Is there any write ups on how to get to the damn battery? Is there any other way to disconnect the power system on this vehicle?

I've seen threads on other forums on how to get to the batter on the gen one Cayenne, but nothing on the new ones.

I'm trying to swap out my steering wheel with one from MACarbon and step one is disconnecting the battery to make sure the airbag doesn't deploy in my face.

Thoughts? Anyway around removing the drivers seat/etc?

The Porsche manual is not very helpful. Thanks guys.

 

Nope the seat has to go to get the battery out. Not sure if you can just move the seat all the way forward or back to get at it enough to disconnect it.

I haven't looked at the fronts, but the bolts on the rear seats require a 10mm triple-square driver.

 

Pretty sure the same 10mm triple square (or is it a triple hex?) is used to remove the two front bolts from the driver seat base, at which point the whole seat should tip/tilt backwards to reveal the battery compartment.

//greg//

 

Ok... if it's only two bolts, then that isn't too bad. I'll have to take a closer look.

I'm kinda pissed at Porsche for doing this... used to be getting to a battery was as easy as changing a tire.. oh wait, they're trying to make that harder as well! (center locks anyone? lol)

If anyone has a picture as to where these two bolts are, that'd be helpful as well.

 

oh wow, I guess in the future the AAA battery replacement is out of the question.. didn't know it's under the seat too!

 

I just can't believe the engineers at Porsche actually thought this was a good location for such a thing. Did they simply have no where else to put it?

Hope it never explodes or catches fire in an accident, gonna got hot quick!

Seriously though, stick it in the trunk if you've run out of room in the engine compartment (my B8 S4 had it back there, on the side, where many companies put their nav/etc).

Used to be things like changing your battery, air filters, wiper blades, etc were all considered easy minor maint. This takes it to a new level... not to mention when you mod a vehicle step 1 is generally "disconnect battery".

Thanks Porsche, I'm sure the dealership will be happy to charge me an extra hour or two of labor for that simple step if I don't do it myself.

 

Actually it's a pretty smart place for weight distribution and center of gravity. Batteries aren't exactly light weight so being able to position that weight between the axles and as low as possible will have an impact on how the vehicle handles.

As far as the fire risk, it's actually much safer in the cabin than in the engine bay or trunk (near the gas tank). Car batteries have a very low risk of causing a fire. It's when they interact with other things (like fuel or other fluids) in an accident that is an issue. In the cabin it is more protected from such things.

An 8 piece set (4-16mm) of the triple square drivers cost me $32 on Amazon and given that it seems to be a common head type in cars anymore (at least that's what my Ford Tech neighbor tells me) it's probably good to have a set on hand.

 

Oh and while the battery in our 07 BMW is easy to get to in the trunk, they've engineered it so that replacing the battery requires updating the computer. So even if you do the work yourself, you still get to shell out money to your dealer for basically doing nothing (and doing nothing that should need to be done).

Then there is the issue of the explosive charge they have on the battery...

 

First of all, it's a Cayenne... if they were really worried about weight distribution it would be on the passenger side to offset the weight of the driver when they got into the car...

Regardless, the fact that I have to remove the seat with a special tool to get to it seems counter productive. (Btw, I have the tools already, not a big deal) A simple access panel in the trunk would keep it relatively low (as low as you want if you stick it under the spare) and yet still accessible without messing with the bolts on my seat, which in itself could be dangerous if I mess up tightening them back down. (not that I would).

I'll end my rant... I'm sure it won't take me more than 15mins to get at it now, but it was just not what I was prepared for when I went over to my buddies how to do a quick swap. Just funny to open the hood on your car and not find what you're expecting.

 

It would help to know your subject matter, before you criticize. The under-seat battery is in fact offsetting the weight of the exhaust and DPF systems, which run beneath the passenger side. Battery can't go in the back of either the hybrid or the diesel, so it makes more sense to standardize the location. Matter of fact, I don't think the hybrid even has a spare. Current generation Audi Q7 and VW Touareg batteries are under the driver seat as well. But I'm not quite sure how someone could actually screw up tightening two bolts. Pretty sure they both have to be completely seated for full seat travel.

Speaking of under the hood, perhaps you didn't notice the battery posts there either. If you ever have to use jumper cables, the + and - battery posts are remoted to the top of the driver side fender.

//greg//

 

So what's offsetting my fat ***?

BTW- nothing will change my mind... stupid location for a battery.

 

Let me rephrase; your fat *** plus one 12v battery provides an approximate offset for the weight of the exhaust/DPF components under the passenger side.

//greg//

 

That makes more sense...

 

you can swap steering wheels and disconnect the airbag without unplugging the negative on the battery. it will not explode in your face. just make sure you don't put the key in or if you and entry and drive, make sure its in the off position. if you turn the key so the accessories turn on, your air bag light with trigger and need resetting. Ive swapped steering wheels in bmw's, porsches, Mercedes etc. never once has an airbag blew in my face, just make sure u don't give the car power so you don't have to reset the airbag light.

 

Why is this a problem?