Just curious if everyone locks your car when parked in the home garage, because I noticed that the "orientation light" stays on forever if you don't.

I usually never lock my car in the garage, but now sometimes I don't get to drive the TT for a week, so I'm thinking that leaving the alarm on will draw less battery power than leaving it unlocked with the orientation light on?

It is also my understanding that the alarm remote will temporarily disable, and you'll have to use the key if your cars sits for more than 5 days with the alarm activated?

 

My P car mechanic told me to arm the car all the time.... it drains the battery if yo do not.

 

I always lock the car up. Your correct, after 5 days of sitting in the garage locked, you will have to use your key to unlock the car.

 

What he said. Plus I dont need my kids "showing" the car their buddies when Im not around.

 

car goes into ''sleep mode'' after few days ^^. save the battery. lock it. OE battery sucks.

 

I never lock my car...It's been sitting for the longest time ever(2 weeks).

Where is the battery located anyways? Is it easy to get to?

 

I always do just out of habit

 

I engage my alarm in the garage and when I know I am not going to use that bay for a period of time I disable the garage door as well.

 

..... i dont know about the 997 but the 996 has the battery under the hood. its covered by a plastic piece up by the top near the windshield.

 

Thanks for the helpful replies. In 5 years of owning 996's, I'd never had a battery problem leaving it unlocked. But I'd never not driven it for more than 1 week at a time. But even more importantly, I don't think my 99' 996 C2 had an "orientation light" to drain the battery like the Turbo does.

At least jumping the car was easy with the battery connection being in back engine compartment, while the battery is in the front.

 

what's an orientation light?

 

Does arm=alarm? Can you arm the car w/o the alarm going off if you bump it?

 

Weird.. I haven't touched my car in over 2 months, its been in the garage unlocked, started it today with no issue what so ever!!

 

What I would like to hear is why locking it takes less battery...Putting a meter on it gives no difference, locked or not?

 

I never lock mine and have left it for up to ten days...no problem...it starts right up. I'd also like to hear the official explanation of why locking it causes less of a drain than locking it. Lots of speculation here, but no explanation from a Porsche engineer or electrical engineer who's looked at the wiring diagram.