Noob here!!! 2001 Box....new to me...lots of questions

[particlewave]

Another thing to remember with the Boxster is that if you want an accurate "off" reading, you must wait until the "consumer shut off" circuit shuts down. That can take 10-15 minutes (I don't remember exactly how long).

Every time you open a door or reconnect the battery (even through the meter) that time resets. So, hook up your meter, wait 15 minutes, then check.

[blue62]

Originally Posted by particlewave

Another thing to remember with the Boxster is that if you want an accurate "off" reading, you must wait until the "consumer shut off" circuit shuts down. That can take 10-15 minutes (I don't remember exactly how long).

Every time you open a door or reconnect the battery (even through the meter) that time resets. So, hook up your meter, wait 15 minutes, then check.

Yup they started screwing cars up after about 1960. LOL

[Box7774]

Thanks all.......I will report back...
I almost did the unthinkable and shut the front hood with no battery in the car.....I yelled out ohhhhhh shytttttttttttt!!!!! Then I realized you have to do the double push on a 986....saved the day....now hood is open with big sign on it.

[Box7774]

Took the battery to auto zone....Its a brand new store in my neighborhood so everything is clean and perfect.....to include the shiny new battery testing machine....that thing must cost $1000 dollars. The kid didnt give me much info other then it was at 12.55 volts on his machine......12.47 on my multi meter.....I even changed the battery on my meter but no change. I guess I will go with what the $1000 dollar machine said. He said the battery was good. So tonight I cleaned up the negative body post..removed the shrink tubing and inspected.....found zero issues with cable wires....cleaned up a bit added some dielectric grease and shrunk a new boot on. Im not really believing this post was my issue...but gotta start somewhere and it did need to be cleaned up.

I bought a 3rd brake light for $30
OEM starter for $65 had 70k miles on it......
Both from ebay last night.....let the spending begin!!!!!

See the before after on the body post....I will be crackin into that engine bay tomorrow...I cant wait to see it....yet with 158k I am very apprehensive...really dont want the spending to keep going and going and going.

[tonythetiger]

Originally Posted by Box7774

Thanks all.......I will report back...

I almost did the unthinkable and shut the front hood with no battery in the car.....I yelled out ohhhhhh shytttttttttttt!!!!! Then I realized you have to do the double push on a 986....saved the day....now hood is open with big sign on it.

Also, careful that you push on the edge for the second click. If you push higher up on hood, you will dent the car. Jiffy lube did it to one of mine during the 22 point check for fluids, etc.
dentless repair kinda fixed it, but...


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[Box7774]

Thanks for the tip Tony......

Ok I am reporting on my progress for anyone that is still with me......I had the battery removed and it was at 12.55v according to the guy at Auto Zone. I decided to hook it to my modern computer style battery charger for a few hours to really jazz it up. It charged quickly and with a surface charge was showing 12.7 or 12.8 when I reinstalled it. My terminals are spotless now and so is the ground post. After a short drive last night...and a short drive today the battery is reading in the 12.5 range. It will be interesting to see if it sinks back down to 12.3.
I did the alternator test tonight and with the engine running was reading 14.1 and 14.2 .....it held on very well even with a load.

Will keep an eye one it. New starter will arrive in a couple of days and I will finally be forced to find the engine. Once the engine has been excavated I will look carefully for wiring issues and ground issues.

[blue62]

Originally Posted by Box7774

Thanks for the tip Tony......

Ok I am reporting on my progress for anyone that is still with me......I had the battery removed and it was at 12.55v according to the guy at Auto Zone. I decided to hook it to my modern computer style battery charger for a few hours to really jazz it up. It charged quickly and with a surface charge was showing 12.7 or 12.8 when I reinstalled it. My terminals are spotless now and so is the ground post. After a short drive last night...and a short drive today the battery is reading in the 12.5 range. It will be interesting to see if it sinks back down to 12.3.
I did the alternator test tonight and with the engine running was reading 14.1 and 14.2 .....it held on very well even with a load.

Will keep an eye one it. New starter will arrive in a couple of days and I will finally be forced to find the engine. Once the engine has been excavated I will look carefully for wiring issues and ground issues.

your voltages look right to me for the test you have done.

[Box7774]

Ya.....good to see the alternator is doing its thing.....we shall see in the next few days if the ole gal is still draining the battery.

Hey...question for you.....where is the door switch that actuates the door light?

Thanks