Starter or battery?

[NYNick]

I recently brought my car to a famous dealership for a 20k mile check up. No sooner did I get it back home than it started to 'click' once when turning the key, and then nothing. This would happen several times, and then start.

I trickle charged the 4 year old battery and it did it again. I figured dead battery for sure, and went out a purchased a new battery yesterday.

First thing this morning, single 'click' again and then nothing. Tried it twice more, and it started.

What's going on....bad starter? Car is a 2009 TT.

Nick

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by NYNick

I recently brought my car to a famous dealership for a 20k mile check up. No sooner did I get it back home than it started to 'click' once when turning the key, and then nothing. This would happen several times, and then start.

I trickle charged the 4 year old battery and it did it again. I figured dead battery for sure, and went out a purchased a new battery yesterday.

First thing this morning, single 'click' again and then nothing. Tried it twice more, and it started.

What's going on....bad starter? Car is a 2009 TT.

Nick

Check your large battery cables for voltage drop; this problem is well known and even Porsche released a TSB recommending replacing older cables with a newer design that do not suffer the internal resistance build up from corrosion.

[Jeff Alton]

Often, if the cables are fine, there is corrosion on the main battery ground point beside the battery. Cleaning it and the cable end can cure many issues like this. To check, check voltage between battery + and a good ground. Compare against battery + and battery - ground point.

Cheers

[NYNick]

Wow, never expected these responses. Will get on those tests today.