whall

The Owner's Manual is your friend. If you don't have one, you may be able to find one to down load here at RennTech. If you can't find one for your year car, you can order one through you dealer for about $30.00. Having said this, it sometimes takes reading through the Owner's Manual to find important information not found in the table of contents or the index. In this case, however, the remote control shutting off is explained on page 19 of the MY03 Owner's Manual (found here on RennTech). Bill

joe, Here are a couple of links that you and your mechanic/dealer might find interesting: http://www.porsche.com/all/media/pdf/originalparts/usa/996_USA_KATALOG.pdf Page 594, then page 593 and 595 http://www.porsche.com/all/media/pdf/originalparts/usa/986_USA_KATALOG.pdf Page 468, then page 467 and 469 This a link to the relevant Porsche web site: http://www.porsche.com/usa/accessoriesandservices/porscheservice/originalparts/originalpartscatalogue/ Bill

Brian, If you decide to install a cruise control, why not go the full monte and install the OBC too? You would need a four stalk switch asembly. The switch assembly I saw on e-Bay was a three stalk assembly. Check out this thread: Go down to post #14. Bill

There is considerable information on RennTech to help install double DIN nav systems. If you have a pre-MY03 car, Carrera or Boxster, take a look at, as a start: If you have an MY03 or later car, Carrera or Boxster, takea look at, as a start: or: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=14274&hl=ignition+switch+replacement The use of the Media Oriented System Transport (MOST) bus started with MY03 Carreras and Boxsters. The MOST bus ties together the radio/(optional)PCM, the (optional) amplifier, the (optional) CD changer and the (optional) telephone by a fiber optic cable. As far as I know, there is no way yet to integrate an aftermarket radio, of any kind, into the fiber optic system. The threads above refer to the installation of units that are probably not readily available now, having been superceded by newer models. But the methodology should be essentially the same. Some other installation variables are whether your individual car has a standard, upgraded Harmon (M490), or Bose system and CD changer. Now, throw in whether or not you want a movie theater capable sound system with multiple amplifiers and speakers or are willing to pretty much use the configuration of equipment already in the car and you have a multitude of engineering problems. I have installed an AVIC-Z3 in a MY02 Targa with Bose system and a AVIC-Z110BT in a MY03 Boxster with M490 Harmon sysyem. Because the Targa was pre-MOST, I was able to integrate the nav with the Bose amplifier and speakers. Just getting rid of the CDR-220 made a world of difference in sound quality. The MOST bus equipped MY03 Boxster precluded my use of the Harmon amplifier. So I removed the amplifier from the car and wired the output of the -Z110BT directly to the existing speakers. Again, the quality of the sound is much, much better than the original CDR-23/Harmon amplifier setup. Of course, as always, YMMV. Bill

Before you purchase a new fuel pump, check the proper functioning of the crankshaft position sensor. A bad one may not throw any codes but will keep the fuel pump from operating when you try to start the engine. Here's a link that may be of interest: http://www.ppbb.com/phorum/search.php?0,search=crankshaft+position,author=,page=1,match_type=ALL,match_dates=0,match_forum=ALL,match_threads=0 Bill

The CPO programwas improved as of August 2008. Check out the new CPO brochure: http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/default.pdf?pool=usa&type=download&id=c423064c-da05-414b-a32f-c84922746626〈=none&filetype=default&version=5 On page 4, it says "The Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned limited warranty is just like our new car limited warranty." You have a six year (from "in service" date), 100,000 mile warranty. If you sell the car to a private party, the balance of the warranty is transferrable to the new owner for a transfer fee of about $100. Selling the car to a non-Porsche dealer will void the balance of the warranty for the next buyer. Selling the car to a Porsche dealer will preserve the balance of the warranty for the next buyer. Bill

Here is a thread that explains how to deal with your situation: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=14274&hl=ignition+switch+replacement I found this information useful when I installed a Pioneer AVIC-Z110BT nav system in my MY03. Bill

Here is a link for information on installing a 2DIN navigation system in Boxsters up through MY 02 (pre-MOST bus): Here is a link to a source for the hardwear needed for the installation: http://stores.ebay.com/Euromotorspeed Filally, check with board member Trieullionaire (author of the first link) for assistance.....if neded. Bill

Mike, There is also a fuse on the back of the head unit that should be checked. Unfortunately, you have to have radio removing tools to remove the head. http://motors.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_kw=becker&_kw=radio&_kw=tools You might find a radio shop (or helpful dealer) that will pull the head unit out to check the fuse. It takes about two minutes to pull and check. Bill

The only manual I know of is "Porsche 996 The Essential Companion" by Adrian Streather. It isn't strictly devoted to maintenance. It is a sort of "super" owner's manual with explanations of the various systems in the car noting the changes to the systems as the 996 evolved. As far as DIY maintenance goes, there is a 70+ page DIY chapter in addition to maintenance information throughout the system chapters. There is also information on option codes, CEL diagnostic codes, production runs, etc. Bill

Before you remove and replace the fuel pump, you might want to investigate the serviceability of the crankshaft position sensor. Recently, there have been a couple of Boxsters I know of that have had the same symptoms. The fix was to replace the sensor. Apparently, a bad crankshaft position sensor will preclude the fuel pump from powering up....leading to misdiagnosing the failure to start problem. Bill

An operating temperature with the needle between the 8 and 0 seems to be typical of most cars. The fact that your engine compartment fan is coming on could be because the compartment temperature sensor could be loose and touching something hot. Perhaps the "technician" who replaced your engine missed that part of the installation. I'm not sure of the exact location of the temperature sensor, but there is a lot of expert help here who does. Bill

Richard, The following was taken from the MY03 Carerra Owner's Manual available here on RennTech: In the following cases you should immediately consult an authorized Porsche dealer in order to assure the airbag system is functioning properly: - Illumination of the airbag warning light during travel or repeated illumination longer than 5 seconds after the ignition circuit is turned on. - Illumination fails to light up during ignition circuit activation. I'm not sure how the U.S. manual differs from the U.K. version - other than LHD vs. RHD - but it is better than nothing if you didn't get an owner's manual with your car. Bill

Pin Gray 25, "Lever Inside", isn't used for anything. It is shown to be connected to a stalk connector pin "A6" in the Porsche Maintenance Manual; it is not shown to be connected to anything in the Bentley Boxster Maintenance Manual. In this case I believe the Bentley reference to be correct. I successfully did the OBC hack a few years ago on my MY03 Boxster without a Gray 25 to A6 connection. Bill

"I decided to put it on hold...they quoted me 20+ hours labor to pull and replace the tranny alone. Is this correct?" I was charged for 8.4 hours of labor by my dealer to replace clutch, RMS and IMS bolts. 20+ hours to pull and replace transmission seems to be guilding the lilly....or, making up for lost time on another customer's job. Bill

From page 202 in the 2003 Carrera Owner's Manual: Note Under no circumstances should tires older than 6 years be used on your Porsche. The age of the tire can be obtained from the "DOT" code number. If, for example, the last three (sic) numbers read 1202, then the tire was produced in the 12th week of 2002. The book is full of good information. As one philosopher has said in the past, "RTDM". Bill

Have you tried moving the steering wheel slightly right or left when you feel resistance to turning the key? The steering wheel lock can bind causing pressure on the key lock. Bill

When you turn your headlights "OFF", is the switch positioned straight up? Or, is it all the way to the left? If the switch position is all the way to the left, you have turned on the left parking and side marker lights. Bill

If you have to replace the switch..... 996.613.151.00 A02 Window Switch MSRP $36.28 Less expensive at Sunset However, I'm not sure if the gloss finish (A02) is still available new. Bill

+2 Thanks Steve. I don't remember much from my college thermodynamics class but it seems to me - a casual observer - that a cooling system has just so much cooling potential regardless of a thermostat's opening temperature. The answer to more (better) cooling is a larger capacity cooling system (third radiator in this case). If that isn't enough, get Jake's oil sump expander (more cooling medium - oil) and the larger "S" oil cooler (more cooling capacity). This would be a moot point if Porsche had marked the temperature gauge with C(old)..........H(ot) with a bar somewhere between the two indicating a "normal" operating zone. Bill

James, Some people have found that, upon adjusting the fit of the bonnet, aerodynamic noise is generated if the bonnet lip is adjusted higher than the bumper cover. Bill

If you push in on either re-set button at the side of the tachometer, the digital instrument lights will illuminate. You might check to see if either button is stuck in....carefully. If you break a shaft, you'll find that there is no "official" replacement part available. A RennTech board member is a source of new shafts (satisfied customer here) or an old instrument cluster will have to be dissambled for the shsft. BTW, per the Owner's Manual, the digital instrument lights will remain illuminated for 4 minutes after you leave the car. Bill

I don't know if this car is a chronic leaker or not....for a couple of reasons. Who did the RMS replacements? Which version (the latest?) RMS did they use? Was the second RMS installed just because there was easy access to it during the clutch change? More troubling is the fact that the clutch needed replacing at 22,000 miles. Granted, if the second RMS was leaking badly enough (again, who replaced the first one?) the clutch disk might need replacing....but, the pressure plate too? Some board members are well over 100K miles on the original clutch assembly. I hope you would get a PPI done before purchasing any used Porsche. At least get a PST2 / PIWIS read out of the DME memory which should include as a minimum: operating hours (multiply by an average of 50-55 kph to get total kilometers done); stage 1 ignitions (to determine how many times the engine was run up to the rev limiter); and stage 2 ignitions (to determine how many times the engine red line was exceeded - generally caused by missed shifts with a manual transmission). It is a buyers market these days. Don't rush into a purchase that you asre not completely sure of. Bill

aqus, Can you be a little more specific....how many wires are there (it looks like there are at least 6 wires); are they all from the OBC stalk (lower left hand stalk); do you have cruise control (lower right stalk); and what color are the wires? It's difficult to discern the colors with the wires bundled together. If you do a search for OBC, you'll find a lot of information that might be helpful. Bill

65 - 986 Boxster 66 - 996 Targa (21 - Jaguar XK-150; 26 Jaguar XK-E.)