Not driving the Boxster for 6 weeks

[rick3000]

I unfortunately have not been driving much lately, and in my experience 6 weeks isn't a problem. Just make sure you lock the car, the battery will drain more quickly if you leave it unlocked. A tender isn't a bad idea.

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by rick3000

I unfortunately have not been driving much lately, and in my experience 6 weeks isn't a problem. Just make sure you lock the car, the battery will drain more quickly if you leave it unlocked. A tender isn't a bad idea.

A potentially stupid question...why does the battery drain more quickly if the car's left unlocked?

[986 Boxster]

Originally Posted by Frodo

A potentially stupid question...why does the battery drain more quickly if the car's left unlocked?

If you don`t lock a car now a days, the car wont go into sleep mode. You should lock it and activate the alarm whenever you don`t plan on driving it for a few hours. Car electronics will still think that you are driving it and wont shut off completely (going to sleep), therefore draining your battery slowly.

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by 986 Boxster

If you don`t lock a car now a days, the car wont go into sleep mode. You should lock it and activate the alarm whenever you don`t plan on driving it for a few hours. Car electronics will still think that you are driving it and wont shut off completely (going to sleep), therefore draining your battery slowly.

I never lock any of my cars. Never had or heard of such a problem.

But I guess this theory can be proven or disproven by looking for parasitic draw when the car is locked vs unlocked...

[986 Boxster]

Originally Posted by piper6909

I never lock any of my cars. Never had or heard of such a problem.

But I guess this theory can be proven or disproven by looking for parasitic draw when the car is locked vs unlocked...

I never use to lock any of my cars when they were parked in the garage until I bought my 535. I would park it in the garage unlocked and the next day or a couple of days later the battery would be dead. I thought I was leaving a light on or something else. It continued doing it until I took it to the dealer and they replaced the battery, the same thing continued happening, then a service tech asked me if I was locking the car and turning on the alarm, I said no, because I was parking it in the garage. That`s when I was told to lock it and turn on the alarm so the car could go into sleep mode. Guess what? The battery was not dead the next day or a few days later after that. Coincidence? Maybe.

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by 986 Boxster

If you don`t lock a car now a days, the car wont go into sleep mode. You should lock it and activate the alarm whenever you don`t plan on driving it for a few hours. Car electronics will still think that you are driving it and wont shut off completely (going to sleep), therefore draining your battery slowly.

Yeah, I suppose that could be true, though like piper, I hardly ever lock mine. And my battery is about 6.5 years old and still crankin' great.

Of course, the fact that I use one of these at least part of the time probably helps

[blue62]

Originally Posted by 986 Boxster

If you don`t lock a car now a days, the car wont go into sleep mode. You should lock it and activate the alarm whenever you don`t plan on driving it for a few hours. Car electronics will still think that you are driving it and wont shut off completely (going to sleep), therefore draining your battery slowly.

With all the electronic wizardry and various computers on the "newer cars" battery drain is very likely to happen when not locked and put into alarm mode.

But the OP'S Boxster is a 2000 as is mine. Very unlikely that there is going to be a problem with battery drain on a twenty year old car over a period of four to six weeks.

The OP lives in Calif. So no cold weather affects on battery drain and if the car has no underlying issues with the car he should be fine.

I live in Wa. state and I leave my Boxster untouched for two to three months at a time and have never have a problem.
A battery tender is a great idea as they prolong battery and batteries are expensive these days.

[986 Boxster]

Yeah I was referring to newer cars with all kinds of gadgets. Like I said, I never use to lock my cars when they were in the garage until I had a problem with the 535. I don`t know if OP`s car has any extra gadgets, just a suggestion .

[10/10ths]

....When you lock the 986 it goes into “Deep Sleep” after 72 hours. This will significantly lower the battery draw.

You can test this yourself.

Lock your Boxster, then leave her for a week. When you return to drive her, try to unlock her with the remote control on the key fob.

You will discover that the car does not respond. You will have to physically insert your key in the door to unlock her.

Of course, you could also invest five minutes and read your owner’s manual. Just a thought. You spent a bunch of money on a semi-exotic German sports car, the least you could do is spend a lunch break with a cup of coffee and read your owner’s manual.

Good luck.

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by 10/10ths

....When you lock the 986 it goes into “Deep Sleep” after 72 hours. This will significantly lower the battery draw.

You can test this yourself.

Lock your Boxster, then leave her for a week. When you return to drive her, try to unlock her with the remote control on the key fob.

You will discover that the car does not respond. You will have to physically insert your key in the door to unlock her.

Of course, you could also invest five minutes and read your owner’s manual. Just a thought. You spent a bunch of money on a semi-exotic German sports car, the least you could do is spend a lunch break with a cup of coffee and read your owner’s manual.

Good luck.

Good points, though I would also point out that I, for one, have read much or all of my owner's manual, for the most part 14 years ago when I purchased the car. But I have not committed it to memory. At 224 pages, it's not exactly a "five minute" read. I tend more to refer to it when I have an issue, or want to better understand some specific topic. Had I had issues with inexplicable battery drainage (which I haven't), that's the first place I'd check. I suspect that's the approach utilized by most car owners.

[blue62]

Originally Posted by 10/10ths

....When you lock the 986 it goes into “Deep Sleep” after 72 hours. This will significantly lower the battery draw.

You can test this yourself.

Lock your Boxster, then leave her for a week. When you return to drive her, try to unlock her with the remote control on the key fob.

You will discover that the car does not respond. You will have to physically insert your key in the door to unlock her.

Of course, you could also invest five minutes and read your owner’s manual. Just a thought. You spent a bunch of money on a semi-exotic German sports car, the least you could do is spend a lunch break with a cup of coffee and read your owner’s manual.

Good luck.

Interesting.
I would have never thought that a twenty year old car had a "deep sleep" feature.
Always something new to learn about these cars.