2008 Cayenne - radio issues
 

The radio/cd player in my Cayenne, started to dim recently. At times it takes longer to turn on compared to when new.
Would anyone know what causes this condition?
If the radio head unit is going bad, is there an aftermarket replacement?
Thank you
RG

When my 2005 began experiencing electrical gremlins it turned out to be an old battery

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cayenne-macan-forum/782733-haunted-cayenne-crazy-electrical-malfunctions.html

Hope it is as simple as this

RNajarian,
Thank you for sharing your experience.
I will have the battery checked this weekend.
I have had this Cayenne for 2 years now. I don't know how old the current battery may be.
I appreciate your help.
Thank you
RG

My pleasure. Hopefully it is the battery. If a battery lasts 5-6 years then likely your car is in its second battery. . . . Which means it is 5-6 years old.

Fingers Crossed

there is an ambient light sensor to the upper right of the screen. If that is covered (made dark) the screen will dim.

Update; I was able to take the battery out and have it checked at the auto parts store.
According to their testing equipment, the battery is ok, however low on crancking amps.
It is rated at 730 CCA but reads 589 CCA. I was told to charge the battery.
I haven't had any problems starting the car but the radio still works when it wants to.
The alternator gauge shows about 14 volts.
the battery is Interstate, but does not have the date punched in (stickers removed). Do you think I should go ahead and change the battery?

One more issue has come up. The tire monitor displays is beeping. It displays the pressure on all 4 tires in the normal range, yet it beeps and I could not reset it.

Do you think this would be caused by the battery?
Thank you for any advice you gentlemen can provide.
RG

The battery is at or near it’s expiration date. Since it is already out of the truck I say replace it.

How old are your TPMS batteries? Usually they are only good for 7-8 years. I have a trusted mechanic who does tires. I would have him check out the sensors.

RNajarian,
I re-installed the car battery because the test indicated it was still good.
I can remove it and get a new one. I hope that takes care of the issues.

In regards to the tire sensors, I didn't know the batteries are replaceable.
I thought the sensors were sealed.
Where would I find out what the replacements types / part numbers are?

Thank you
RG

Unfortunately the entire TPMS sensor needs to be replaced . . . Some good tire shops can source good replacements for $70, the OEM ones are about ~$150 each if memory serves me right. The frequency of the sensors changed at some point, but the Tire shop can look that info up, or I wonder if the Pelican Parts part Looker Upper feature would give you the info.

RNajarian,
I haven't changed the battery yet. I had to travel for work.
I will get a new battery this weekend.
I wanted to mentioned that I noticed that the clock is also acting strange.
If the time is reset, it keeps time as long as the car is running. If I turn it off and turn it back on sometime later, the time is off by an hour or so.
I was able to reset the radio temporarily. It operated for a short while and then it went back to turning itself on and off. I also noticed that the display on the radio is in german now and will not reset to English.

Any words of wisdom?
Thank you
Raul

Hmmmm . . . that’s a tough one. A lot of electrical Gremlins.

Is there a clogged drain hole leaking water into the cabin?

From my experience I can say that twice I’ve had crazy electrical gremlins that were resolved by replacing the battery.

Maybe you can try this ... Put the battery on an overnight charger then start it up in the morning, does anything improve?

If your battery is an AGM, it will test good, however, it has been overcharged and is damaged. An AGM battery can only be tested by an AGM battery tester and very few garages are aware of this. A normal battery tester will not test it correctly. Also, a 2008 Cayenne cannot tell the difference between a lead acid and AGM battery. It will charge the battery assuming it is a normal lead acid battery and this results in overcharging and damage. Practically all of the battery brands advertise top of the line AGM batteries for a 2008 Cayenne. After the charging system damages them and they test good using conventional testers, they can deny any warranty claims. They are simply making money.

^^ That is some useful information I did not know. I’m going to have to replace my 7 year old battery soon. I’ll get a lead acid