Westcoaster

Ouch! I would throw up too! I wonder if paintless dent removal would work, although the paint looks to be broken?

Thanks for the reply Patrick, that was the same process I was going to use, although I doubt that I could wait that long to fire it back up! ;) The car is fairly new, but from the guide I read a cleaning was still highly recommended. We have our annual car show/picnic for charity on August 26th and I was thinking of displaying the car with the engine cover open, most people ask about the engine but never get to see one in a Boxster!

Nifty idea! I don't have a 996 but rather a 987, but I will now take a closer look at the cup holders in that car. I don't have a dedicated GPS but rather a UMPC made by ASUS the R2hv-A1, it is a bit bigger then your GPS modules: Dimension & Weight 1.83lbs 5" x 5.6" x 0.7"

I have read a few guides on Concours preparation so I understand the need for clean engine, the PCA Zone 8 guide is a good reference but... I was wondering about the dangers and a good process to follow. Questions like, car level, car on an up hill grade (or down hill) to allow water to drain, lots of water, very little water, low pressure spray, power washer, what to cover etc. Questions, questions and more questions. Anybody done this (especially on a 987), care to share the best ideas or warnings? thanks!

Ahhhh, depending where your height is (legs versus torso), this could be a problem, they didn't check me because I'm a short %$^$, only 5' 10", but believe it or not I sit pretty tall in the saddle, my helmet was almost parallel with the top of the roll bar. Here is what is posted on the ORPCA site about this point:

As this is a DE and not a race, the requirments are certainly less then what would be expected in a competition car. I did not have to do any modifications to the car. The Boxster has a roll bar already and no fire extingusher was required. They did check the wheels and tires and brakes regarding their servicability, verified the torque on the wheel bolts and made sure I removed any loose items from the car including the floor mats. As for exact requirements, the organizing club should have their check list posted online or available so you can prep your car. ORPCA listed these items on their website so there were no surprises. As for me, I was required to have a Snell M2000/2005 approved helmet and to wear long pants and a long sleave shirt, prefferably cotton. That was about it.

Just as a comparison, the fan on my 2006 987 comes on a lot, nearly on all the time in hotter weather, seem to run forever, certainly not just 20 seconds. It does eventually go off. Loren, your comment makes me wonder if it is working as designed or because the boxster engine is so confined it requires more purging?

Since every insurance company is slightly different you should check with yours to be sure. But to answer your question I did call and explain what I was about to do and carefully explained that there was no racing, no timing of runs and the goal was to learn how to better drive the car, they said I would be covered. In retrospect, before I go to the next DE I am going to check with them again and see if I can get a letter that confirms that I have coverage for such an event. One of the other things I did find out was that PIR is one of the better tracks to learn on, forgiving and with room around most of the course for some mistakes to be rewarded with a bit of grass into the suspension. Some track leave no margin for error so ask the DE organizer about this.

Well, I just finished a weekend of fun with my Boxster that I can honestly say has been one of the highlights of my driving experiences so far, in this or any car. I was in Portland at PIR for the Drivers Education session held by the Oregon PCA on Sunday; all participants had an awesome time (no accidents or broken parts that I know of). The conditions were just about perfect, high overcast and not too hot, ORPCA ran a great day of driving and even provided dinner for the participants, Thanks! I was in the novice class with the other beginners and rookies and even though there were a variety of makes and models the 20 minute sessions were both exhilarating and a lot of work, now I have a greater appreciation for what a professional driver has to endure for a full multi-hour race, it’s a real work out! It was a good thing that there were restaurants near by, I don’t recall being that hungry after any activity for a long time! I did an orientation session where the instructor drove my car to show me the track and the appropriate line for PIR. The orientation session was great because no matter how many times I watched the video or ran through the pictures of the course, there was still a feeling about ‘the unknown’, not only would I be pushing the limits of my driving skills and the abilities of the car but doing it around other ‘rookies’. The biggest consolation was that the rules were clear and the violations for breaking them were just as clear, with a few actions earning a black flag and an unchallengeable expulsion from the day’s event, and nobody wanted that! The first time out was a real learning experience, just keeping track of the other cars, the flags and driving all at the same time was good to fill the 20 minute session with more then enough to digest back in the paddock. After my first driving session I got to ride with the instructor in his car (2006 Z06 Corvette), talk about fast, the effect of 505HP was as obvious as was the set of Hoosier racing tires keeping us glued to the surface! Should anybody be tempted to think that the Corvette can’t run with the best of them has never seen what they can do let alone ridden in one being driven properly. Next it was my turn behind the wheel of the Boxster with a fresh appreciation of what the track could hold for speed and turning forces (not that my Boxster was a match for the Z06), but up till then I wasn’t sure how fast I could(should) go or what it would take to break loose in a corner. After the tires were fully warmed up I know I had notched it up quite a bit when during the second lap I noticed that the previously relaxed instructor shifted his position and braced for the tight chicane at the end reasonably hot run down the front straight at just over 100mph! Now I know I wasn’t anywhere near his league, but for a beginner I don’t think that I was doing too badly. After a bunch more laps that session I left the track much happier and with additional confidence in the car and my abilities to stay out of trouble. :drive: The third session was even better, more things coming together but at the same time, that need for some additional speed was making it a bit tough to hold the proper line, timing for turns and braking were even more important now. The instructor did a great job of explaining what I needed to do and where I needed to be with my car, he was quiet until a reminder was needed or to pass along a compliment of a good line chosen, thanks Dave! With these latest skills I was able to take the corners at speed where we could just feel the car reaching the limit of lateral acceleration for the line I was on. This is not to say I was going as fast as the Boxster could go but rather I was at the limits of my skills for that day and where the car was on the track. So in the end I am happy to say that I finished the day without a mishap, no damage to the car only a little less tread on the tires and life in the brake pads. What I did learn was that these cars are very capable and with proper driver input can maneuver in a way that most owners never understand or experience. I think that I know a bit more about driving then I used to and all of this may help me survive the daily adventure on public roads. B) One thing I do know for certain, I have a lot to learn and a ways to go to run with the advanced group. I will be back… :thumbup:

Although not quite the picture you asked for, the final post in this thread shows my lights halogen vs the after market kit: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...c=11244&hl= In that post it also shows where I mounted the ballasts (inside the light enclosure with double sided tape to the cover).

An interesting read, and if the sound is flawless, probably worth the cost of admission. But I took the cheaper route, first I tried the Pyle direct connect FM modulator, the unit worked but the signal strength to the radio was so low that I had to use 3/4 volume on the dial to get acceptable volume and that was sitting in the driveway, not on the road! Next I tried the Scosche FMOD01, much better and with a gain control to help with the sensitivity of the CDR23. The sigal was good and the sound was equivilent to a strong FM stattion, not quite as good as a CD. Overall not bad and for the price, acceptable and clear. I still would have liked line level input directly to the radio, but for now it is a good alternative to the much more expensive system.

Allthough I have had mine installed for awhile now, it is very interesting just how much night driving I don't do! Having said this they have endured about 6000kms of travel and when needed have never failed to light and provide excellant light that (I think rivals) Litronics for a fraction of the price. YMMV

I don't know if the issue is completely resolved or not but the intermediate shaft has been redesigned. I cant say when exactly it was introduced or give an engine number range but the new style is very easy to recognize as the nut on the end is now something like a 24mm instead of the old 13mm. Anyhow pretty much all of the 05 and early 06s still have the old style shaft so 9x7's are still very susceptible to failure. For what its worth I have not seen a new style intermediate shaft fail, or leak for that matter. I there anyway to tell if/when the 987 engine began using the 'new design'? BTW I have a base my06 Ill say again, I cant say when exactly it was introduced or give an engine number range for the new style engines. I have never seen any information on this from Porsche or from any other source. What I can say for sure is that the reman engines from Porsche started coming with the new shaft in late 05/early 06 IIRC, and the engines they were replacing definitely did not have the new shaft. I wouldnt take the news as time to panic. There are still a ton of 9x6 cars still running around with the old design with no problems. Its not a kiss of death by any means. Thanks, I was just wondering. I am sure Porsche would not want to 'advertise' this kind of weakness by publishing the date or manufacturing date range...

Thanks fasterjames ... now thinking ahead wat to change to ... B) Wow, you have a lot of reading to do, there are so many to choose from, I would get one with an auxilary input and a USB on the front panel though. Nice to add a MP3 player or thumb drive loaded with MP3's!

I don't know if the issue is completely resolved or not but the intermediate shaft has been redesigned. I cant say when exactly it was introduced or give an engine number range but the new style is very easy to recognize as the nut on the end is now something like a 24mm instead of the old 13mm. Anyhow pretty much all of the 05 and early 06s still have the old style shaft so 9x7's are still very susceptible to failure. For what its worth I have not seen a new style intermediate shaft fail, or leak for that matter. I there anyway to tell if/when the 987 engine began using the 'new design'? BTW I have a base my06

I went through the rubber grommet that Loren specified when I need to run wires to the front, should not be a warranty issue either. BTW, post back when you get the Dension installed, I would like to know what the sound quality is like... Is this with or without a PCM system?

I had the opportunity to look this one over very closely at Parade a couple of weeks ago, very nice, dare I say 'awesome'? The display car of course was a 986, in black and the effect was pretty much complete, it turned the Boxster into a Cayman look-alike! As previously mentioned the installation is completely reversible and uses the stock spin locks and center windshield mount points, the hatch closes and latches into the stock trunk lid system. I have a 987 and I am strongly considering it for mine, rumor has it that even Porsche has warmed up to the idea...

Well, you know me by now, I can't leave anyting alone! ;-) I had a planned stop at Sunset Porsche to see Jeff and pick up front and rear trunk liners, which by the way are a great idea. The front is more of a tote, but does protect the lower 1/2 of the compartmnt and is sturdy enough to be removable even when filled with stuff. The rear one is just a liner and covers the entire floor even behind the tail lights. Very good idea for those that "use" their Porsche! Any way, back to the coolant, while I was at Sunset I mentioned it to the service advisor, he came out with some coolant and topped up the reserviour for me, no charge (great service). He did mention that there would not likely be a problem and the OBC would warm me if there was. But now I was good to go, confident that the coolant was now full and the Tijon Pass would not present a problem, BTW the outside was 100 degrees and even pushing up to the summit at 80+ mph the engine temperature never moved at all! Onward to Parade in San Diego!

thanks Steve, I was going to do just that until I checked the manual and it said, "add a mixture of coolant/water", otherwise, you need to adjust the mixture latter...

Just noticed that in the reservoir tank the level is just above the minimum mark. What kind of antifreeze is recommended by Porsche and how much does it take to fill it from min to max? the local dealer is of course closed, can this wait unitl I get to the next dealer... ?

The Porsche Librarian can help... search on manuals and I'm sure he will appear!

A DIY repair on this requires at least a basic knowledge in electrical theory and lot of patience when taking apart the door, other wise you are best off getting it fixed professionally. Sorry CJ, I don't believe in taking to a shop a asking them to tell you what is wrong so you can go away and fix it.... because if you can't figure out what is wrong by yorelf, you probably can't fix it yourself either. Not fair to the shop either! Velryba, the problem is likely with one of the components in the door, you have to trace the circuits that control and drive the window motor and test/eliminate each one either by knowing what they do, or each component one-at-a time. In general (and not aimed at you specifically), unless you have the knowledge and the tools, not everything is a DIY job. Sorry.

Wow, I didn't notice your signature, a 3.6 in there, so would this make it an 'SS'? Curious what the rated horsepower would be? So did you buy the 987 new and then replace the engine, or buy the car with the 3.6 engine already installed? Anyway back to the key thing, when I talked to my dealer about modifying the car he as much said, if the warrantly claim has nothing to do with the non-approved parts you installed we generally honor it. He gave the example of the HID light kit I was installing and said, if you came in for a clutch problem, it has nothing to do with the lights.

Hmmm, my06 doesn't seem to have that tool. Are the dealers in the habit of removing this rod for some reason? Csory: What about taking it ot the dealer, sounds like there is an electrical issue, maybe the computer needs to be 'reset' (if this is even possible), being an my06 it is still under warranty. Don't know if I would mention the 'possibility' of connecting the jumper battery reversed though...

Do you use some type of 'wheel cleaner' when you wash the wheels, the spotting looks like the result of a caustic solution that has dried on the surface.