Porsche5050

1. I have only one key for my Porsche. Where's the best place to get the keys made at? I tried Walmart but the guy gave up halfway saying he can't do it. Is the dealer the best bet?

2. My car has been sitting for almost 2 months now and there's no power left in the battery. I have with me a SEARS 10/2/50 amp car battery charger. I wanted to trickle charge the battery if that would be best to do. Should I put it on 10, 2, or 50? Also is there any chance of overcharging it? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

By the way, I just pushed my car in the garage and this thing looks just as nice indoors as it does outdoors.

Tom

I got a spare key made at my local hardware store. At first they said they didn't have a key blank but I suggested they use a VW blank as the keys look similar (and I figured ther was a family relationship). It isn't pretty but it works and now I have one to leave with the car at the shop and keep me covered if I should (God forbid!!) lose the original. Like you I only had one.

I wouldn't use more than 10 amps, I would disconnect the battry from the car, and keep an eye on it to make sure there is (distilled) water in it. Next time remember to disconnect the battry before you let it sit for more than a couple of weeks. The battery drains down fairly quickly. Also be wary of discharged batterys in the cold weather we've been having as they can freeze.

led

I had my lighted key cut at a local hardware store a couple of days ago. At first the guy got a bit scared when he saw the Porsche logo and told me to take it to a locksmith just to be on the safe side. I decided to get it cut there regardless of any risk. At first it was hard to turn but he filed it down a bit and got it working flawlessly.

Porsche5050

Thanks for the feedback guys. Does anyone know if the dealership will do it at all? Also has anyone gone the keyless route?

led

It makes sense for them to offer this service but aren't new P-car keys different? As in laser cut or something of the sort?

Chris_924s

Funny- Wal-mart cut my blank with no problem. I use my spare all the time and except for a little wiggle to lock/unlock the drivers door sometimes it works flawlessly- BTW Wal-mart had the blank.

Eric

Tariq,

Timely post. This past weekend, I went to fire up the 951(after it had sat for a month) and nothing happened. Jump-started it and let it run for awhile(would have driven around but it was slushy/salty out). Re-started it later and all was well. Went to start it last night to cycle the AC--and nothing. Hooking it up to the same SEARS trickle-charger tonight, and was going to ask the same question.

Scootin159

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Chris_924s:
<strong>Funny- Wal-mart cut my blank with no problem. I use my spare all the time and except for a little wiggle to lock/unlock the drivers door sometimes it works flawlessly- BTW Wal-mart had the blank.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Same here, I just had to tell them it was for an Audi.

Porsche5050

Eric, let me know which setting you end up using. The charger itself looks like a quality item, but I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

I guess I’ll try Walmart again for the keys. The worker did seem a bit incompetent considering he just gave up halfway and didn’t want to look through all the keys to find the correct blank.

IceShark

This makes me wonder where my spare key is after my move. But the VDub/Audi key blank works just fine and a competent person can cut it easy. Just make sure you try it out before you drive away from the store especially in the ignition tumbler. That has tighter tolerances than the door locks.

If you are not going to be driving the car I would pull the negative post off and just charge the battery every month with the automatic provision on your charger. Here is everything you will ever need to know about car batteries:

<a href="http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/" target="_blank">http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/</a>

Dal Heger

The battery is dead, no amount of recharging will bring it back to life, buy a new one. I had my S2 sitting for a while and then put a charger on it. Also a Sears diehard (misnamed, it should be die easily) and it wouldn't hold any amount of charge. I put a voltmeter on it and it put out about 5 volts, fully charged (according to the shumacher battery charger).

Also DO NOT let your car run to try to charge the battery with the alternator!!! It will work, but at the expense of the alternator, it's not made to recharge a dead battery. You will be drastically cutting the life of your alternator. Buy a $50 battery charger and let that recharge that battery overnight (max 10 amps - 2 amp trickle charge is better for your battery). There are also maintenance type battery chargers available if you must let your car sit for any length of time. A good one is at <a href="http://www.vdcelectronics.com/." target="_blank">http://www.vdcelectronics.com/.</a> It's called battery minder (no affiliation, just a satisfied customer).

good luck!

Dal

Dal Heger

d'oh! first duplicate post. sorry.

Eric

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dal Heger:
[QB]The battery is dead, no amount of recharging will bring it back to life, buy a new one.

I don't know about this, Dal. When I had the car consigned at my wrenchs' last winter the battery died from sitting in the showroom, charged it up, and it was fine(same battery). Also, the battery in my Jeep was dead from sitting, got a jump--it has been fine ever since. I am going to hook up the 951 battery to the trickle tonight, and see what happens--if I was buying batteries every time one died, I would be broke. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Tariq, just noticed your second post. I am going to hook it up using the 10-amp setting. Unfortunately, I am leaving for Texas tomorrow and won't be able to post again untill Monday, sorry. <img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" />

IceShark

Dal makes a good point regarding how much you tax the alternator. The rule of thumb is you don't want to draw more than 80% of the alternator's rated capacity for over 20% of its life. You will kill it in short order if you violate this rule.

Just ask your local shop that works on EMS vans and cop cars. They eat alternators like candy. Just the light bar can draw 1000 watts, about 80 amps.

Porsche5050

Well, I tried getting a jump and my car wouldn't start. It cranked but very weakly, just wasn't close to turning over. I'm thinking it may be the battery like Dal said, but I guess I'll give it a charge and see how much it turns out just to be sure. A friend of mine also said that the cables I used to jump my car were too thin. Could this be a valid reason the car wouldn't start? I was somewhat weary about that entire explanation. Thanks for the help thus far.