Batteries, Batteries, Batteries, What do you use or recommend in a 914? Original Porsche Battery & Fuel Rail Recall Info Options

[tumamilhem]

I know there have been a couple threads mentioning this, but I thought it would be helpful to have a thread solitary to the discussion of batteries to compare and contrast the pros and cons of many options to make an educated and sound decision when buying the right kind of battery for your car. This will also serve as a good guide by seasoned owners for new 914 owners.

So I'll go first with the most obvious question, and actually a current one, as I am shopping around for a new battery for my car.

What (in your opinion) is the best battery to use in a 914 and why? This is a question I am curious about because I need a new battery.

Many 914 owners prefer the Optima due to its closed top to prevent leaking of acid that drains down into the notorious hell hole, eventually destroying the frame of the car if not tended to. This is a huge advantage. Typically, the type of Optima used is the Red Top / Size 34 Series.

I have used Interstate in the past. I don't find they last too long. I also had cranking issues sometimes. The battery would seam to wear down quicker if I needed to start it a few times.

I am currently trying to take advantage of the recall on the 914 which was the battery issue. I discovered that not only did Porsche provide the battery cover, but replaced fuel lines. I contacted Brumos Porsche (I live locally) inquiring if this was still done. Not only could they not bring up anything via my year and VIN number, but not the recall number either. So they had to make a few phone calls to dig deeper into their archives. It's been a week now and nothing yet.

Here is that recall information for your information:

Porsche 914 Fuel Rail Recalls
Recall Number: 77V105000
Owner Notification Date: July 12, 1977
Record Creation Date: October 12, 1979

Defect Description:
The Battery covers on the involved vehicles may be missing, damaged, or improperly installed. This condition could allow water to contact the top of the battery and mix with acid. This mixture could cause the fuel hoses to deteriorate and lead to fuel leakage.

Defect Consequence: n/a
Corrective Action: Dealer will install a new Battery cover and hold down clamp, and replace all fuel hoses in the engine compartment, without charge to owner.

So what battery do you recommend?

[Tom_T]

Tuma,

Recalls -

For the recall you'll need to call PCNA's 800# in Atlanta, choose customer care & ask them to check your VIN for the recalls.

Any ones not done before by a PO are still required to be done, & they'll go thru the process to locate the parts & get you an approval order # to take to Brumos or any P-dealer. It may take a few weeks, but they have to do it if not done yet, & they may send someone out to look on your 914(s) to see if they are/were tagged for it as verification.

Then you can go to the dealer for it.

I know for sure, cuz I had it done for my 73 2L in 2010-11, but won't take it in until it's ready after my sloooow resto! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Batteries -

Optima & Interstate are now owned by the same company (in China IIRC) for a few years now, & they reduced quality & the warranties on both to only 24 months for both brands of all types. I'd used Interstates before in our Westy, BMW & Honda Civic (kids' car) with nary a problem & they would usually outlast the warranty by several years.

Not so any more according to what everyone is saying, & your experience is probably of the post-takeover & shorter life batteries.

Optima is an AGM glass mat type battery & there are some other brands offering AGM - the advantage being that the gel impregnated mats are less likely to leak than standard lead acid liquid cell types.

Anyone using a standard liquid cell should be buying the sealed type & use a battery acid pad under it (good insurance with ANY battery type IMHO).

Back in the 70's most batteries weren't sealed & you regularly checked the cells & topped-off each cell with distilled water if any of the cell plates were exposed to air. They were more prone to "boiling over" & spilling acid into the engine bay & over the OE fabric covered fuel lines, causing them to decay & leak, leading to catastrophic engine fires.

Other options are the dry cell type like Odyssy etc. brands, which are also smaller & lighter for equal CCA/CA, as well as that LI battery someone posted on here in the past few days.

Hopefully someone can post a link there &/or add that LI battery info & on the Odyssy/dry cell ones here too.

If your 914 driving is limited, then you also need to get a trickle charger/maintainer able to handle your chosen type of battery fully charged in between drives. There are many brands & types out there, some handle one or a couple of battery types, & some multiple battery types (liquid cell lead acid, AGM, dry cell, LI, HS, etc.). You need to match them to your battery(s) you have on all your vehicles, & research which are currently testing well in use by the auto mags, websites, Consumer Reports, etc.

IMHO, for long winter or longer storage periods, it's best to pull out the battery & put it aside with/without the maintainer; & then wash out your battery area with baking soda in water & clear water rinse, & dry it to prevent residual acid from eating your paint then metal battery tray/body parts.

PS - Another advantage of the smaller dry cell & LI etc. batteries to the CWs out there, is that you could possibly get a period correct looking Bosch/etc. wet cell battery shell, and install/connect the smaller & safer battery inside connected to the "dummy battery" posts - then the whole thing could be accessed by opening the top of the dummy, but it would be unknown to anyone that you've actually mounted a safer dry cell, etc. inside to preserve that costly resto or original survivor!

[tumamilhem]

Tuma,

Recalls -

For the recall you'll need to call PCNA's 800# in Atlanta, choose customer care & ask them to check your VIN for the recalls.

Any ones not done before by a PO are still required to be done, & they'll go thru the process to locate the parts & get you an approval order # to take to Brumos or any P-dealer. It may take a few weeks, but they have to do it if not done yet, & they may send someone out to look on your 914(s) to see if they are/were tagged for it as verification.

Then you can go to the dealer for it.

I know for sure, cuz I had it done for my 73 2L in 2010-11, but won't take it in until it's ready after my sloooow resto! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Batteries -

Optima & Interstate are now owned by the same company (in China IIRC) for a few years now, & they reduced quality & the warranties on both to only 24 months for both brands of all types. I'd used Interstates before in our Westy, BMW & Honda Civic (kids' car) with nary a problem & they would usually outlast the warranty by several years.

Not so any more according to what everyone is saying, & your experience is probably of the post-takeover & shorter life batteries.

Optima is an AGM glass mat type battery & there are some other brands offering AGM - the advantage being that the gel impregnated mats are less likely to leak than standard lead acid liquid cell types.

Anyone using a standard liquid cell should be buying the sealed type & use a battery acid pad under it (good insurance with ANY battery type IMHO).

Back in the 70's most batteries weren't sealed & you regularly checked the cells & topped-off each cell with distilled water if any of the cell plates were exposed to air. They were more prone to "boiling over" & spilling acid into the engine bay & over the OE fabric covered fuel lines, causing them to decay & leak, leading to catastrophic engine fires.

Other options are the dry cell type like Odyssy etc. brands, which are also smaller & lighter for equal CCA/CA, as well as that LI battery someone posted on here in the past few days.

Hopefully someone can post a link there &/or add that LI battery info & on the Odyssy/dry cell ones here too.

If your 914 driving is limited, then you also need to get a trickle charger/maintainer able to handle your chosen type of battery fully charged in between drives. There are many brands & types out there, some handle one or a couple of battery types, & some multiple battery types (liquid cell lead acid, AGM, dry cell, LI, HS, etc.). You need to match them to your battery(s) you have on all your vehicles, & research which are currently testing well in use by the auto mags, websites, Consumer Reports, etc.

IMHO, for long winter or longer storage periods, it's best to pull out the battery & put it aside with/without the maintainer; & then wash out your battery area with baking soda in water & clear water rinse, & dry it to prevent residual acid from eating your paint then metal battery tray/body parts.

PS - Another advantage of the smaller dry cell & LI etc. batteries to the CWs out there, is that you could possibly get a period correct looking Bosch/etc. wet cell battery shell, and install/connect the smaller & safer battery inside connected to the "dummy battery" posts - then the whole thing could be accessed by opening the top of the dummy, but it would be unknown to anyone that you've actually mounted a safer dry cell, etc. inside to preserve that costly resto or original survivor!

Did Porsche (dealer) actually provide the kit to do the recall? If so, which dealer/city/state?

I heard back from Brumos today. They, nor their headquarters in Atlanta, nor Germany have any recall kits. They stopped making them 15 years ago and there's none left in their warehouses. So this recall cannot be provided without these parts that no longer exist.

The next step we are looking into is to see if someone cane provide like aftermarket parts to perform the service. I suggested Tangerine Racing SS lines, not sure about the battery cover though. They have to look into it. The only way Porsche can continue this recall service is to find suitable aftermarket parts to do it, and Porsche must approve of them that they are up to par according to their standards to use them. If so, then they can purchase them from the provider and perform the service.

Will keep you guys posted when I find out more.

[Tom_T]

Tommy -

HO only covers the rubber fuel hoses inside the engine bay & replacing the single use clamps they used, & the full battery cover - nothing else, as Jeff pointed out.

IIRC they did have a "kit" which IIRC only included the big full battery cap in the top photo from Jeff's website & a parts list & service bullitin/circular for the work required to be done - since the rubber fuel hose (with no outer fabric) & hose clamps were standard bulk order items in every shop. They still are today, and certainly they can find another full battery cover in their parts line, as they did using an Audi 100 model's battery cover for the original "HO kits" back in the `70's.

So that story about no more kits is pure BS - since under Federal law PCNA is required to find a way to do such safety related mandatory recalls - per PCNA's own staff & my own research! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

My guess is that the Brumos mechanics, service writers, service mgr. etc. don't want to mess with it on a Porsche model which is older than most/all of them, & only went as far as asking PCNA parts if they have any "kits" - so they aren't going to do anything they don't have to - especially for customers who don't go there for all of their regular service.

The Porsche dealerships &/or PCNA should have copies on-hand of the required NHTSA service bullitin/circular for this "HO Recall," but many dealers may have purged their files even though they're required by Federal Law to keep all mandatory recall ones.

So first download & print out a few copies of the HO recall from Jeff's site (1 each for you, Brumos & PCNA & NHTSA-if needed), then do as I did & call PCNA directly to customer care & go thru their "official process" above, & if they try to wiggle, thell them it is mandatory with no time limit, & you'd have to report it to NHTSA if they won't.

You can email/PM me if you have trouble & we can talk by phone if you have any trouble with them. Also IIRC "TC" on here works for a P-dealer in Tampa-St. Pete, so he may have some insight.

BTW - the HO & other recall letter codes were just a series of recall designations used by either NHTSA or Porsche to ID them.

FYI - make sure that the service techs who eventually do the work know to do it with the fuel hose & clamps spec'ed for the higher pressure of the Djet EFI system, & not the lower pressure stuff for carb'ed Porsches.

If you've changed out your fuel lines recently, then you may want to go thru the process with PCNA for HO Recall approval now, and then sit on it for awhile until you need new fuel hoses again anyway.

Also, I see at least 2 914s in your avatar pic, so do all of them on the same call to PCNA described above, & get them to do it for any/all of your 914s at the same time to save yourself time & grief! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[tumamilhem]

Tommy -

HO only covers the rubber fuel hoses inside the engine bay & replacing the single use clamps they used, & the full battery cover - nothing else, as Jeff pointed out.

IIRC they did have a "kit" which IIRC only included the big full battery cap in the top photo from Jeff's website & a parts list & service bullitin/circular for the work required to be done - since the rubber fuel hose (with no outer fabric) & hose clamps were standard bulk order items in every shop. They still are today, and certainly they can find another full battery cover in their parts line, as they did using an Audi 100 model's battery cover for the original "HO kits" back in the `70's.

So that story about no more kits is pure BS - since under Federal law PCNA is required to find a way to do such safety related mandatory recalls - per PCNA's own staff & my own research! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

My guess is that the Brumos mechanics, service writers, service mgr. etc. don't want to mess with it on a Porsche model which is older than most/all of them, & only went as far as asking PCNA parts if they have any "kits" - so they aren't going to do anything they don't have to - especially for customers who don't go there for all of their regular service.

The Porsche dealerships &/or PCNA should have copies on-hand of the required NHTSA service bullitin/circular for this "HO Recall," but many dealers may have purged their files even though they're required by Federal Law to keep all mandatory recall ones.

So first download & print out a few copies of the HO recall from Jeff's site (1 each for you, Brumos & PCNA & NHTSA-if needed), then do as I did & call PCNA directly to customer care & go thru their "official process" above, & if they try to wiggle, thell them it is mandatory with no time limit, & you'd have to report it to NHTSA if they won't.

You can email/PM me if you have trouble & we can talk by phone if you have any trouble with them. Also IIRC "TC" on here works for a P-dealer in Tampa-St. Pete, so he may have some insight.

BTW - the HO & other recall letter codes were just a series of recall designations used by either NHTSA or Porsche to ID them.

FYI - make sure that the service techs who eventually do the work know to do it with the fuel hose & clamps spec'ed for the higher pressure of the Djet EFI system, & not the lower pressure stuff for carb'ed Porsches.

If you've changed out your fuel lines recently, then you may want to go thru the process with PCNA for HO Recall approval now, and then sit on it for awhile until you need new fuel hoses again anyway.

Also, I see at least 2 914s in your avatar pic, so do all of them on the same call to PCNA described above, & get them to do it for any/all of your 914s at the same time to save yourself time & grief! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I do appreciate that information. Very much.

I think the kit is discontinued, and probably the parts individually may be available. They looked up the kit and that part number was discontinued years ago, while the individual parts may still remain with their individual part numbers.

The guy who was looking into all this (Blair) who is one of the service managers, spent a week and a half researching this. He even corresponded with Porsche in Germany.

I sent him all the info and documents regarding the recall, including links to other parts (SS lines by Tangerine Racing) from Jeff's 914 website (which he was very impressed Jeff has all that info on hand as it took them a while to find anything, so kudos to Jeff, whom I talked up quite a bit to Brumos, even telling them about his white plastic lines and wiring harnesses. Happy to support!) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Unfortunately, the call I just got from Brumos ended my claim. Apparently, the recall was performed on my car soon after it was made in 1977, though those parts aren't on my car (still plastic lines).

So I guess I'm out a buck. Going to splurge for SS lines when I can afford it. Still have other parts to get for my car too (OG gauges, fog grills, bumper top, etc.).

If I may go off my own topic for just a quick moment in relation. I know most of you guys can do most of the work on your cars yourself. I'm not much of a mechanic. Has anybody taken their car to a shop to replace the lines with SS lines and if so, about what does it cost altogether?

[Eric_Shea]

I do appreciate that information. Very much.

I think the kit is discontinued, and probably the parts individually may be available. They looked up the kit and that part number was discontinued years ago, while the individual parts may still remain with their individual part numbers.

The guy who was looking into all this (Blair) who is one of the service managers, spent a week and a half researching this. He even corresponded with Porsche in Germany.

I sent him all the info and documents regarding the recall, including links to other parts (SS lines by Tangerine Racing) from Jeff's 914 website (which he was very impressed Jeff has all that info on hand as it took them a while to find anything, so kudos to Jeff, whom I talked up quite a bit to Brumos, even telling them about his white plastic lines and wiring harnesses. Happy to support!) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Unfortunately, the call I just got from Brumos ended my claim. Apparently, the recall was performed on my car soon after it was made in 1977, though those parts aren't on my car (still plastic lines).

So I guess I'm out a buck. Going to splurge for SS lines when I can afford it. Still have other parts to get for my car too (OG gauges, fog grills, bumper top, etc.).

If I may go off my own topic for just a quick moment in relation. I know most of you guys can do most of the work on your cars yourself. I'm not much of a mechanic. Has anybody taken their car to a shop to replace the lines with SS lines and if so, about what does it cost altogether?

You boys are killing helpless ROMs and RAMs and Andy's sever farm now has one dedicated just for the content of this thread...

Go buy a battery already. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif)

[MDG]

You boys are killing helpless ROMs and RAMs and Andy's sever farm now has one dedicated just for the content of this thread...

Go buy a battery already. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif)

If we just keep quoting these gigantic posts, pretty soon a single post will take up an entire page.

Cool.

[Rand]

If we just keep quoting these gigantic posts, pretty soon a single post will take up an entire page.

Cool.

If you don't know how to buy a sealed battery, then you are doomed..... To the sandbox..... Or the transition thereof........... Where's the lead I cry.... but not.... Wait, where's Sandy? He tried to tell me it was his new identity.

[MDG]

If you don't know how to buy a sealed battery, then you are doomed..... To the sandbox..... Or the transition thereof........... Where's the lead I cry.... but not.... Wait, where's Sandy? He tried to tell me it was his new identity.

My computer actually . . slows . . down . . . when . . . I . . . . open . . . . . this . . . . thread.

[scotty b]

My computer actually . . slows . . down . . . when . . . I . . . . open . . . . . this . . . . thread.

I like turtles