OT : Car ECU - wierdest behaviour...

....I've ever seen.

The Boxster doesn't get used much, but it does have this thing where it
turns the "remote plipper sensor" off after sitting there for 5 days to
save power, in an attempt to stave off a flat battery.

Its done this a few times, no problem, there's a sequence you do to get
the remote working again and all is well.

Came back home yesterday from work (in work car), got ready, walked
outside, press remote button, silence.

Press. Silence.
Press. Clunk, but indicator lights don't flash. And its locked itself.
But it was locked already.
Press. Clunk. Ditto. Locked itself again.
Press. Clunk. Unlocks! Alarm goes off. (and by christ is that bastard
loud)

So the plipper reluctantly works the central locking (opens every 3rd
press from what I could work out) but will not turn the alarm off, and
the engines immobilised.

Phone up specialists who go through a couple of things and his best
guess is its a flat battery. Which was right. Well, battery is
completely fucked, put new one in and its all fine and happy.


So it seems the ECU, when it senses the battery dying, trys to keep the
car locked and prevents you from disabling the alarm or starting the
car. The specialist did mention its got a sort of "lock down" mode.


Anyone heard of another car that does anything similar?

 

Hog banged the rocks together and they said :

Heh, not really, no.

I thought they would put something in the manual though; "If the
battery goes flat the car will be a complete PITA and the thicker of
you will waste lots of money at you nearest Porsche dealer"

 

The Older Gentleman banged the rocks together and they said :

Never had a dead battery on the 156 so never had that experience.

The remotes seem to stop working as soon as the plipper battery shows
the slightest sign of weakening, and they eat batteries for breakfast
(the two new ones I got for the 156 did, the original one was better)

 

Alan Crowder banged the rocks together and they said :

It was bought with a job change in mind. When I change i'll ditch the
co-car and this'll be used daily.

 

Why not get one of those optimiser thingys for 12V batteries and leave
it on all the time when the car is sat doing nothing.

Just remember to unclip it before driving off.

Alan

 

Any Fiat or Alfa Romeo, by default.

 

message

Even pikey ones like mine that have no "plipper" on the key?

 

Well I think the 911 is the same but that's not really what you meant, is
it.

 

They say not to but I just jump start the fucker

 

In

I had a Boxster in the workshop the other day that the owner had left for
some work then buggered off with the key for. Drove in, asked for a couple
of quick jobs to be done, wandered off.

*Never* jack up a Boxster to move it in a confined space. That is one loud
alarm and it takes ages to shut up again. We ended up all standing in the
race workshop just to get away from the bloody thing.

--
Pete M - Using the Scouse Side of the Force -
Golf GTi Mk2 2.0 8v
Wood and Pickett Range Rover V8 Turbo
Golf GTi Mk1 (For Sale)
OMF#9

Currently listening to The White Stripes

 

Pete M banged the rocks together and they said :

Now, you know the alarm sounder is under the bonnet? Imagine standing
in the front boot loosening bolts, attaching auxilliary 12V supplies,
etc, in preparation for changing the battery, with the alarm going off.

My ears were distorting.

 

why on earth would you not?

 

darsy banged the rocks together and they said :

IIRC they say it can fry the £1500+ ECU.