Paul Fraser

I got a couple Richard, one to leave in each car. If the cat warning light comes on I want to know why sooner rather than later. Used it to get rid of a few codes I got after the 996 had sat for a while (300 series), easier than setting up the computer and the OBDII cable I got a year and a half ago.

I've read that lion dung keeps them away. Seriously, and I believe it is available.

No. IIRC, when I did this on my 928 I put the left hand side into the slot on the right hand side and then used a pair of pliers to grasp the end while pulling/bending it back. Think it wraps around a slotted/ridged part of the rubber/joint so this helps keep it in position, a belt and braces sort of thing. Be more obvious when you have the other one out I think.

FWIW had both the variocam solenoids done on my 1997 Boxster 2.5 -- are they the same as the early 996?

Good luck with your search.

Have a bit of patience, mate, there's only six hours between your two posts!

Answer to 3: standard iso hole in the dash.

Don't know about the immobiliser stuff, hopefully someone will be along soon.

I'm not an expert on 914s but I thought the 914-6 was a Porsche only car that they did on their own after the collaboration with VW on the 914.

Thanks for your helpful followup. Still don't think I'll grind the original but I'll have a go at a spare when I get one.

OK, I took the cluster out last night to have a look and noticed a couple of things

(a) I think if you cut to the right angled part on the back of the surround you will have a gap between the edge of the carrera cluster and the surround. The cluster doesn't seem to go right up the the ridgeline.

(B) notwithstanding that, I'm not sure I'll be able to cut/dremel the plastic without leaving an obvious cutline at the sides of the cluster -- you know what plastic is like if you bend or break it, it goes white. I assume this will happen if you dremel it. Aluminium rings might be a way of masking this but I believe that the 996 rings won't fit on a modified surround -- can anyone confirm this?

Think I am going to wait to see if I can get a secondhand one to practice on, or, alternatively, get a 996 surround (but I take TP's point about the latter probably being prohibitively expensive, especially a Boxster red one).

Wasn't a complete waste of time as I wired in the connection for a three lever OBC stalk I'm going to fit this weekend (hopefully).

If you find anywhere with lots of secondhand LHD surrounds, let me know -- it would probably be worth my time getting it sent across the pond.

The bolts holding the short connector that covers the gap between the cat pipe and the silencer had broken (one has already fallen off). The short connecting sleeve had slid down the pipe leaving a gap.

Sorted temporarily with £2.40 worth of jubilee clips.

Went from the gym to the supermarket, car ok. When I came out and started the car it sounded like I'd got into a chavved up Nova with a 9" exhaust by mistake. Very loud. Any obvious places to look for a fracture or is there some other part of the system I should be looking at?

No engine check lights.

So do they fit with 18mm spacers? I am curious as that is what I bought from Jasmine Motorsport at their suggestion.

The "factory style" switches are readily available and very easy to install. A small eBay investment if that's what you need. I put one in my car just for the fun of it (there were some blank spots on my dash). Can't answer your 987 question because I haven't looked that closely.

I take it you moved the up/down switch by the fusebox to the console (using a different switch). Did you follow a DIY for this? If not can you tell me how you did it? Thanks.

Thanks for that TP, the picture is very helpful. I had reservations about cutting the Boxster surround for fear of making a mess of it but from your picture it seems that it might be easier than I had thought it would be. I'll have a look at this in the next week or so.

So I decided to cut my surround to fit the 996 cluster. In the picture I have the 996 cluster face next to my Boxster surround/cover to figure out where to cut. There are actually lines that you can follow.

Hi TP, I've got a working Carrera cluster and the oil pressure sensor. Can you just confirm the 996 surround doesn't fit into the Boxster cover? I thought they were identical, but the Carrera cover just had a couple of extra cut-outs. Can you remember how they differ apart from this?

You say there are a couple of lines you can follow on the Boxster surround. I don't suppose you have any pics of these? I realise I could just dismantle mine but I'd rather have all the parts at hand before I start, and that might include a ready cut replacment surround (haven't looked at second hand dealers yet but Essential Styling have a silver coloured one for £160+VAT if it all goes wrong...)

http://www.essentialstyling.com/instrument%20housing.jpg

I assume this is the part that needs to be cut/altered.

Mmm, sorry didn't realise you had a 987. The leather on the front looks like it comes off the same way but you would need to be careful with those airbags (battery disconnected at least).

I assume the 36mm LESS is before the spacers? That's the problem, you can't physically locate them on the hub as you hit the strut behind the hub.

I'd try the wheels on the car before buying new tyres just to check, it'll only take a couple of hours.

Fairly sure you won't require spacers, again, give it a go first.

18"is not approved for 1997 cars, how old is yours?

You can swap the 17" centres over to the new wheels.

Piccies if you can manage them when you are finished :)

0763, 64 or 65 if you are lucky.

Dealers want stupid money for them. There are always a few on Ebay, or there are this side of the pond. I suspect the same is true on your side. Hope you get it fixed.

Just failed the MOT for an assortment of rusty brake pipes (there is so much water here I should buy a boat...)

So, do I:

1. buy new lines off the OPC

2. buy a brake flare kit and make them myself?

If 2, then:

1. steel or copper pipe?

2. What size are the nuts at the ends?

3. Anything else I need to know about brakeline fabrication?

Thanks.

When I fitted my hardtop and the rear parcel shelf I left mine in. However, to get the wind deflector out you need to unclip the black clips at the top on the deflector. Search on 'wind deflector' and you should get some instructions/photos on here, sure I've seen them

Jim, I take it if the clutch has started slipping then your DMF is toast by then as well...?

What kind of seats do you have? I took apart a sports seat from a 996 and have some pics. Might have posted some here...