Battery Maintenance Tips for Your Porsche
Your Porsche car battery is hardier than regular car batteries as it can better withstand hotter and colder temperatures that can cause a standard battery to fail.
Even this battery will eventually weaken naturally, and it can also fail due to other issues like worn cables or a failing alternator. As your Porsche Center, we want to tell you a few signs you need to visit us for battery maintenance.
Signs You Need To Visit Your Porsche Center for Battery Maintenance
Battery Cable Issues
Two clamps tightly connected to the positive and negative battery terminals connect your battery to the electrical system. The clamps must be in close contact with the terminals, as electricity can’t pass through a gap. Over time, the clamps can loosen slightly as the cables move when driving. A loose battery clamp prevents the battery from recharging and prevents your Porsche from starting.
The cables can also wear out despite their heat-resistant insulation. Electrical wires become fragile with age and can break. A broken wire in the battery cable will cut the battery’s connection to the electrical system. Electricity from the alternator will still pass into the broken cable when your engine is running, potentially overheating the wire enough to burn the protective insulation. We’ll examine your cables and securely tighten or replace them, depending on the situation.
Corroded Terminals
As a battery ages, the chemicals that enable it to supply and store electricity gradually break down naturally. The most important chemical in your battery is sulfuric acid, which releases hydrogen gas as it degrades. Hydrogen molecules will leak out of the battery casing, and mix with sulfur molecules in the engine to form hydrogen sulfide.
Hydrogen sulfide is corrosive and forms an acidic salt around the battery terminals. This corrosion reduces electricity transfer into and out of the battery, causing issues like slow starting or random electrical glitches when your engine is switched off and the battery supplies power to your car’s systems. We can clean the corrosion, but it will return as long as the old battery remains. Replacing your battery will fix this problem.
Illuminated Battery Warning Light
The battery warning light on your dash lights up in response to any issue affecting the electrical system. Sensors connect to all essential components and systems and monitor them for signs of trouble. A loose cable or declining battery voltage are two types of issues that can be detected. The sensors will warn your computer, and the battery light will illuminate.
Our technicians will examine your battery and charging system to identify the problem, then we’ll repair it. Once the issue is resolved, the warning light will go out.
If you experience a battery problem, contact us ASAP at Porsche Tysons Corner in Vienna, VA.