Electrical drain problem! Boxster Same components as a 911 like it or not!

[RadioDjKev]

I don't understand the test, because if you connect between the positive battery, and the positive battery cable with a voltmeter you will get 12.6, and that is what I get. Also the same on my roommates car.

I am using a sears multimeter, (so it says, but I think it is far short of a multimeter) and I have tried all the settings. The meter has on it: dcv, acv, dcma, dcua, temp, and there are 5 different dials to read from..

I just can't get anywhere with this problem. I have to disconnect my battery anytime I leave the car sit for more than 3 hours. It is a strong drain.
And it will also drain like this with all fuses removed from fuse box.

Kevin
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www.KevinGerard.com

2005 Husqvarna TC250

1999 Porsche 986 Boxster 5 speed manual 90k. (as of April 2008)

[eki912]

Are you sure all fuses are out ?
Do Boxsters have 2 fuse boards ?
Anyway, if you have that meter , and disconnect the + cable , and put that meter between battery + and your + cable shoe, and measure AMPS, you should get a reading of current consumed at that specific moment.
It shouldn't be much.Naturally, something will go through all the time because of the alarm etc.
When did this start to happen ? Any mods done to the car ( stereos,amplifiers etc ) ???
If you don't know how to use the meter, don't fool around too much. Go to a professional.As these cars are full of electronics you can do some harm easily, if something goes wrong.
So be careful.

Edit : Has the car been in an accident lately ? A work colleague few years ago had a small collision.After the repairs were done,all seemed OK.Except the battery, drained always, but lasted for a few days.We used the same method to trace down the fault.With the meter in place, we saw that there was a constant draw of current, altough everything was off.Started taking out fuses, one by one,putting them back immediately,finally reaching a fuse that made that needle drop to 0 amps.Then simply checked what fuse it was.It was the immobiliser,slightly damaged in that small collision.Maybe it was a wire insulation, ever so lightly broken ? Or something like that. Eventually, if I recall correctly the whole module was replaced and problem disappeared.
In your case it would be helpful to know how much current a Boxster uses when all is off and so forth.Then compare it to the reading on your car.
Generally, if your battery is flat in a few hours, you have a BIG current leak....or a really bad battery.But if your battery holds charge when disconnected, it should be OK.
Have you checked the cabin lamps? Trunk lamp? Engine bay lamp ( is there one like that in a Boxster ) ?

[ischmitz]

The battery is hooked up straight to the alternator and the starter without any fuse. A leaking diode pack in the alternator could cause your drain. The starter is less likely but could also cause problems if the starter relay is heavily contaminated.

Ingo

[RadioDjKev]

My multimeter can only meassure 250ma-500ma, and yes I already did blow the fuse in it.

I give up, I guess I will take it to someone in San Diego...or Orange County...
Maybe I dont have the tools I need.

But if the starter or alternator could short out and drain like this that does sound interesting..

[ischmitz]

Mainly the alternator diode pack. These are semiconductors and can fail.

[eki912]

Interesting , I also read your same question on Boxster board.

As mentioned before, some circuits are not behind a fuse, the big ones...

Anyway, have a look of the starter cabling too ? Anything broken there ? Torn rubber shielding, generally dirty or something in that nature ?
Same to the alternator.
I am no expert on Boxster, so I have no idea if anything can be seen, or visually inspected.


There is another way of testing it further, you need a proper reading current meter, so no milliamps.Your current draw is bigger, but you know that already!
Again, same principle applies, measuring AMPs, meter between battery+ and positive cable.All off, key out and so on.At this point you most likely have a reading.You said you have tested with all fuses out, still draws current, so forget the fuses then.

EDIT: I wrote a long article of how you can test it further, thus hopefully pinpointing it to the starter or to the alternator.But since they are high current devices, and not fused , I will not advice you what you could do.The risk of frying your car is too big.

If you can't see easily anything suspicious on your alternator or starter wiring, and their connecting points, take it to the Pro's.

[ischmitz]

Did you ever solve the issue?

[RadioDjKev]

I think it is the starter draining the battery by way of a bad starter solenoid.
I also think this starter solenoid became shorted out from the clutch pedal safety switch. Many times when I was in the middle of turning the starter my lazy foot would let up too much on the clutch and it would shut off the stater in the middle of a start up. Many times this happened. soon after the drain started that I have traced to the starter. Well being unemployed I do not even have the cash to buy a stater (that comes with solenoid). And they are not much at all. $262.00 at the Porsche Dealer.
Thanks, Kevin