cmcqxx

I went out to warm up my 2000 996 this morning, and it appears to be a victim of the cold weather. Unfortunately it was parked outside last night.

The window didn't drop when I opened the door and the key won't turn at all in the ignition. The radio works, but I know that doesn't mean there is enough juice to power the car. The battery is only about 4 months old so I really think/hope it isn't dead. Any thoughts on how and what to try to defrost first?

Thanks
Charlie

jumper5836

Get a jump start instructions are in the manual or get a battery charger or tender. Disconnect the battery and bring it inside and then hook it up till it charges. Once it has a full charge it should be good to go.
Don't charge or jump start a frozen battery. Remember to prop up the hood to prevent it from closing and locking otherwise it's more work to open the hood with no battery.

fpb111

If the key won't turn there is ice? in the ign switch. Did you wiggle the steering wheel while trying to turn the switch to see if the key will free up and turn when the pressure is off of it? You can try to heat the key with a match and insert it in the ign switch to see if you can get it to turn. Just don't melt the plastic.

AndyK

Luckily our 2000 MY cars have the manual hood and trunk releases, so that's not an issue.

Definitely invest in a Porsche battery trickle charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter - keeps my car starting even after weeks of sitting in the garage, waiting for the salt to go away!

PS--Welcome!

Imo000

If the ignition doesn't turn, how did the radio come on?

NineEreven

^^ mine can turn on without a key in the ignition. I accidentally turn it on when I'm cleaning the car all the time.

Kalashnikov

+1 on steering lock being ON.

It is extremely unlikely that your ignition cylinder somehow froze. Exterior locks freeze out due to being exposed to water and condensation during the day as snow melts on the car, at night this water and vapor freezes.

In my country we dealt with this by WD40ing all doors before weather got to -20c and if doors do freeze using the hair dryers or buckets of hot water if no hair drying was available.

fpb111

That is why I had ?? after "...ice in ign..."

wucash

Remove the battery close the frunk and see if you can open it without battery with you "manual" hood release.

rattlsnak

Im pretty sure, he means the starter wouldn't turn over, but there is enough juice to run the radio?

white out

+1 for steering lock

KoB

FWIW, the Porsche branded "dual mode battery charger" is a rebranded CTEK 3300. The CTEK costs a lot less without the Porsche branding. I got mine from Amazon -- a CTEK MUS 4.3 (newer model) with the optional cigarette lighter plug. It has worked well so far and -- while I have no hard data -- it certainly seems like a step up from the Deltran Battery Tenders I use on my bike and riding mower.

The CTEK also comes standard with the ring terminals and alligator clamps, both of which Porsche will charge extra for.

Litesonic

I picked up a black and decker model from Target for $20. It has the alligator clamps, rings, and cigarette adaptor version (which is what I use)

Blinks to tell you it's working and them goes solid when you are full.

It also works for 6V if you have any of those floating around.

fpb111

So, Resolution was???

cmcqxx

Basically, the resolution was time and temperature. I didn't have a charger and had tried turning the wheel to address the steering lock to no avail. The sun started to come around the corner of the house and hit the car, and I was able to get enough snow and ice off the frunk to let the sun hit the battery. I gave it 20 mins and tried again, and all was good. It has been fine since - esp since I've made sure it was in the garage and night and took my wife's car today when it was 2 degrees when I left for work.