Boxster's Dead Heat: Window Warming System Fails

Hey there, I actually faced a similar issue with my 2011 Porsche Cayman last winter. Initially thought it was just the heated windows, but it turned out to be battery-related. The weak battery wasn't providing enough power to run the heating elements properly. When I took it to the garage, they did a full electrical diagnostic and found that the original battery had degraded significantly over time, even though my car wasn't driven much (about 31,000 KM). They had to replace the battery and reset the electrical system. It wasn't a super serious issue, but leaving it unchecked could have led to other electrical problems. After the fix, all the heating elements worked perfectly again. Make sure whoever checks it out does a proper battery health test first before diving into the window heating system specifically. Sometimes what seems like a complex issue has a pretty straightforward solution. Just my experience with it, hope this helps!

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful and similar to what I was thinking might be the issue. Do you remember roughly how much you paid for the battery replacement and diagnostic? Also, has everything been working smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other electrical quirks?

Hey again! Happy to follow up! Yeah, I took care of the battery issue right away, the total bill came to 290€, which covered both the diagnostic work and replacing the battery. I'd say it was worth every penny because not only did it fix the windscreen heating completely, but the car's overall electrical system has been running like a charm since then. It's been over a year now, and I haven't had a single electrical problem. The heated windows work perfectly, even on those super frosty mornings! Actually, it's kind of funny looking back, I was initially worried it might be something way more complicated (and expensive), but sometimes the simple fix is the right fix, you know? If you're still looking for a mechanic, I'd be happy to recommend where I got mine done. They really knew their stuff with Porsches, and they were pretty straightforward about what needed fixing. No unnecessary upselling or anything like that. Let me know if you need any other details!

Thanks a lot for the follow-up! I actually took your advice and got it checked out yesterday. You were spot on, it was indeed a battery issue! The mechanic I found, Mike's Auto, specializes in German cars and did a fantastic job. The whole thing, including diagnostics and a new battery, cost me around 310€. The funny part is, just like your situation, I was stressing about it being some complex electrical nightmare. But nope, just needed a fresh battery! The heated windows are working perfectly now, and I've noticed the car feels more responsive overall. Mike even showed me how the old battery was affecting other electrical components. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it helped me avoid that sketchy mechanic from before and saved me from potentially spending way more than necessary. Think I've found my new go-to mechanic too! Take care!