RobR

I've finally received my replacement soft top with a glass window, and opted to perform the installation myself. Is there anyone out there that's done this before, and if so, do you have any suggestions, tips or tricks I might make use of to make sure this goes smoothly? The manufacturer indicated that if I follow the instructions, it should take me about 9 hours from start to finish. I'm hoping it doesn't take much longer than that. Anyone? Thanks!

Just passed 100k miles on my 2000 Boxster S on Feb 5, and still love the car to pieces. It's got that classic rattle on startup, but the engine runs pretty smooth. Replaced the entire power steering system last year, done the brakes twice since I bought it in Oct 2010, and replaced the tires twice, as well. Water pump blew not too long after I got it, so had to replace that. Probably need to replace the AOS and rings soon, and there's apparently a slight oil leak on top of the engine, as well as needing to replace one of the A/C compressors. Shifts wonderfully, but could probably benefit from a gear box oil change. Would probably also benefit from replaced coil packs. Just ordered a new top with a glass window, should be here this week. Installing that myself on Saturday!

I've got the same issue with my 2000 at 91k miles. Driving me nuts. AOS is the last thing I've got to replace, as I've replaced everything else. Hopefully, the part isn't too terribly expensive, as I've already spent more FIXING this car than I paid to buy it! Love the car, but this is ridiculous. :|

That is excellent info, Lumpy05! That is precisely what I was looking for. Thank you! I'll be ordering that ASAP.

I've come to the determination that my cigarette lighter plug isn't deep enough to actually use any normal charging devices in it, and I'd like to replace it with a standard depth one. Any ideas? Thanks!

Today I will be trying the adjustment of the hand brake, as when I got the car back from the dealership after the rear brakes were replaced, the sound had gone. It doesn't make the rattling going over bumps, though.

Thanks, all. I'll have to look into all of these options and let you know what I find. Thanks again!

I recently had my 2000 Boxster S in for rear brakes, exhaust and power steering service (none of which i was comfortable doing at the time, thought that has changed now). On the invoice, the technician noted that the nearside (driver's side, which is on the right for my car) catalytic converter "rattles." I know exactly what he's talking about; I hear this weird vibration when the car is at low speeds and idle, and it bothers me. Is there a shield of some sort that might be rattling? If not, do I need to replace the catalytic converter to stop this weird vibration/rattling noise? I'm really hoping I can avoid replacing it...they're not cheap. Thanks.

Any ideas as to how to get one of my two key fobs to work again? It used to work when I bought the car five months ago. If I replace the battery, will I have to get Porsche to reprogram it for my car?

I should probably state right now that my battery has only been dead once. I'm pretty sure I don't need a new one; the only reason I bought the maintainer is that I mistakenly thought it would charge it from dead. I was wrong. My battery is most likely fine; it was installed only a year ago by the previous owner. I still have their receipt. :) Thanks, guys!

Oh, it works alright. I discovered the code under the mat under the front hood. It was in there with the number for Porsche Assistance on a lovely plastic card. That particular unit might not have been in the car when it was made, but it most definitely works. Now that I've unlocked it, it works beautifully! :)

Hi, Loren, I've got a locked radio in my 2000 S (if you read my last post, you know why already!). CDR-32 Type: 4667 S/N: Y5022262 Any help would be awesome. Thanks! EDIT: Nevermind. I'm an idiot and didn't read the "READ ME FIRST" on the 986 main forum page. My model isn't unlockable by serial number, according to the FAQ. My apologies.

The maintainer worked great after I let the car run for 2 hours. Took it from 2 bars to 8 (on the maintainer). The car started right up, all the lights were bright, there was no hesitation in the starter or the engine catching, so all is right with the world. :) Good idea about the load testing. It's going to the dealer on Thursday for some service; I'll mention it to them. I'm hoping I don't need a new battery; those things are ridiculously over-priced.

As I'm sure most of you know, when you leave a Boxster sitting for an extended period of time, the alarm system tends to do two things. First, after 7 days of idle-hood, the security system "forgets" about the key fobs that came with the car. That wasn't fun the first two times it happened at 6:30AM, waking up my neighbors when I set off the alarm. Second, the alarm system drains the battery. As in COMPLETELY. No stopping it, either, try as you might. The fun comes in when the battery isn't strong enough to pop the hood, but the alarm still goes off. MAN, is that loud in a closed garage! Anyway, here's what I tried to get things to work. I didn't succeed until today, but this has been going on for the better part of 2 weeks now. As my first attempt at getting the car charged up, I searched out the old Harley battery maintainer I had from years ago. Found it no problem. Following the instructions on the inside of the fuse panel (thanks to Renntech for that little tidbit), I hooked up the positive lead to the little red jumper from the fuse panel, and the ground to the door catch. Hoping it would charge the battery a little bit and not cost me a dime, I left it sitting like that overnight. Came back out in the morning, and nothing had changed. On to the next idea. A week later, I finally managed to make it over to the auto parts store about a half mile from my house. The main reason I didn't get over there earlier? There's no parking nearby, and they like to close just after I finally make it home from work, so there's no time to walk there. I cut out a little early one day after working a little extra the day before, and I get a battery maintainer designed for regular car batteries. I even bought the really nice one that comes with leads you can leave on the battery. I tried the same setup as before, but this one at least had indicators on it. It kept telling me there was no battery attached. I thought maybe there was no ground, so I pushed myself under the side of the car, and found some bare chassis. No go. Not quite giving up, the following day, I called the auto parts store again and requested one of the cigarette lighter adapters for the particular maintainer I purchased the day before. They didn't have one in stock, but could get it for me the next day. I roll in there the day after, pick that up, and try the whole process again. Porsche: 3, Rob: 0. Finally, after re-reading the advice on here AGAIN, I concluded that all I needed to spend the money on was a decent set of jumper cables, so off I went back to the auto parts store. I picked up the jumper cables with my dog in tow, and when I got home, hooked them up the way the diagram on the pamphlet in the fuse panel said to, started the other car, turned the key and voila! The button for the hood suddenly worked. After a couple of minutes of searching, I discovered where the battery lived, pulled off the cover, and hooked up my trusty jumper cables properly (positive on the battery, ground on the chassis). It started right up! I let it run for 2 hours in the garage (I left the door open), and I was working around the house while it charged. Then I shut it off, hooked up the battery maintainer, and everything is everything. :) When all is said and done, the moral of the story is this: when the advice is to use jumper cables, just go out and get a set of jumper cables. It works. =)

Got an email a couple weeks ago from my local dealer with some info on a stereo headunit they're calling the "Porsche Classic radio navigation system." Thought you guys might like to see what they're offering here, so here's the email (the pics might not show up - sorry!). I'm considering it, as an audio/nav upgrade is something I've been meaning to have done to my 2000 Boxster S anyway.