Slipstream - May 2003

Boxster Boulevard
by Bob Bianconi
Boxster Owners Bane: The Dead Battery
It’s Midnight, you turn the ignition key on your Boxster and
the battery is dead. What next? Hot shot the battery from another
car? Sounds good, but how do you get to the battery? A simple
question and usually a simple answer: pop the hood. Well, it’s not
that simple on a Boxster with a dead battery. What you’ll find is
...it’s not so simple on a Boxster with a
dead battery . . .
that the hood is locked and the hood switch by the driver’s seat
(lever on a pre-01) will not unlock the hood. This is a function of
the alarm system.
To open the hood, you may follow the instructions found in the
owner’s manual (you do have the manual with you right?): this can
be tricky depending on your model year. The 1997-2000 model
years listed some oblique instructions. From 2001-on, Porsche
provided a terminal in the fuse box for connecting a battery
charging cable. Look inside the fuse box (by your left knee) for a
small booklet with instructions.
A more simple method is to carry one of the battery
charging cables with cigarette lighter plugs at each end. Follow
the manufacturer’s directions for using this cable – usually the
small end at the car with the good battery, the fat end plugged
into your Boxster. This method won’t start your car but it will
provide enough juice for you to cycle the alarm system so you can
open the hood.
Remember: Plugging the cable in is not good enough, you
have to remember to turn the key!
The cable is cheap insurance – less than $15 at most auto
supply stores. So where should you keep the battery charging
cable? Under the front hood? Not unless you want to walk home.
Keep it in the passenger compartment. You’ll be glad you have it
at Midnight.
Photo by Bob Bianconi
Where to locate charging terminal in your fuse box
Photo by Bob Bianconi
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An example of a cigarette lighter battery charger
1. Plug the cable into both cigarette lighter receptacles (again
follow the instructions)
2. Put the key in the door lock and turn. You should be able
to hear the alarm cycle off and on. When in the off position, press
the hood switch (or on pre-01 models, lift the hood lever)
3. Your hood should now open using the lever under the
front edge of the hood.
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