911searcher

I hear some major clicking from my driver's side ... maybe the window motor (it does tend to get annoyed when my windows sticks in the winter) ? the starter ? (dont know where it is).

turning lights flicker (outside the car)
Alarm goes off, then stops.
The dash lights seem to flicker.
The tail is extended.
The passenger air bag off light flickers (inside the car)

In summary, it seems as if the electrical is flickering on and off.

The Window is partially down. (so maybe it isn't the

It's definitely going to drain the battery.
Anyone know how to disable power to the window motor ? Driver's side ?

I'm at work with no tools Battery is surely draining.

Wonder if it is worth disconnecting the battery, recharging it.

Note: before the battery drained, I opened the frunk ! (experience !).

All ideas appreciated. Sorry for the mess of this post.

Here's a video of all the noise and flickering !

911searcher

Looks like RowA F1 is driver's door power window.

Macster

Electrically that car appears to be sick. Without knowing the history of the car all I can do is offer some general advice...

First check for water in the cabin. Under the seats. Along the door bottoms.

Water under the seats is often from a backed up body water drain.

Wet door bottoms can be a door membrane leaking compounded by a leaking window seal. The one that seals the window at the door when the window is all the way up.

'course a front or rear window can leak as can the sun roof.

While you are at it check for rodent sign.

Can you affect the behavior by moving/wiggling the key in the ignition? If so the problem can be an ignition switch.

Is the battery low? These cars get goofy when the battery is low. If the car is dry and if there is no rodent sign you could try a recharge, a re-condition of the battery.

911searcher

I was able to get the Window to roll up when I jumped the battery.
Towing it today

911searcher

I called the mechanic ... they think it might be a dead battery.
Maybe I just didn't jump it long enough and my cables are bad.

It is cold lately.
And my car has been sitting lately.
Hmmmmm.

Macster

That will do it. My 996 Turbo sits outside in a covered carport and the battery has been showing signs of running low on charge of late. While probably not as cold as where you are plenty cold enough: Overnight temps down to 27F to 28F some dry/clear nights. The other day when I started the engine there was some initial hesitation from the starter when I turned the key to start and the battery voltage dropped low enough the trip odometer readout reset to zero. Not a good sign.

I had been driving the car almost every other day to/from work which is a 60 mile round trip trying to keep the battery topped up -- I have no way to connect a battery charger -- but these cars at least the newer examples and the more expensive examples -- my plain base 2002 Boxster doesn't have this problem -- are hard on batteries. I have no additional electrical loads in the car either. I unplug the radar detector and the NAVI unit when I park the car.

The Turbo got so bad I talked to the SM about a new battery and he instead took the car in and had the tech connect some fancy smacy battery charger/reconditioner to the battery. Upon the initial connection the tech reported the charger found the battery was at around 45%. He left the charger connected for a day and a night and after some charge/discharge cycles the battery was back to 100%. Apparently the battery plates suffered from sulfation. I have the car back and the engine starts right up now. Oh, no charge for the uhhh charge...

But I was prepared to replace the battery. My experience is battery quality is down and for some reason -- maybe due to battery quality -- these cars (at least some of them) are harder on batteries.

A bit long winded but just wanted to get across that battery life in these cars even with reasonable useage can be short lived. And a low battery can bring with it all sorts of weird symptoms.

911searcher

I called the Automobile Association to try to boost it.
My guess is that something else is going on ... but I'll be tickled pink if it just the battery.

911searcher

AA couldn't get it started,
Getting it towed !

911searcher

Turns out it was a dead battery.

$120 New Battery Labour
$193 Battery Exide #94R/L4.

I got lucky.

Added an oil change:

$20 filter
$85 synth 5W40 FUCHS
$96 oil change and inspection

I got lucky !!

911searcher

I see my airbag light is on.

was that something that needs resetting after the battery dies ?

EDIT
Found the answer.