Battery Box

[Ericv]

Good Afternoon,

I just bought this 1986 944 a week ago and something appears to be missing from the battery area. I can see the battery with the hood closed standing next to the passenger door. Is there a cover that goes over the battery to protect it from the elements? Also, is the windshield missing a lower seal. Any help would be appreciated? Thanks, Eric.

[John_AZ]

Same as mine...

You could get a black top battery and it would be less noticeable.
The positive cable connection usually has a tiny plastic cover to prevent sparking if the POS hits the trim.

Normally new owners complain that the battery tray is corroded and water gets in the passenger side foot area. Check to make sure the drain is clear along the bottom of the battery tray on the fender side---by the crease---not the round hole facing the front.

The crease and side drain is where the tray starts to corrode.

John

[JAXTURBO]

When new back in '86, the batteries in these cars had black plastic cover. A PITA once any single dimension changed on the battery by any amount.

[Ericv]

Originally Posted by John_AZ

Same as mine...

You could get a black top battery and it would be less noticeable.
The positive cable connection usually has a tiny plastic cover to prevent sparking if the POS hits the trim.

Normally new owners complain that the battery tray is corroded and water gets in the passenger side foot area. Check to make sure the drain is clear along the bottom of the battery tray on the fender side---by the crease---not the round hole facing the front.

The crease and side drain is where the tray starts to corrode.

John

Thanks, John. I pull the battery tomorrow and take a look. I'll also try to get a cover for the positive terminal. I don't care that you can see the battery just thought it was odd. I've read through a few threads about the corrosion. I have a Hobart in the garage and will take care of it if necessary.

[FrenchToast]

Check the drain holes by spraying water (or some liquid) in there, with the battery out. The liquid should drain out on the bottom, by the leading edge of the passenger door.

Fairly certain these cars never came with any visible lower windshield seal. It is sealed underneathe I think, and isn't visible.

Also I would sand and repaint any surface rust in the battery tray area. If it's rusted through, obviously you need some new metal.

Take care!

[Ederd]

the first couple of times i disconnected my battery i hit the trim under the windshield with my wrench. now i just wrap the wrench with the middle finger of a dirty rubber glove to keep it from arcing. i know there are other alternatives but for now this works for me. I think i may plasti-dip a dedicated wrench for the battery!

[89-944NA]

If you are really bumed by being able to see the battery, the cover is p/n 477 915 411A, and no, there is no seal along the lower outter edge of the windshield, the seal is under the glass.

[Stephen03]

Originally Posted by Ederd

the first couple of times i disconnected my battery i hit the trim under the windshield with my wrench. now i just wrap the wrench with the middle finger of a dirty rubber glove to keep it from arcing. i know there are other alternatives but for now this works for me. I think i may plasti-dip a dedicated wrench for the battery!

Disconnect the Negative first! You ever seen a battery that has exploded?

[89-944NA]

Originally Posted by Stephen03

Disconnect the Negative first! You ever seen a battery that has exploded?

+ 1,000,000 common rule for working on electrical circuits, if you can't cut the power, disconnect the ground!!!!

[Catamax944]

Actually there is another cover that hides the battery , part number 944 511 201 00 .For some reason most 944's are missing that piece including mine but i do have the battery cover.
You can see it in this foto along with the battery cover ,it's the piece on the edge of the hood.

[89-944NA]

Catamax....where did you get that part number? My USA/CANADA PET shows p/n 944 511 201 00 as being a lock plate, and 477 915 411 A being the battery cover. Even my ROW PET doesn't show a 944 number for the cover. Interesting

I think that a one of reasons that you don't find that covere on most of these cars is because they have gotten broken and been tossed out over the years. Mine looked like someone closed the hood on the cover, it still had the factory 477 915 429 "pole cover" on it, so I tossed the larger cover.

[Catamax944]

yeah i know ,i also searched the 944 PET 3 times and could'nt find it , check it on pelican ,they show an image of a CGT hood ,it's probably in the 924 PET
It was discused on the italian forums ,that's how i know about it .
If you care about detailes it's nice to have it but not necesary .The battery cover is however ,those damn battery terminals are too close to the hood, my hood actually rubs on the battery cover but that's because i have some dynamat style mat in the battery tray to protect it from rust ,raises the battery anout 5mm.

[89-944NA]

Maybe we should ask Wayne where that number came from, just looked and it's not a 924 number either. lol

It may be an updated number.

I'll have to run by my local P-car dealer and get them to slip me a more recent copy of the PET, I got this copy from them 2-3 years ago, I'll have them slip me a new price list too.

[Catamax944]

Found it in PET after taking another look ,the name however i think is wrong
go to page 252 item 9
http://www.porsche.com/all/media/pdf/originalparts/en/E_944_88_KATALOG.pdf

[89-944NA]

That's weird, the Dealer PET calls it a lock plate....and the dealer PET also looks nothing like that, must be a difference in the "public" PET and the "dealer" PET.

[JAXTURBO]

Originally Posted by 89-944NA

That's weird, the Dealer PET calls it a lock plate....and the dealer PET also looks nothing like that, must be a difference in the "public" PET and the "dealer" PET.

It really doesnt lock on all batteries correctly. Be mindful of that when you consider getting the cover.

[Ederd]

Originally Posted by Stephen03

Disconnect the Negative first! You ever seen a battery that has exploded?

i did disconnect the negative terminal first, however when I was trying to get to the stripped terminal bolt, my elbow bumped the neg cable with out me realizing it and it just barely made contact back to the post. the heavy braided neg cable that was coroded and very stiff was just out to get me. Trust me...lesson learned!!

[89-944NA]

Originally Posted by JAXTURBO

It really doesnt lock on all batteries correctly. Be mindful of that when you consider getting the cover.

You need to get a battery with the same dimensions as the original battery for the cover to work properly

[962porsche]

if your looking for the battery covers and want the SAME thing only cheaper than the one's that porsche sells you can just get the one 's with the VW/Audi part # 281 915 41 G .
they are for the gen 1 and 2 jettas and golfs .

[mytrplseven]

I have the identical battery on my '87 and it has the battery cover referred to in the above post. As with most of these cars, the batter leaked acid and corroded a hole in the floor of the battery box. On mine, I sanded it all down to the bare metal, applied two layers of fibre glass (leaving the hold down stud covered with a rubber hose covered with vasoline). Also make sure the drain slot on the fender side of the floor of the box is left open. Afterwards, I sprayed the entire area with spray-on truck liner. After it cured I pulled the hose off of the threaded stud in the floor of the box. Using the same battery (with drain line installed) I put the drain line down the drain slot and clamped her down. With the cover on, it's a clean, acid resistant compartment now.