Dead Battery; Hood won't open.

[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.

[luci5r]

Just wanted to post a finality to this story.

So I did pick up the Interstate MTP-48/H6 for $150 at my local Firestone. Had priced it around and they had it the cheapest. Came home, installed the battery, and the car started up right away. All ABS/PSM messages disappeared and the car has been running flawlessly for couple weeks now.

Lessons learned. No point re-charging a dead battery; just go buy a new one. The MTP-48/H6, purely in terms of specs, is a tad step up from the one I had installed (MTP-91).

I still plan on getting the $50 Stanley Jump Starter to keep in the car; for close encounters.

Also plan on looking into the maintainer, as someone suggested. But other then that everything seems to be working great.

Thanks again every single person who posted and tried to help! Really appreciate it.

On to the next project.