For those contemplating parking their Boxster for extended periods exceeding three weeks, securing the Best Battery Charger for your Porsche Boxster is essential. Above all, when transitioning to the realm of battery maintenance, maintaining proper voltage emerges as the optimal strategy to enhance battery performance and prolong its lifespan significantly. Thus, as you navigate through parking, winterizing, or storing your Porsche Boxster, a noteworthy concern surfaces— the potential draining of your Boxster’s car battery. This phenomenon, driven by parasitic draining, poses a substantial risk, ultimately leading to the inevitable demise of the car battery. Choose wisely to mitigate these challenges and ensure the longevity of your Porsche Boxster’s battery.
Why You Need the Best Battery Charger for Your Porsche Boxster?
All things considered, Post-2001 Boxsters are not very user-friendly if your battery dies. In fact, you cannot even get access to the battery unless you have a spare battery sitting around. Consequently, you need to prevent parasitic draining of your battery.
- Battery Charger: MXS 5.0 is a fully automatic 8-step battery maintainer that provides an outstanding charging experience for 12-volt lead acid and AGM batteries , Ideal for car and bike owners.
- Improved Charging: MXS 5.0 is designed to optimally charge in all conditions. Whether it's marine, car, bike, RV or tractor it's the perfect companion - especially for cold weather drivers!
- Maximize Lifetime and Capacity: The 4.3 amp battery charger's reconditioning function can improve the lifespan of healthy batteries*, and bring some underperforming batteries back to life.
- Splash and Dustproof: MXS 5.0 battery charger is splash, dust, spark and shock proof, making it a reliable and safe option with a short-circuit-proof design that prevents reverse polarity
- Battery is charged through the vehicles 12-volt socket
- Made of high-quality silicone rubber
- Designed to protect both the charger and the paint
- Also available in Pink sold separately
- Made of high-quality silicon rubber
NOTE: Accordingly, if you get the CTEK charger and wish to use your 12V auxiliary power adaptor (cigarette lighter) for charging, and also make sure to add the CTEK (56-870) Comfort Indicator Cig Plug adaptor.
Parasitic Battery Draining
A parasitic battery drain happens when an abnormal and continuous discharge of power occurs after having shut off the engine. This can happen in your Boxster in as little as 3 weeks. Porsche recommends charging your battery if you plan on not driving your Boxster for 6 weeks.
Battery charging
Porsche Boxster Owner’s Manual
Automotive batteries lose their efficiency when not in use.
The charge available in your battery can be measured with a battery hydrometer.
We recommend that the battery voltage be tested by your authorized Porsche dealer who has the appropriate equipment.
If the car is not driven for prolonged periods, the battery must be charged at least every 6 weeks. A discharged battery allows rapid formation of sulfates, leading to premature deterioration of the
plates.
The Cause of Parasitic Battery Draining:
- Short circuit in your wiring
- Incorrectly installed car power accessories (i.e. Radar Detector, Laser Jammer, etc.)
- Defective alternator
- Old battery or in poor condition
- Corroded or loose battery cables
- Extreme temperatures (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit) or cold (under 10 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Excessive Short Drives
- Human error (dome light or headlights left on, etc.)
In any event, failure to heed these warnings will result in a dead battery.
Help I Have a Dead Battery!
Ultimately, when you have a dead battery, you need to open the front luggage compartment to gain access to the battery. This will be the process to jump-start your Boxster, but it will not be easy or straightforward. Thus the best process is the knowledge of the existence of this issue and the application of using a battery charger to prevent a dead battery from occurring.
Dead Battery and I Can’t Open Hood
Your Battery is located in the “frunk” (front luggage compartment.) In post-2001 Boxsters, if your battery becomes discharged, it will result in you not being able to access your front luggage compartment. Your key fob will not work nor with the electric switches located inside the car.
As a result, a dead battery will prevent the front luggage compartment lid from opening to access your battery. That is without the aid of a donor battery!
How to Unlock the Hood with a Dead Battery
- Firstly, unlock the driver’s side door and open it.
- Secondly, remove the plastic cover from the fuse box (located in the driver-side footwell.
- Pull out the positive terminal red terminal in the fuse box
using the plastic yellow gripper. - Use a jumper cable to connect the positive terminal in the fuse box to the positive terminal of the donor battery.
Note: If the vehicle is locked, the alarm horn will sound when you connect the negative cable. - Use the black jumper cable to connect the negative terminal of the donor battery to the door frame ground (located on the door arrester.)
- Press button 2 on the remote control for approx. 2 seconds to unlock the luggage compartment lid. This will also switch the alarm system off.
- Disconnect the negative cable first, then the positive cable.
- Push positive terminal C into the fuse box and push on the plastic fuse box cover.
Critical Note: You cannot start the engine with this method, This process is for late 986 (post-2001) and 987/987.2 models. And, This entire process is located in the owner’s manual.
YOU NEVER WANT TO DO THIS
Watch 5-10 YouTube videos on these steps before attempting!
Preferred Method to Deal with Dead Battery
The preferred method to address your dead battery in your Boxster is to charge the battery overnight using the method below.
The Fabled Hood Release on the Porsche Boxster
Depending on the year of your Porsche Boxster you may have access to a physical hood release cable. Pedro Bonilla provides an excellent overview of this potential solution on https://pedroboard.com
… the direct-to-the-battery lug wasn’t introduced until 2001 for model year 2002, so you can’t find it because you don’t have it.
Pedro Bonilla
The emergency cable is not in the driver’s wheel well, that’s for the 987s, not 986s.
The emergency cable in your car was installed by the factory to end near the right (passenger) headlight.
But the easiest way is to feed 12 volts through the 12 volt socket. It won’t pass much current, so don’t try to charge it in a few minutes.
Put it in trickle mode and let it charge overnight. In the morning you should be able to open the trunk.
If not, you’ll have to find the end of the emergency cable close to the headlight from underneath.
You’ll have to undo the bottom screws of the bumper skin so that you can pull the bottom forward and sneak a peek up into the bumper.
Use a flashlight. You’re looking for a thin (1/8″) braided stainless cable with a loop at the end.
Grab the end with a hook fashioned from a coat hanger or similar and bring it down to your hand.
Once you have it firmly tug the cable towards the right side in one jerk. This should pop the hood.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro
1998 Boxster 986 – 304,000+ miles: [www.PedrosGarage.com]
PCA National Club Racing Scrutineer – PCA National HPDE Instructor – PCA Technical Committee (Boxster/Cayman)
How to Avoid a Dead Battery?
In summary, you have to connect the battery to a battery maintainer (not a trickle charger) to charge your battery. Porsche has made this easy via your 12V cigarette lighter in the passenger footwell.
Use the Best Battery Charger for your Porsche Boxster
Porsche sells a Battery charger for this very purpose.
- Battery is charged through the vehicles 12-volt socket
- Item Package Dimension: 5.66L x 3.18W x 1.92H inches
- Item Package Weight - 0.26 Pounds
- Item Package Quantity - 1
- Product Type - POWER CORD
- Made of high-quality silicone rubber
- Designed to protect both the charger and the paint
- Also available in Pink sold separately
- Made of high-quality silicon rubber
NOTE: Accordingly, if you get the CTEK charger and wish to use your 12V auxiliary power adaptor (cigarette lighter) for charging, accordingly make sure to add the CTEK (56-870) Comfort Indicator Cig Plug adaptor. And don’t forget the CTEK (56-304) Comfort Connect Extension Cable, 8.2 Feet !
What Battery Charger do We Recommend and Why
We recommend that you purchase a Battery Charger that is both a smart charger and acts as a battery maintainer.
a) All Porsche Boxsters need a battery charger, as do virtually all cars on the market.
b) You get a CTEK Battery Charger. This is the same battery smart charger that Porsche sells.
c) You get a CTEK charger that supports 8 8-step charging curve process. The 8-step charging curve will do full maintenance on your battery. The CTEK has dedicated charging steps (desulfation, reconditioning, etc.) that maintain and increase your battery’s lifespan.
d) You get a CTEK that supports supply power. The supply power mode acts as a power supply for your car when you are swapping your battery. This maintains your ECU settings and even radio security codes.
e) AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) battery support is now a required feature that all new CTEK chargers support.
Boxstertips recommends the CTEK (56-353) MULTI US 7002 12-Volt Battery Charger,Black and that you get this product with both the CTEK (56-870) Comfort Indicator Cig Plug adaptor and the CTEK (56-304) Comfort Connect Extension Cable, 8.2 Feet .
Where to Connect Your Battery Charger
Generally, Automobiles have their 12V Power accessory outlet (cigarette lighter outlet) wired so that the 12V power adaptor outlets will only work when the automobiles are running, or when the key to start the car is inserted and turned to the ACC position.
The 12V power adaptor located in the center console is wired only to be active when the key is in the ignition (except on certain models of 986.) Therefore you need to use the other 12V power accessory adaptor when charging.
The Porsche Boxster Models 987/987.2/981 and 718 have a footwell 12V power accessory adaptor. The footwell 12V power accessory adapter is always on. As a result, when charging your battery during storage make sure to use the footwell 12V power adaptor outlet and not the unit located in the center console.
Boxster 986 European 12V Cigarette Lighter
On the Boxster 986, there are 3 different versions of the cigarette/power adaptor socket. The non-smoker’s package comes with a socket that is 1mm larger in diameter than a normal socket. If your center console is working with your CTEK with no key in the ignition, you are good to go!
UK Boxster 986s are strange. On some, the lighter is hot all the time and on others, it is not. We think it has to do with the year. The owner usually finds out when trying to use a charger that goes through the lighter, because it will not work unless the lighter is hot all the time.
Tool [email protected]
Trickle Chargers
Standard trickle chargers provide an unregulated charge to your battery. Consequently If left not monitored, trickle chargers can boil a battery’s fluid dry. You need to purchase a smart charger with maintenance mode support.
Maintenance Mode
When you use the Porsche Battery Charger, select the pulse maintenance mode. Pulse maintaining mode charges the battery while storing your vehicle.
What is the Best Battery Charger for your Porsche Boxster
The new CTEK (56-353) MULTI US 7002 12-Volt Battery Charger,Black or the CTEK - 40-206 MXS 5.0 Fully Automatic 4.3 amp Battery Charger and Maintainer 12V are highly recommended. Use the CTEK Multi US 3300 at a minimum (no longer being sold.)
Also, be sure to purchase the:
- CTEK (56-870) Comfort Indicator Cig Plug adaptor and use the cigarette plug in the passenger side footwell (not the cigarette plug in the center console.)
- CTEK (56-304) Comfort Connect Extension Cable, 8.2 Feet .
- CTEK (56-915) Black Bumper .
The CTEK charger is designed and engineered in Sweden. CTEK is the No. 1 car battery charger for OEM applications.
CTEK 8-Step Charging Curve Process
Both the CTEK (56-353) MULTI US 7002 12-Volt Battery Charger,Black and the CTEK - 40-206 MXS 5.0 Fully Automatic 4.3 amp Battery Charger and Maintainer 12V use an 8-step charging process. The 8-step work to ensure a thorough full charge of your battery including a full desulfation step.
What is the CTEK 8-Step Charging Curve Process?
This 8-step charging process makes the CTEK stand out among other smart battery charging solutions.
Step 1 Desulfation or Desulphation (UK)
Lead Sulfate crystals form in a battery and cause the untimely demise of 80% of all lead-acid car batteries. The CTEK detects sulfation in the battery and removes lead sulphate crystals that can form on the lead plates of the battery.
This patented desulfation step acts as a thorough cleaning of the interior lead plates of the battery restores the battery to its original capacity and extends the life span of the battery.
Step 2 Soft Start
The Soft Start step offers a severely discharged battery a smaller charge until the battery gets back up to about 10-20% of charge. This step acts as a test to ensure that the battery can accept and maintain a charge. The initial low charge prevents any damage that could be caused to a battery that has dissipated the majority of its capacity.
3 Bulk
Once testing has been completed the CTEK proceeds with a full charge of up to 80%. This happens at a very high speed and efficient rate.
4 Absorption
This step charges the rest of the battery to the full 100% at a declining current and can take up to 10 hours.
5 Analyse
The CTEK does a full analysis of the previous 4 steps to ensure that the fully charged battery maintains its charge. This test analysis takes approximately 3 minutes.
6 Recondition
This is a battery reconditioning process (30 minutes to 4 hours) that mixes the battery acid. Tiny bubbles are formed and act to stir up the acid settled at the bottom of the battery. It results in remixing the acid and water into an efficient solution.
7 Float
Once the reconditioning step has been completed, the voltage and the current will level off to maintain a floating charge of 13.6 volts and fully charge your battery to 100%. The float charge will remain active for up to 10 days.
8 Pulse
Full maintenance step that keeps the battery at 95-100% capacity by monitoring the voltage and giving it a pulse recharge when the charge drops. This step is perfect for extended periods. The pulse step prevents your battery from overcharging. This eliminates the risk of your battery boiling over and drying out.
CTEK MULTI US 7002 Charger has SUPPLY Mode
The MULTI US 7002 is the ideal battery charger for your Porsche Boxster. The battery charger is well-suited for all-year use. The SUPPLY mode of the battery charger provides power even without a battery.
The SUPPLY mode is indispensable when changing the battery and allows you to maintain battery voltages to your primary electronic components (mainly your ECU). Doing this avoids losing all your complicated program settings of your ECU, Radio codes, etc.
NOTE: Using supply mode maintains power to your positive battery cable and as a result, we recommend that you wrap both cables to prevent any shorting against your vehicle’s frames or other metal components.
CTEK Chargers
The look of this CTEK 3300 Multi US recommended charger should look similar to the Porsche OEM charger.
CTEK is the preferred battery charger, as a result, the most prestigious engineering car brands in the world have consequently adopted it.
As a result, you will see that CTEK chargers are selling as an OEM part in dealerships, such as Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley Motors, Scania AB, BMW, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Chevrolet (Corvette), Ferrari, Alfa Romeo S.p.A., Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH, Aston Martin, Arctic Cat, Yamaha Motor Company, Maserati, Mercedes, and more worldwide.
To provide maximum battery charging performance, CTEK is constantly updating its technology. The Original Porsche Charger delivered 4A and now delivers 5A of service. The NEW CTEK Multi US 7200 offers up to 7.0 A of service.
Full Review of the CTEK MXS 5.0 Smart Charger for Your Porsche Boxster
Best Selling CTEK Chargers on Amazon
Top 10 Benefits of Using a CTEK Smarter Charger
Warnings About Battery Charging
Charging your car battery produces hydrogen gas. Hydrogen gas could cause an explosion, resulting in serious personal injury or death.
- Always charge your battery in a well-ventilated area.
- Never charge a frozen battery. It may explode because of gas trapped in the ice. Allow a frozen battery to thaw out first!
- If you get electrolyte (battery acid) in your eyes or on your skin, immediately rinse with cold water for several minutes and call a doctor.
From YouTube
Unboxing the CTEK MXS 5.0 Smart Charger
Video on How to Use and Connect the CTEK MXS 5.0
About Your Boxster Battery
In the final analysis, Boxstertips recommends that you use an AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery in your car. AGM batteries are maintenance-free, provide good electrical reliability, and are lighter than the flooded lead-acid type. AGM batteries stand up well to low temperatures and have a low self-discharge. The leading advantages are a charge that is up to five times faster than the flooded lead-acid version, and the ability to deep cycle. New CTEK battery chargers have a separate AGM battery support mode.
NOTE: Ultimately, the battery above an AGM battery, would be the Porsche Lithium-Ion Lightweight Battery starting at just over $5000 USD. Carbon Fibre case included!
Also, be sure to check out our “Best Of” Series:
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Battery Charger FAQ
Most Trickle charges run at a low power output level. Trickle chargers are not recommended because If a trickle charger is left not monitored, it can boil a battery’s fluid dry. A smart charger such as the Porsche/CTEK Charger 5A can restore a battery to full charge over time.
Porsche recommends charging your battery when not using your car for periods longer than 6 weeks. Current model Porsche’s have 12V power adaptor(s) located in the car’s cabin that is hard-wired directly to the battery. Use your Porsche battery charger to use this (hard-wired) 12V power adaptor via the cigarette lighter connector.
A standard trickle charger should not be left on all the time. A trickle charger can boil a battery’s fluid dry if it is not monitored. It is better to use a smart charger or a battery maintainer, therefore avoiding any possibility of incorrectly charging the battery and ensuring the battery is conditioned as well as charged, and your batteries last significantly longer.
It is not advisable to leave a standard trickle charger on all winter. A trickle charger can boil a battery’s fluid dry if it is not monitored. It is better to use a smart charger or a battery maintainer, therefore avoiding any possibility of incorrectly charging the battery and ensuring the battery is conditioned as well as charged, and your batteries last significantly longer.
No, a car battery will immediately start to dissipate its charge level. Car batteries cannot charge themselves. Only the car’s alternator or external charger can restore or maintain the correct charge level of your car battery.
Yes, you can. The CTEK battery charger is smart and features a computer-programmed support mode to maintain and extend the lifespan of your battery. A CTEK charger can be left on indefinitely. Set it and forget it!
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
