wams

Ahsai: I will have to check with the Indy tech and get back on this ... What scanner you use and can it log sennsor reading? What are the fuel trims on both banks? The local Indy tech only works Mon thru Thurs. Thanks.

I had the same issue with the SAI on '02 Boxster 2.7L. I had 1128, 1130, 0410 and 1410 OBD codes. Fixed almost every things, including hairline crack on the Vacuum reservoir within the SAI system, etc. Basically, the SAI would not reset to readiness even after 2 weeks of driving, with several cold starts, about 450 miles in between, etc. Then the local indy guy, here at San Diego, still found gas smell and found that the fuel sending unit (located under the battery) also had a crack and slight gas was oozing off and the interior would smell nothing but gas. In order to do replace, of course, the battery had to be removed to get to the fuel sending unit. So, the indy tech replaced and put things back together. I drove the car back home from the shop on Thursday, and still the 2A on OBD was flashing, meaning SAI did not achieve readiness status for the CA smog test. I was mad and getting worried about the SAI and the smog test failure and did not drive the car. Then, on the following Monday I started the car in the morning and went to work. I happen to have the OBD reader with me and checked for the code. Every thing was reset and readiness was ok, NO FLASHING 2A on the OBD display! Immediately went for the smog test, and passed. Perhaps, the disconnect from the battery for about a day might have done the trick of clearing the memory containing the codes. That was about a week ago. Yesterday, p1130 code came back with the CEL. On and off, on the tachometer, the needle seem to bounce in between 7 and 9. I am using 91 octane gas. Any one has any idea? Thanks.

I have been replacing the tip oil once every 45K. It is much cheaper than a transmission fixing cost. Also, has anyone used Schaffer Supreme 9000 Fully Synthetic Engine Oil (5W 40 grade)? I have used it once in my Boxster and the performance was superb.

Hi Loren: I am reaching out to you for help on this problem. Could you please shed some light? Thanks.

I have a 2002 Boxster 2.7L. The rear plastic window was torn and took it to get repaired, along with minor body paint. The body shop sent the car to a car upholstery shop to have the rear window repaired. Instead of just repairing the window, the upholstery shop replaced the whole top canvas (with the plastic window)! Before the car was given for repair, the roof went up and down without any issue and I could also close it with ease. When I got the car back, I was told not to lift up or open the roof for the next 2 weeks, for the roof to settle in. I waited for 3 weeks and tried to lift the roof. The magical light on the console for the roof release would not come on, meaning that the emergency switch for roof opening by the handbrake (inside) was not working properly. I replaced the switch and the light would light up on the console. I tried to lift the roof, it was making a whole lot of noise and finally the roof was off and settled in the back where it is supposed. I tried to put the roof back and again heard lots of grinding noise, sorta. I was able to close the roof. I found that the tensioner cable (I think that’s what it is called) on the passenger side was off the track and was hanging outside, overlapping the frame, was very tight. Since then the roof, after the inside latch is released, only lifts the roof about 2 inched from the front. The back frame does not even lift up like in service mode. I need some help in understanding what could have caused this to happen. After a new canvas top in placed: 1.) Is there a need to re-calibrate the transmissions on both sides? 2.) Could the upholstery shop mess up the roof lifting mechanism? It is very unlikely that the emergency switch was not working. I tested the original, one that I took out, with an OHM meter and connectivity of the switch was working fine. It is coincidental that the roof lifting transmission and the cable, etc. were busted when the window was repaired! I will appreciate you any or all feedback with what could have made this to go wrong, especially, when the tensioner cable went off the track and was hanging over the passenger side. [if I remember correctly, then a Porsche dealer fixed/replaced parts for the rooftop lifting mechanism in 2010.] Thanks.

Hanuman: I am having the same problem and is happening intermittently. Also, the alarm system (and several other items) have been flakey since I rescued my Boxster from Sonnen Porsche at Mill Valley, Ca. Could please tell me how I can access the photos? Many thanks.

Hi Loren: I am finally at a point, almost after 16 months, ready to get my baby back on the road. I found a used TIP with only 35K miles. I paid $2250. It is to arrive tomorrow and I was told that the TIP is in excellent condition. I guess I will find that out after it arrives. The TIP (A86.05) is for 2.7 L - 2002 yr. This TIP is shipped without any oil inside it. Now, I definitely need your help to get the oil, etc. Please let me know what (how many types), which (brand), how much (quantity wise), etc. of oil I need to re-fill the TIP? I will appreciate if you will itemize the items (oil, filter, etc.) . I am excited and can't wait to get back on the road. :drive: Thanks.

Thanks to all. I was able to open the hood. Thanks.

To the Renntech forum and Loren: My 2002 Boxster sat for more than 1 month at Pleasanton, Ca. Just before that I replaced the battery. Since it sat and the engine was not started at all, the battery drained completely. Luckily, the door could be opened with the key. I tried to open the front hood to access the battery and that’s when I found that the electronic switch, next to the driver seat, was not operating to release the hood latch. Can someone suggest a solution? Thanks.

Hi Loren: Some more questions on the tiptronic ... 1.) How many different transmission oil type is used to fill (chamber to chamber) in the Boxster TIP? 2.) Or, is it just one oil type (like ESSO, faint pink in color), that covers the chamber containing the gears and also the differential? 3.) Does the gear section have different oil than differential? 4.) What quantity (amount in oz. or litre) of tranny oil used in the Boxster TIP? What quantity is for the gear chamber and what quantity is for the differential. 5.) Where can I get the schematic (like CAD drawing) on the TIP? Thanks. 1. and 2. and 3. Two - ATF for transmission portion and Gear Oil for the differential section. See also DIY Tiptronic Transmission Service 4. Transmission (ATF): Filling capacity = 9.5 liters; Change capacity = 4.0 liters Differential (75W-90 gear oil): 0.9 liters 5. Loren ... THANKS. I am having a hard time to find a used TIP for the car at a reasonable $ price. Here is a dumb question: Since the cylindrical bearings from the differential popped out (with the case blowing a hole) and only a quart or 2 of the light amber colored fluid spilled, is there any possibility to salvage the TIP, ONLY by replacing the segment containing the differential? I am not knowledgable on how the TIP case is put together!! Thanks.

Hi Loren: Some more questions on the tiptronic ... 1.) How many different transmission oil type is used to fill (chamber to chamber) in the Boxster TIP? 2.) Or, is it just one oil type (like ESSO, faint pink in color), that covers the chamber containing the gears and also the differential? 3.) Does the gear section have different oil than differential? 4.) What quantity (amount in oz. or litre) of tranny oil used in the Boxster TIP? What quantity is for the gear chamber and what quantity is for the differential. 5.) Where can I get the schematic (like CAD drawing) on the TIP? Thanks.

Hi Loren, Thanks for your reply. If you will recall that about a year or so ago I posted a blog in Renntech.org on my Boxster and Sonnen Porsche ... how they tried to put my car on lien sale, etc.? Well, the Enforcing Division from Bureau of Automotive Repairs – Ca. (BAR) took my case and contacted Sonnen Porsche and made this happen at $ Zero cost to me… Sonnen Porsche cost on unauthorized repair amounted to $7780, including re-painting part of the car. The record clearly showed that I only requested the initial diagnostic (at a cost of $180) and did not authorize Sonnen Porsche to perform further work. During the time when Sonnen Porsche tried to put the car on lien sale, they had the car transmission rebuilt at a local transmission shop in Feb. 2009 and was given a warranty for 6 months or 6000 miles. Unfortunately, Sonnen Porsche agreed to release the car back to me in March 2010, which was way past the 6 months warranty period, regardless of the 71 miles (or so) that I drove the car before it blew. The final drive (differential) in the Tiptronic cars gets 75W-90 gear oil ... how much quantity wise would this fluid be? From the blow out and what was on the road side, it would not have amounted to a quart. And I am not sure what they really did, except for using a kit to replace the seals and gears. Thanks.

Loren: First of all I am sorry to hear the news of your loss in your family. Please accept my condolence. I have a 2002 Boxster. The tiptronic transmission was rebuilt. After driving it for only 66 miles, the tiptronic decided on its own to downshift from 5th to 4th and the speed went down from 70 mph to 50 mph. I pulled over to the road side (HWY 580 East, by Livermore, Ca.) and waited for 5 minutes and decided to get back on the road. When I went up to 60 mph, a high pitch whining noise, followed by a boom noise and black smoke trail appeared. Immediately, I pulled over to the side and saw a whole lot of fluid gushing out. I had the car towed to a nearby garage/shop and had it hoisted. The mechanic took off the cover and found that the differential (?) on the right side (looking from the back side) had a hole/crack. That was the boom I heard. The fluid color was like light barley color. I thought that the tiptronic fluid per Porsche spec, is supposed to be light pink (fresh/new) and over the time, the color changed to darker. Can someone please tell me if wrong type of tiptronic fluid was used or the differential is totally separate from the tiptronic and has its own fluid? Also, the transmission was re-built by Porsche dealer authorized shop in Feb. 2009. The car sat (was not driven, including firing up the engine) since then till April 16, 2010 when I went to bring it back. The transmission shop only used a kit, containing seals and clutches, to re-build the transmission, and no bearing(s). Many thanks in advance.

Thanks Loren. Also, I forgot to mention that : 1.) sometime when the gear shift from from 3rd to 4th in manual mode, it jerks and almost like jumps into the next gear, with a "thugg" noise; 2.) in auto mode, shifting from 4th to 5th has a hesitation, takes a second or so to shift into the higher gear, while the RPM goes up. Thanks.

I have a '99 Carrera. Recently, for smog test the CEL decode displayed O2 sensor fault and also P0740. Replaced the O2s and cleaned the MAF (per posting/response from Loren on how to clean the MAF with MAF cleaner) and smog passed before the CEL came back on. About 2 days ago, the CEL came on (did not get to check it yet) and suspect it to be P0740, added with a vibrating noise. On stationary mode, it does not produce the noise. When I am driving, the noise is there. It goes away when I press the gas paddle again cames back when I let go the gas paddle and coast. While I was driving (coasting) I shifted the tiptronic from "D" to "N" and the noise was gone. I am suspecting the the transmission ... with the torque converter, along with P0740 (which was there before) is the cause for the noise. Can someone (including Loren) from the forum shed some light on me in regards to this vibrating noise. I guess I will have to break down and take it to Pioneer Porsche in San Diego. Or, is there other reasonable shop around in San Diego area? Thanks.

I live in San Diego, Ca. While I was up at San Rafeal (zipcode 94901) with my '02 Boxster, the transmission started to slip. Somehow, I managed to take it to Sonnen Porsche (By HWY 101) and left it there for them to find out what was wrong. They called me back and told me that the transmission had no fliud (!) and was totally shot. I needed a new or re-built transmission. The car is now sitting at Sonnen Porsche lot and they can fix (replace) the transmission and wanted $11K. Can someone tell me if there is a reasonable and reliable transmission shop in San Rafael (zipcode 94901) or nearby, who will replace the tiptonic transmission at a reasonable cost ... if I am able to provide a transmission. I looked at junk yards and found one (exact for 2002) for $2.5K. This can be shipped to SF area by the junk yard personnel and they will pick up the core. I am guessing that the shop could or would charge me at most $1500 for this job. Please let me know of any good transmission place. Thanks.

I had the 1128 and the 1130 last week, and while driving the CEL flickered and the engine felt like it was stuttering. It is new MAF time. That is where I would start. ('01 Boxster S w/ 103,000 miles) (Wams - 09/09/2008) Several month ago, I had the same 3 codes on my '99 Carrera. I only replaced the MAF (procured it from Autohaus Arizona, http://www.autohausaz.com/), reset the computer and since then no more issues with MAF/O2 sensors.

(Wams - 09/08/2008) Interesting enough, same happened with my 2002 Boxster, besides the radio would not turn on or the lights and wipers would not work. The local Porsche dealer recommended that the ignition switch required replacement. After the replacement, most works fine. However, the dealer's shop messed up the gas tank lid lock up mechanism. I need to take the car back to have them fix this new problem.

The Porsche dealership told me to remove the drain plug on the bottom to drain all the liquid. Put the plug back and then re-fill the coolant. The dealership did not mention anything about using a vacuum system to do the job. I will find an independent place to have this done. Also DEX-COOL (orange color) is OK? Thanks.

(Wams - 09-07-2008) I have a 2002 Boxster. It once sputtered and white smoke with blue tint came out of the exhaust. Then it was fine for several days to a week. In the meantime I called the local Porsche dealer and talked with a service manager. The service manager told me that there could be an oil separator problem and I should have it checked, before it got worst ... meaning the O2 sensors could be ruined. Well, it was one week too late. The O2 sensors went bad, besides the oil separator problem. The total cost was around US $650 at the dealership.

(Wams - 09-07-2008) I have a 1999 911. First I drained the coolant (was the greenish yellow kind, and not the Porsche recommended one). Next I flushed the system (with high temp on) and ran regular water to remove the Preston Flush. Next I filled it with Preston Extended Life coolant (DEX-COOL, orange colored). It almost took 2 gallons, though the Owners manual states 5.95 US gallons (am I missing something?). I took the car out for a drive to be sure that the cooling system was working fine. After driving for 5 miles or so, the "RED" warning light started to flash slowly. I got back home and looked at the coolant level -> was ok; and also checked the front radiator for any air passage obstruction -> clear. The owner manual also states that engin compartment blower fan fault can cause the warning light to flash. I check the the blower fan, connected a 12 V source and it turns fine. So, I am left to wander what else could be wrong? Thanks.

You mentioned 4 hours to do the job ... HOW? 1.) If I need to do the same, then do I need to take off the convertible top and then use a sewing machine to put it? 2.) Do I just take the replacement plastic window and the car to an upholstry place to get it done? I would like to do it on my own ... however, I am somewhat lost trying to figure out "How to take the canvas top OFF?" Thanks.