pchak

I let my 2008 Cayenne (v-6) sit in the garage too long without starting, and the battery is dead. I tried to charge it at the posts in the engine compartment, but while doing that, I get intermittent lights on, locks cycling, etc., and not enough power to crank. Voltage across the those terminals is no better than 9.5v.

I assume after reading a similar post, that the battery is probably toast (I assume the original). How can I get the power seat forward and then backward to loosen the seat bolts to get at the battery? I can't get enough juice in the system to power the seat motor.

Thanks!

endless_corners

Can you get it started with jumper cables connected to other vehicle and then work the seat controls?

Andy E.

Hook up your charger to the posts in the engine compartment but do not turn on the ignition switch. Using this temporary power source, you can then cycle the seat to access the battery.

mcbit

^This

endless_corners

That's what I was trying to say.

pchak

I'm already past that. I assume that there is a dead cell in the battery. That's why I was asking for an alternative.

CAVU

Just an idea from someone who is not a EE. Your battery charger may not have enough amperage to overcome the draw of the dead cell. What brand and model of charger are you using?

I have a charger that has 3 settings, 2amp/trickle, 10amp, and 50 amp starter. In your case I would be trying it at 10 amp for an hour or two, leave it connected and then try and electrically move the seat. Have your tools ready and I wouldn't disconnect the battery until I got all of the bolts removed.

Second thought. Have you looked under the seat to see if there is a disconnect between the seat motor and the drive mechanism.

pchak

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try that next. I knew that the battery location was a potential problem, but never gave moving the seat much thought...

cordsig79

You should be able to still remove the front cover and plastic rails, then unscrew the front and rock it back some or just remove the whole seat if need be?

pchak

I agree.
I've read that you should loosen the rear bolts first, but if I have no luck, I'll try to loosen the front ones.

endless_corners

There must be some procedure to access the battery in this scenario. So the car is impossible to jump with the under hood jump points? When you connect it to a running vehicle there is nada?

Matt O.

Don't forget this!

https://vimeo.com/115830153

pauloil

you can't charge a dead battery

CAVU

Not necessarily true. There are a number of "failing" modes for auto batteries and a couple are "failed" modes that are bad enough to create an amp draw in and of themselves...so high the car will no longer run despite a functioning alternator. This rarity probably doesn't end well for the battery and things around it.

I wasn't suggesting to try and recharge the battery. What I was suggesting is the possibility that the battery has not failed so badly that a higher amp charger could temporarily overcome the "failing" mode in the battery to allow the user to at least move the seat. It was my opinion that a 10 amp charger might be enough leaving it on for an hour or two, leave it connected and then give it a try. A trickle charger, not so much.

Just my opinion.

ygmen313

you need a 12 bit bolt to remove only the front two screws on the chair, pretty easy and will take about 40 minutes to replace if needed