Is a batt tender necessary? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Chills · 02-04-2007, 01:26 PM

I haven't driven my Box for 2 weeks, but have started her a couple of times a week and let her idle for a few minutes. When I started her today it took a few cranks to get 'er going. It's incredibly cold in Chicago so I'm thinking that's why it took a few to start. She's kept in the garage and I will be driving her around when it warms up this week.

My question is do you guys think I need to get a Porsche battery tender to charge the battery back up or will the Box's battery be okay once I drive her more regularly?

02-04-2007, 01:32 PM

I wouldnt know about the battery tender, but its not good for your car to start and not get to operating temp before shutting it off. While it may charge your battery a little it will not benefit the engine. Just leave it alone and and let it sit, while a tender will be good, your battery shouldnt die by just sitting there for a week or two.

Chills · 02-04-2007, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boggtown

I wouldnt know about the battery tender, but its not good for your car to start and not get to operating temp before shutting it off. While it may charge your battery a little it will not benefit the engine. Just leave it alone and and let it sit, while a tender will be good, your battery shouldnt die by just sitting there for a week or two.

I guess saying "a few minutes" is incorrect. I let it get up to operating temp before shutting it off again.

Thanks for the advice.

Adam · 02-04-2007, 07:37 PM

I'd get a tender if it's sitting more than a couple weeks. Also, it takes about 15+ minutes for the car to get to operating temp just sitting there at idle. You are basically just increasing wear and tear on your engine. I would either let it sit on a charger or drive it more often.

z12358 · 02-05-2007, 04:14 AM

It's a very bad deal for your car overall to be wearing off your engine (frequent cold starts) just to fill up your battery. Chargers/maintainers are a much cheaper way to do it over the long run, if you feel that the battery needs it.

Ronzi · 02-05-2007, 08:22 AM

I have my '99 in an unheated storage garage during the winter, with no battery tender.
Because we have had snow up to our eyeballs, and virtually no days above freezing since mid-Dec., I have not driven it since at least the week before Christmas. About a week ago I tried to start it and the battery was dead ... so that was probably six-seven wks without cranking it up.
The battery gave no evidence of being weak before that.

wanna986 · 02-04-2007, 01:34 PM

I don't use one. Not to say that it might not be good or good for you.
With the cars I've got in storage, all I've ever done was give the batteries a bit of a trickle charge every now and then. I've fared pretty well.

I guess it's a matter of convenience.