Dead Battery; Hood won't open.

[luci5r]

Originally Posted by Jager

If you remove both terminals from the battery posts you will need to connect both clamps of the battery charger to the battery.

If you remove just the positive terminal you can connect the battery charger the way you described.

Ah! Thanks for the correction. I always thought you never clamp both clips on the battery.

So at this point, I just plugged the battery charger to the battery and started the charging process.

I removed the positive terminal from the positive battery post and clipped the positive clamp from the battery charger on it. I left the negative terminal on the negative battery post, so I clipped the negative clamp from the battery charger on to the metallic latch on the hood.

Fired up the Battery Charger; set up my options (it's mostly automatic), and the 'Charging' LED came right on. So it looks like it's started the charging process. I will give it a good 6 ~ 7 hour charge before I test anything.

Originally Posted by Jager

BTW... How old is your battery?

I have the Interstate MTP-91 Battery (Batteries - Mega-Tron Plus 91 Automotive Battery Six-Year Performance 700 CCA).

I got this '05 Boxster 987 in April, 2013, with about $40K miles on it. I can't categorically state how old the battery is, cause quite frankly I do not know. Last week when I had called in help to jump start the car, the mechanic did look at the battery and tell me that the battery looks really new, like a couple years old. That it doesn't seem to have any wear on it.

A new one isn't very expensive; only around $148. That's a route I'm willing consider at some point if necessary. I don't really know much about what should be the life expectancy of these things.

Either way, I'll see how it makes out with the charging.

Thanks!

[luci5r]

After 7 hours of charging, although there is little improvement, it's still pretty dead. The dashboard lit up just a tad and I was able to use the remote key to lock/unlock the door. But couldn't roll up windows or anything; dashboard is extremely dim.

I'm starting to believe this battery might be done. Might need to get a new battery.

Question: Is replacing the battery hard? If I picked up a new battery from a shop, can I replace it myself? Is it basically as simple as detaching the terminals, installing the new battery in place, and putting back the terminal posts? Do I need to worry about anything special?

Another Interstate MTP-91 is around $170 w/taxes and all around here. Unless I should think of installing a different battery.

Suggestions welcome.

Edit:
I'm also finding another battery for $159 locally, it's the Interstate MTP-48/H6. According Firestone here, that's the newer version of MTP-91 and the recommended one for my '05 Boxster. Any advice on this one as opposed to MTP-91?

Thanks.

[tommy583]

There are most likely two clips that hold the battery in the car. They will be on either side of the battery near the bottom. You will have to loosen the bolts that hold them down. Then just unhook the positive and negative terminals and take the battery out.

On a side note you should invest in a battery maintainer of some sort. I use a battery tender jr. When batteries are allowed to discharge completely a few times, they don't last as long. As you can tell by your newish battery not taking a charge. Hope this helps

[luci5r]

Originally Posted by tommy583

There are most likely two clips that hold the battery in the car. They will be on either side of the battery near the bottom. You will have to loosen the bolts that hold them down. Then just unhook the positive and negative terminals and take the battery out.

On a side note you should invest in a battery maintainer of some sort. I use a battery tender jr. When batteries are allowed to discharge completely a few times, they don't last as long. As you can tell by your newish battery not taking a charge. Hope this helps

Right, I did see those; those shouldn't be a problem.

I'm seriously considering picking up the Interstate MTP-48/H6. Unless anyone has suggestions otherwise.

I honestly don't know how long the MTP-91 has been installed; if it has been since the beginning, it's obviously over 10 years old. If it was replaced down the line, then anywhere between 3 to 5 years I would say. I'm not sure if that's normal or not.

[tommy583]

Well look at it this way. A new battery costs around $150. A maintainer costs under $50. If you leave the maintainer hooked up to the car, your battery will last much longer and it will never be dead when you want to drive the car. You can get an adapter that plugs right into the lighter, so it's easy to use.

[luci5r]

Originally Posted by tommy583

Well look at it this way. A new battery costs around $150. A maintainer costs under $50. If you leave the maintainer hooked up to the car, your battery will last much longer and it will never be dead when you want to drive the car. You can get an adapter that plugs right into the lighter, so it's easy to use.

It's something I will definitely look into; possibly install - after I have dealt with this current issue. Definitely makes sense. Thanks.

[Perfectlap]

Most auto stores have pretty good warranties on batteries and typically pro-rated.
I had one die after about six months, didn't even bother with trying to recharge.
I went back to the Advanced Auto store and the guy at the register just handed me a new one without even a receipt.
Once a battery has drained once, imho it really shouldn't used in the car again, it's never the same.
If it's out of warranty just keep it around the garage to power up something with an inverter.