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mikefocke

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Everything posted by mikefocke

  1. mikefocke
    I'm skeptical You'll be able to do the repair you need to do without a set of manuals, spare parts, etc. Every time I've tried something like you are trying, I've spent lots of $$ and gotten no real benefit out of the effort. I ended up with lots of spares I had never used when I sold the car. Because there are too many things that can go wrong, and I couldn't anticipate them all. I carry spare bulbs and belts. An extra good lug nut wrench, an old shower curtain to put on the ground, and a piece of plywood to help stabilize the jack, and a old towel and some window cleaner. A warning triangle. On a '97, if there was one thing I'd do before leaving, it might be replace the AOS if that hasn't been done already. You could also look at my list of common problems to see if any other preventive work makes sense. Only thing I can think of is the ignition switch. Have a safe trip.
  2. mikefocke
    Why? What makes you think the Boxster is that unreliable? A list of dealers along the way. A pumped up spare tire A standard Boxster toolkit and jack. Especially a wheel lock socket. Make sure it is complete. An old towel for cleaning the windows. Rain-X them before you go twice. A bottle of Windex fits behind the passenger seat. Wipers checked for condition and flexibility. Tire gage. A box of Kleenex. A quart of oil. All fluids topped of and checked. In short, the same sort of stuff I take in my Acura TL. I don't expect the Porsche to be any less reliable and I sure don't want to carry the weight you are proposing.
  3. mikefocke
    My memory shipping costs DC to CA for 4 17" wheels AND inflated tires was $150. Without tires may well be less.
  4. mikefocke
    Read the smarttopp docs on the development of the replacement relay and you'll see there is more to it than just soldering. Come custom engineering of some logic circuits. And the reason it costs so much compared to a "normal" relay is it sells in such low volume. Got to amortize the development costs over the expected units-sold. 200 a year or 30,000 a year makes a difference. I have one, like it. Bought used.
  5. mikefocke
    I'm not aware of any one-touch hacks for the 986 top control switch other than commercial relay replacements. Can you point out something to me? And can you be more specific about what you found not on my top control web page that should be included. I'd be glad to add all the information we can gather so the page could be of more use. I do try to add to the pages anything I learn is perusing the forums, being a believer in the collective wisdom.
  6. mikefocke
    Seems strange The 2003 top uses different mounting hardware so the norm is to acquire the top already installed on the top raising mechanism. You'll go broke buying the needed parts from Porsche. Now why would he pull a perfectly good top from the top mechanism?
  7. mikefocke
    Specific Directions Here However, be aware that many times the same "codes" are triggered not by the MAF but by some other failure within the pollution control mechanism. So read the whole article and see if cleaning does the trick. Or is it something else. And there are generic part numbers to help you save when buying a replacement MAF.
  8. mikefocke
    Tires are the only thing you have to contact the road and help you turning and stopping. I'd refer you to the November issue of Consumer Reports where their tests of High Performance Tires in 10 categories of performance showed the Kumho Ecsta SPT's to be significantly inferior in both wet braking and wet handling to higher rated tires. In a situation where 10 feet can make the difference between stopping safely and a serious fender-bender, do you really want to save the $ and create that risk? Only you can answer that question for yourself. Maybe because fo your geography it isn't important to you. But if you take your Boxster out in the rain, statistics could catch up with you. More Info Here including the ratings on a few of the more common Boxster tires.
  9. mikefocke
    The easy way is to look here http://mike.focke.googlepages.com/onetouchtopcontrol
  10. mikefocke
    Outrageously priced for what you get, even used. A portable will allow you to mount the screen on the dash, a much safer place to glance at than the center console. Downside is you have the receiver in a convertible and need to remove it when you stop. And certain sun angles can wash out the picture (but that is true of any such screen mounted anywhere in the car) An aftermarket GPS enabled stereo will allow IPOD connection, have a better stereo, hook to a good amp (or amps) and pop the screen up higher.
  11. mikefocke
    Guide here Buy the exact same part as the Porsche part except cheaper. Guide to equivalences here
  12. mikefocke
    273 - heated mirrors 329 - CDR 210 Radio 441 prepared for radio those were stock wheels, this is what I'd consider a base car (nothing wrong with that at the right price). My '99 had 18 option codes, for example.
  13. mikefocke
    Good news is anyone who can get under the rear can change one for 25% of dealer cost Part numbers and how to here
  14. mikefocke
    Aftermarket Litronics don't self raise But you have washers which implies factory installed at build time. So, if you shine your lights onto the side of a building, you should see the beams move to fill in the spot between just low beams and where the high beams are.
  15. mikefocke
    In luck 16 inch tires are both the cheapest and the best for winter as they are the narrowest. They are also rather pleantiful except around now as others are looking to do what you are trying to do. Having said that, look at craigslist or ebay and get stock Porsche 16" wheels. Others will be upgrading to 17"s thru 19"s and you want their take offs. No issues with offsets that way. None on ebay at this time, mabe because they don't sell. Better to look on free postings boards like www.craigslist.org
  16. mikefocke
    Buy some fenders too? This is an easy update but it does take some parts and $$$$
  17. mikefocke
    It is a trivial half hour job (with pictures) Here I'd never before been inside the engine compartment and I did mine. I think the secret is the car was babied. I'd dump a can of techron in the gas tank and maybe invest in a new set of spark plugs (stock, don't try to get "new improved" ones). The engine is smaller than your Z3 by about 10% so it may well have a bit less grunt. But you are comparing a car you knew and had a feel for to a car new to you. Wait a while and you'll settle into a driving style that fits you and the car.
  18. mikefocke
    You need to investigate this site. I'll point you to the page on replacing the top so you can judge for yourself. But do look at the index to see what other DIYs are there.
  19. mikefocke
    DasSchild rear trunk lid protector needed. They also sell one for the front trunk and sell them as a pair. The lids are fragile. Not cheap but if they save you a dent ... Easy to install. Maybe 5 minutes.
  20. mikefocke
    You looked at this flowchart? Here
  21. mikefocke
    Part Number and Instructions Here
  22. mikefocke
    $8 per month in unscheduled repairs over 2.5 years reliable between 42 and 52k miles. No "leave me by the side of the road" breakdowns. Can there be serious problems with any car? Sure. With a Porsche? Definitely.
  23. mikefocke
    You can screw anything up if you do it wrong but cleaning a MAF is a 15 minute job, costs about $5 in cleaner and is easy (assuming you have the right tool and even that can be had for $7). Do it carefully, handle it by the right parts and you'll be all right. Of course the probability is that there is another problem and it isn't the MAF.... How to with pictures
  24. mikefocke
    Also clean your drains. Diagram HereLook at the index to other helps
  25. mikefocke
    The TSB is not the latest word on this problem .... Last time I went in (4th time in 52k with same symptom of airbag light on) having previously replaced both seat belts and having the TSB done, I talked to the mechanic who was troubleshooting the problem and he said there were now some new instructions on how to do the grounding strap that was the subject of the TSB. Unfortunately didn't give me any new TSB reference or imply that there was anything in writing, may just have been a verbal update. Each "fix" has been good for 1 year! So if anyone has details on this new procedure as a TSB, please post.
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