How long the battery lasts
 

I'm not driving my Boxster (S 2000) daily, only every now and then, I keep it in a warm garage. I'm wondering how long breaks the battery can take before dying, and how long it is recommended to drive to load it up again.

Hi,

Given your description, you should place the Battery on a Maintainer. Allowing the Battery to slowly drain will cause it to Sulphate, that is, Sulphur will come out of solution and form Sulphate Crystals on the Lead Plates in the Battery. This shortens it's life considerably and impedes it's ability to be charged and store energy. You can find a maintainer for less than the cost of a new Battery. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!...Jim'99

Jim is dead on. The Box drains the battery pretty quickly and the factory battery is no star for sure.

:cheers:

Where can you get a battery maintainer, and about how much do they cost? Is there a specific type to get? Here in Seattle, the weather is pretty crummy, so I plan on hibernating my boxster for the winter... More info please.

Hi,

Here is the one I have used for the past 5 years. It's only 1 Amp, so it is very gentle on the battery. It only charges when the Battery demands it, but sends minute pulses to the Battery which prevents the formation of Sulphates. Hope this helps... http://www.vdcelectronics.com/batteryminder_12v_1a.htm

Happy Motoring!...Jim'99

I've gone for over a month in warm weather and it was fine, albeit just a little noticeably slower on the cranking that time. Stock original battery.

OK, no cracks about the long Boxsterless spell - was on travel for business back to back.

one thing you should never do is open your hood while the engine is not running, this will kill your battery and is apparently the most common fault boxster owner do!!

I have not found this to be an issue. Please elaborate.

:cheers:

well i fought that it is obvious that you are pulling a lot of amps when opening and closing your hood, my porsche specialist definitely recommend to have your engine running when activating your hood I guess he knows better than me

Oh, I see. You call the convertible top a "hood." Sorry, I did not know that.

Here in the US, that would be the front trunk to most of us!

Yes, the top does draw a bit when opening and closing. No problem for a good battery but tough on one on the way out!

Thanks

:cheers:

your front trunk is a front boot and bonnet here and the rear one a boot and boot lid, we call the soft top canvas sometime but not very frequently :cheers: