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2004 Porsche Boxster S Battery Drains Quickly While Driving
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V8Boxster
Novice
Feb 17, 2017, 7:52 PM
Post #1 of 11
(1595 views)
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2004 Porsche Boxster S Battery Drains Quickly While Driving
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The car is a 2004 Porsche Boxster with an LS7 swapped into it.
I know next to nothing about electrical systems but am trying to learn. I have a short that (to me) seems really weird. The car was driven in snow recently, which is when the problem started. The car is low and while driving accumulated a lot of snow underneath as it traveled. There is also a serpentine belt that runs parallel to the ground and I think it picked up snow and dirt and threw it up into the engine compartment. As the car drove, the battery drained to the point systems started shutting down and the car eventually died.
I've borrowed "The Hook" from someone and did a test to see if there is parasitic draw when the car is off. I made sure everything that could be on was off. I followed the procedure to see what draw there is by disconnecting the negative battery terminal and using The Hook to test for parasitic draw. Instead of showing a draw, it triggered the internal circuit breaker in The Hook. I'm kind of afraid to test any further since the circuit breaker was set to 65 amps (recommended setting).
I plan to find out if the alternator is working properly but with the circuit breaker going on me I'm intimidated about even hooking the battery back up to start it.
Does anyone have ideas of what I can do next?
(This post was edited by V8Boxster on Feb 17, 2017, 8:08 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 18, 2017, 1:07 AM
Post #2 of 11
(1577 views)
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Re: 2004 Porsche Boxster S Battery Drains Quickly While Driving
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Quoting you ">>
I know next to nothing about electrical systems but am trying to learn.<<"
Quite simply this isn't for you at all nor me! Engine from a Corvette somehow installed into a rear engine Porsche is already causing me a headache beyond any description.
Did some searching and it is done by a place in California seemingly as a totally exotic custom thing to do for the "Price is no object" folks to have a unique car to only look at and drive maybe on only the best possible days for a ride for some fun and put it away.
Snow, possible dirt exposure you drove this thing thru? What were you thinking?
Let that go and probably some insane amount of money too to get out of this but clearly you do have about a DEAD short not a "Parasitic Drain" and not a thing is OE design by either motor company so expect you'll need some diagrams from the place that did this swap if in fact it's engineered to do such a thing which apparently it is with some frightening comments on it from viewers who saw this.........
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxV-jvAABqM
Links not generally allowed here except for your own pictures or information but let that fly so it can be seen a silent picture show of it actually done!
******************************************
Had some time so let's clarify what some terms you used mean:
"THE HOOK" is a brand named circuit tester and DVOM in one unit I didn't know that brand of tool but might be popular.
Shown here with a picture that will expire.... so the Google Images of one can be seen here.......
https://www.google.com/...i10i24k1.lIURhPAh7U4
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I won't keep trying to make that show if it doesn't.
The end all is you caused some trauma to this thing in how it was driven and something was easily messed up with you said even one or more belts low to this creation can't be intended for any realistic and routine driving without being protected from so much as rain never mind more.
Allow some other comments from regulars here but I can't suggest more than just looking for what broke and where then probably find out who on earth would touch this thing now.
To me it appears to be a creation and engine job for total fun and collecting of exotic cars not unlike something a "Jay Leno's" garage would have with a team of techs on staff. Sold out of a collection no doubt as no fun as nobody could keep it running and now in your hands so hope you know who did this and where to possibly find out what items were use from what to design it to move at all so the problem can be found and fixed almost certainly damage from improper use of this thing I'll call it,
T
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Feb 18, 2017, 1:10 AM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 18, 2017, 5:22 AM
Post #3 of 11
(1561 views)
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Re: 2004 Porsche Boxster S Battery Drains Quickly While Driving
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If your battery is draining "while you are driving", then you don't have a parasitic draw, you have a charging system problem. The car is consuming more current than the charging system is putting back in.
You need to have the charging system tested.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 18, 2017, 6:51 AM
Post #4 of 11
(1553 views)
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Re: 2004 Porsche Boxster S Battery Drains Quickly While Driving
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Disconnect the battery cable from the alternator and try your parasitic draw test again. Make sure the terminal on the cable doesn't short out.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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V8Boxster
Novice
Feb 18, 2017, 10:20 AM
Post #5 of 11
(1539 views)
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Re: 2004 Porsche Boxster S Battery Drains Quickly While Driving
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Hey Tom,
You make it sound as though I'm dealing with some kind of frankencar. It isn't. The conversion company is based in Nevada and has been installing V8s in Porsches since the 1980s (though it used to be based in California). Also, it isn't a "money-is-no-object" type of deal. I'm not rich by any stretch of the imagination and can't afford a money-is-no-object project. I maintain the car but electrical is something I'm not experienced with.
The car is my daily driver and I've put about 50,000 kilometers on it since the conversion. There have been some bugs to work out but electrical issues have not cropped up before (except for an e-brake switch that crapped out). So, yes I drive it in (reasonably light) snow, sleet, rain, etc. It drives and handles just like it did before the conversion, except there's way more power.
I should also add that the car is lower than stock, by about an inch. I had to drive the car home when it started snowing. By the time I made it home, snow was about 8 inches deep. So, I didn't intentionally drive it in the snow.
All that said, I appreciate your response.
(This post was edited by V8Boxster on Feb 18, 2017, 10:33 AM)
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V8Boxster
Novice
Feb 18, 2017, 10:22 AM
Post #6 of 11
(1537 views)
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Re: 2004 Porsche Boxster S Battery Drains Quickly While Driving
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Hammer Time,
Thanks, yes I agree. I suppose being inexperienced I'm intimidated by the fact testing for a draw on the battery instead blew a 65 amp fuse.
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V8Boxster
Novice
Feb 18, 2017, 10:24 AM
Post #7 of 11
(1533 views)
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Re: 2004 Porsche Boxster S Battery Drains Quickly While Driving
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Discretesignals,
Thanks, I'll give that a try. I was thinking it might be dirt or water compromising something basic like the alternator.
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V8Boxster
Novice
Feb 18, 2017, 10:24 PM
Post #8 of 11
(1509 views)
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Re: 2004 Porsche Boxster S Battery Drains Quickly While Driving
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Okay, I'm embarrassed to post this but it was something ver-r-r-y simple. Enough snow backed up under the car it threw off the serpentine belt. So, the battery discharged in about 25 to 30 minutes while I drove the car without the alternator working.
They always say, check out the simple things first! I should have put it up on the hoist in the first place. Thanks for your answers!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 19, 2017, 2:48 AM
Post #9 of 11
(1503 views)
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Re: 2004 Porsche Boxster S Battery Drains Quickly While Driving
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That would do it. Now just asking what else if anything is driven by that belt that might be another issue?
T
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V8Boxster
Novice
Feb 19, 2017, 10:35 AM
Post #10 of 11
(1493 views)
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Re: 2004 Porsche Boxster S Battery Drains Quickly While Driving
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Hi Tom,
The only other thing driven by the belt is the AC pump.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 19, 2017, 12:20 PM
Post #11 of 11
(1490 views)
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Re: 2004 Porsche Boxster S Battery Drains Quickly While Driving
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That's good as you can do without that without extra harm alone.
Let me lock up thread as solved and YOU are welcome to ask any moderator to re-open it upon request so it doesn't get spammed to death,
T
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