13.4v-14.6v is what it should read with the car running. If it's way over the 14.6v mark, it could be bad diodes in the alternator and can cause more severe electrical problems. If it's way under 13.4v, it's not going to sufficiently recharge the battery. Chances are the alternator is good, if after a jumpstart, the car runs and everything works fine. You can check the battery with the same meter. Test voltage at the battery with the car off. Should be sitting at about 12.6volts. Now, while still checking, have an assistant start the car(try to get them to stay on the starter just a hair longer than usual, but not to 'hurt' the starter.... This is to put a load on the battery), the voltage should NOT drop below 9.5v or so. If it's dropping way down, the battery is bad. Just for the heck of it, perform all those tests again, but instead of using the battery's negative terminal, use a ground point on the car or even the engine itself. If the voltages read much different, you've got some bad ground cables.
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Jack 86 Red 951 - Turbo Twists, otherwise stock for now 83 Black 944 w/86 951 front end - still down and out, but coming back slowly. 02 Altima SE 3.5 - grocery go-getter 00 Yellow Ducati Monster 900i.e. 88 Chrysler Conquest TSi |
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08-15-2003, 02:21 PM
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thanks, you've been very helpful. I'll perform the test as soon as I can get my hands on an ohmeter.
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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08-15-2003, 03:10 PM
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How old did you say the battery was???
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Hugh - So Cal 83 944 Driver Person NOT a 'real' Porsche -- Its Better!!!! When was the last time you changed your timing and balance belts and/or cam chain and tensioner? New Users please add your car's year and model to your signature line! Never break more than you fix! |
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08-15-2003, 04:31 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
Posts: 1,990
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Here in florida we run through a battery every 2 years or so, I kid you not. Those are the exact symptoms. Before I even bust out the meter I just pull up to the place I got the battery, have them test it and almost always trade it in for a new one. Since the old one is still under warranty I usually just pay the difference ($8-$18). Not a bad deal.
Good luck.
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83 944 white w/Boxster wheels Planned mods- custom leather interior, 968 antenna, soundsystem, 968 style rockers, clear sidemarkers
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08-15-2003, 04:52 PM
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ok.
battery was 3 years old. Soooo... I jumpstarted it, drove around for about 20min, parked and had some pizza, and then went back out (after about a half hour) and SURPRISE! Car wouldn't start. So I jumpstarted it again, pulled it into the garage, and turned it off. I disconnected the battery, pulled it out, and plunked in the extra. Car started right up without a moment's hesitation. Waited a half hour; started right up again. Safe to say it was the battery and not the alternator? I guess I'll find out in the morning. Thanks for the help, all. 
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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08-15-2003, 05:03 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 396
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Quote:
Yep, 3 years is really pushing the limits on a battery. Used to be, way back in the day, it would be common for batteries to last 5...6... even 7 years. But that was before they were being seriously mass produced, and could spend up to 3 of their first years of life sitting in a warehouse, awaiting distribution. I've seen brand new Volvo's sitting on car lots with bad batteries in them. Brand new car, with a 5 year old battery due to mass production.
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Jack 86 Red 951 - Turbo Twists, otherwise stock for now 83 Black 944 w/86 951 front end - still down and out, but coming back slowly. 02 Altima SE 3.5 - grocery go-getter 00 Yellow Ducati Monster 900i.e. 88 Chrysler Conquest TSi |
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08-16-2003, 08:32 AM
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Well, it looks like it was DEFINITELY the battery. Car started right away this morning without even cranking for a second...
... AND the car seems to be running better. Despite it being hot and humid out, the 944 is pulling strong, almost like it's a cool, clear night and not a 90 degree humid day. Am I being loopy? Could a batter affect a car's performance? Is it psychosomatic?
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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08-16-2003, 08:36 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 396
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Quote:
 Once the car is started, it runs off of the alternator. Battery's main purpose is to get you up and running.But......... If the old battery was bad enough. It could of been forcing the alternator to work harder, and that robs a little power from the engine. So, who knows? 
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Jack 86 Red 951 - Turbo Twists, otherwise stock for now 83 Black 944 w/86 951 front end - still down and out, but coming back slowly. 02 Altima SE 3.5 - grocery go-getter 00 Yellow Ducati Monster 900i.e. 88 Chrysler Conquest TSi |
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08-16-2003, 08:48 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
Posts: 1,990
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Also, Nothing like clean new battery post to "improve" your electrical system.
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83 944 white w/Boxster wheels Planned mods- custom leather interior, 968 antenna, soundsystem, 968 style rockers, clear sidemarkers
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08-16-2003, 08:50 AM
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I get four years out of a battery.
That is if the electric antenna doesn't jam and drain the battery over night.
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Hugh - So Cal 83 944 Driver Person NOT a 'real' Porsche -- Its Better!!!! When was the last time you changed your timing and balance belts and/or cam chain and tensioner? New Users please add your car's year and model to your signature line! Never break more than you fix! |
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08-16-2003, 09:02 AM
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i think my antenna motor is broken... stays up all the time now. At first I thought that's what was causing this... but now there is no noise from the antenna at all...
__________________
Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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08-16-2003, 10:23 AM
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The antenna drive lead (that's the plastic that sticks out the bottom of the mast) strips and the pinch drive on the motor can't get a grip. The motor will run to the end and shut off.
You should be able to hear the motor run when you pull the key out. If not it's possible that the motor has jammed.
__________________
Hugh - So Cal 83 944 Driver Person NOT a 'real' Porsche -- Its Better!!!! When was the last time you changed your timing and balance belts and/or cam chain and tensioner? New Users please add your car's year and model to your signature line! Never break more than you fix! |
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08-16-2003, 02:50 PM
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Writer/Teacher
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no sound when the key is pulled out.
__________________
Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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08-16-2003, 09:53 PM
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2007 Porsche Cayman S
The Viridian Falcon
SOLD! -- The Purple Pig
SOLD! -- Mighty Mouse
SOLD!! -- Alpine Wolf
1983 Porsche 944 2.5 liter
