brillomaster Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 Random one, but how do people leave a 986 boxster? Priorities being a) not having the alarm randomly going off, and b) not draining the battery. Only had mine a couple of weeks, and already had the alarm randomly go off, and then went to drive it yesterday and the battery was flat as a pancake. Ive read everything from just use the key fob, use the key with no button, button twice to lock but not set the alarm, or even unlock, then leave for 30 secs without opening a door, so it auto relocks. So, how do you lock yours? Do you have any battery or alarm problems? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brillomaster Posted May 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 I think ideally id have it locked, but not set any alarm. Does that mean just physically put the key in the lock and turn it, without pressing any buttons? I generally think 20 year old alarm systems just cause problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 Two weeks sounds a bit short. Age of battery? Battery maintainer like CTEK or solar panel will pay for itself in one battery. Check other usual things too like wet under seats, ignition switch, alternator regulator etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxob Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 (edited) First suspect is the main battery. How old is it? The second suspect is the rechargeable battery in the alarm siren. If that's not holding a charge then the alarm system thinks its being tampered with and sounds off. Disconnect the siren. Edited May 3, 2021 by Boxob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K.I.T.T. Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 Reckon your main battery's flogged. Have left both 986s parked up for four weeks in winter without a trickle charger, without issue. No false alarms, and the cars started up just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brillomaster Posted May 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 Hopefully its just the battery, so got a fresh one coming tomorrow. It did have a weak crank, so hopefully thats it. I did disconnect the siren too. Anything special to note with changing a battery on a 986? Or is it just out with the old, in with the new? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
½cwt Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 Exactly the symptoms that required a main battery change on mine to solve. Not had the alarm go off since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K.I.T.T. Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 (edited) 13 minutes ago, brillomaster said: Anything special to note with changing a battery on a 986? Or is it just out with the old, in with the new? Before removing the existing battery, turn the ignition on (but don't start the car), and then off, leaving the key in the barrel. Leave the key in the ignition while removing / replacing the battery, or the alarm will go off, and you will go deaf. Edited May 3, 2021 by K.I.T.T. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
½cwt Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 @brillomaster, thanks to @K.I.T.T. you have just escaped one of the Boxster ownership initiations! You are too kind Ash! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pordave Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 Brillomaster. I’m sad your car only had a weak crank it could have been worse if it had a creaky w..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeluth Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 5 hours ago, ½cwt said: @brillomaster, thanks to @K.I.T.T. you have just escaped one of the Boxster ownership initiations! You are too kind Ash! lol, I wish someone had told me that trick earlier!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 PARDON? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieboy2608 Posted May 4, 2021 Report Share Posted May 4, 2021 Hopefully you have your radio code to hand? You may have to reset your electric windows too 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradders59 Posted May 4, 2021 Report Share Posted May 4, 2021 I lock mine with great difficulty. The remote central locking doesnt work at all and locking using the key in the door is very hit and miss. It locks / unlocks several times, while I turn the key left and right, until at some point I hear a squawking noise from the front of the car somewhere, to let me know its decided to lock the doors. I think it may be more likely to work first time if I slam the door quite hard, which would suggest a poor connection, but that might be just my imagination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K.I.T.T. Posted May 4, 2021 Report Share Posted May 4, 2021 6 hours ago, Bradders59 said: I lock mine with great difficulty. The remote central locking doesnt work at all and locking using the key in the door is very hit and miss. Perhaps you should get your car fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradders59 Posted May 4, 2021 Report Share Posted May 4, 2021 I intend to, but its a matter of prioritising things on the list and then doing them as and when funds are available. Not the best car to run on a shoestring I know, but Im giving it a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K.I.T.T. Posted May 4, 2021 Report Share Posted May 4, 2021 Sounds like a lock module on its last legs. If that gives up the ghost, you may not be able to get in the car at all. Would move this higher up the priority list... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradders59 Posted May 4, 2021 Report Share Posted May 4, 2021 Sounds like I need to investigate sooner rather than later.Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archemist Posted May 5, 2021 Report Share Posted May 5, 2021 (edited) @OP check that your ignition lock is springing out when you remove the key. it should make that satisfying click everytime and the inner barrel should spring back flush with the metal surround (there's a bayonet type detent on the switch, that stops it turning without being pushed in (with the correct key). if the mech is worn the barrel doesn't spring out when you remove the key, and car's electrics still think its in aux mode (with a key in the ignition). Then when you try and lock it remotely the car wont let you - becuase it thinks you've left a key in the ignition, but it will let you lock it via the door / key. The car then beeps to tell you that its not locked properly, same as if a boot / bonnet / glove box is open. The result of the above is that the 'aux' mode flattens your battery in 24-48 hours and the alarm goes off. Sometimes it'll work normally, the barrel returns and you can lock the car remotely, which leads to a lot of confusion / random thoughts and investigation (guess how i know this...) The ignition lock and switch mechs are available as separate parts. Or it could just be a dodgy battery, wet alarm system, etc etc. I do have a spare, brand new, Yuasa battery, only drained and recharged once... Edited May 5, 2021 by archemist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brillomaster Posted May 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2021 thanks, will double check that next time too. i did wonder if the centre console was left open and that was why the alarm went off and drained the battery, but interesting to know there is something else that can cause a flat battery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brillomaster Posted May 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2021 alrighty, new battery is in fitted. didnt have to worry about resetting windows or recoding radio, they were both fine. Car now starts again, which is nice (i dislike having things in a state of disrepair!) however, with the car now locked, i'm still getting a double flash from the alarm LED indicator, which i think means theres still an open circuit somewhere? i checked everything is closed and that the key comes out the ignition with a satisfying clunk, so hopefully whatever it is the car isnt happy with wont drain the new battery - so i presume that after 5 days the battery goes into sleep mode anyways, or does that not happen if theres an error with the alarm? anyways... hopefully it'll last long enough that i can take it to a specialist next monday, and hopefully they can tell me what its not happy with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K.I.T.T. Posted May 6, 2021 Report Share Posted May 6, 2021 4 hours ago, brillomaster said: still getting a double flash from the alarm LED indicator, which i think means theres still an open circuit somewhere? Indicates there's a fault, or something's not quite right with the system. The interior motion sensors being obscured will cause this. The alarm siren being disconnected will cause this. An issue with some of the many microswitches / sensors will cause this. If something was open, you'd get a single beep (possibly with a double flash - am unsure of this). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevM79 Posted May 8, 2021 Report Share Posted May 8, 2021 By process of elimination, I have tracked my fault indication down to the fuel flap lock. I haven't gotten around to looking into it yet, as it seems to involve a bit of stripping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pordave Posted May 8, 2021 Report Share Posted May 8, 2021 Blimey this forum is getting racey! I didn’t realise that stripping and weak cranks were prerequisites of Boxster ownership. What’s next? Condoms and more Gumming pledges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted May 8, 2021 Report Share Posted May 8, 2021 You can leave your hat on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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