Izzy

Not sure if this information belongs in this forum or the product review, but wanted to share some findings from over the weekend.

My 99 C2 Cabrios' vinly interior (doors, dash, backseat sides) are beige from factory. But I did not know what the real color was until Sunday, when I decided to clean it. As I was trying a bunch of automotive and household cleaners, my wife came by with a "Mr. Clean Eraser" sponge. I tried it, and to my surprise, it worked great. Truly unbeliavable. The "blackness" dirt from the vinyl crevaces simply came out on the sponge, leaving a perfect beige surface as if it has never seen the outdoors.

I used 5 sponges, sometimes augemented them with "Mr. Clean" liquid, and the car interior looks brand new. The color is amazing. We emptied about a dozen buckets of dirty black water in the process of rinsing the sponge. The residue was removed with a clean wet hand towel.

After dried, used Armorall for all the surfaces.

Izzy

I have used some from this website, no problems, works great and won't blow at high speed.

http://www.ratracinggraphics.com/?referredfrom=NASASE

This morning drained and fillled (almost 6 quarts out of the 9 needed for full capacity) of ATF. Follwed shop manual instructions of drain and filled. The old one, with only 13K miles, was pretty black. I am wondering if 10 track days (200-250 miles each) since last change puts more strain on the Tip. Codes are cleared, so will check daily to see if it recurs.

The shifting was very smooth still, no issues on power, all else was perfect with the Tip even on a 100F day on track.

Fluid was at 38C when changed, and a quick drive afterwards showed no difference in shifting, as measured by the "butt meter"

Did you see this in the DIY? Follow the link to the other site where the install is posted, it may work for you.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=10095

Try this...

Ever since I saw the commercial I was wondering if it did anything at all

http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/autov...gid=AUDIO_VIDEO

And this is the claim, anyways:

"AutoVent SPV silently and efficiently eliminates stale, stuffy air from inside your vehicle, even on the hottest summer days! While your window remain securely closed, this unique solar powered ventilator draws hot air and odors , including pet and tobacco odors, out of your vehicle and replaces it with fresh air form outside. Since AutoVent SPV runs directly on natural, FREE solar energy, there is no drain on your vehicle's battery and there are no batteries to replace or recharge...Ever!

Installation is easy! Simply attach the included weatherproof fitting strips, place the unit on top of the window edge and roll the window closed that's it!

AutoVent SPV helps to preserve and protect your vehicle's interior, valuable stereo and electronic equipment from the damaging effects of extreme heat build-up. AutoVent SPV also assists in reducing the strain on your air conditioning system during start-up."

I have use in my home a 3-M product that goes outside the window, and installed professionaly still looks perfect after 5 years. These windows are frrom a 2 story room, and take a beating all year from wind, sun, rain, insane birds.

Not sure if they make something like it for automobile use.....

Loren,

13K miles ago I did the filter, gasket and fluid. So I probably won't change filter again. Hopefully it was just low on fluid, but will track the code for the next few hundred miles. After adding more fluid last night, it doesn't "feel" to shift any different, still smooth as silk. Thanks

Izzy

Results,

Had to wait 4 hours for oil to cool down to 35C. Added with the pump about a quart of ATF before it began to spill, I was surprised. The older ATF looks pretty dirty, so will do a full drain and refill this weekend. Hope that is it and not a major mechanical issue. Will keep checking the codes and let you know. Thank you

Izzy

Thanks for the info and education. I am going to hold off the bars. I do have 265's on the rear, not 285's. And 225's in the front. That is what the car had when I bought it (not new). It had not occured to me to use larger tires. I have 18 in wheels, "Turbo look". I haven't been doing this for long, do you need to get larger wheels for the larger tires? I would like to look further into that, getting wider rubber.

Also, was thinking of lowering the car with a new coil over setup. So you did the ROW, thoughts about the PSS9? Eibach Pro-kit? Just looking for opinions of experience.

I need to focus on the P0740 (Tiptronic issue) before track day Friday. Looks like I may be low on the fluid. But when I get back this weekend was thinking about tinkering in the garage. Your thoughts appreciated

Izzy

Ouch. Thanks, I was affraid of that. Will check fluid and if that is not it, head for the dealer.

Loren,

Just got the code P0740 (no CEL) in my 99 996 Tip. Would description be the same as the Boxter, torque converter clutch issue?

The car seems to run perfect, and the transmission is smooth as silk. I am a bit perplexed and heading. Thank you

Izzy

Loren,

Just got the same code in my 99 996 Tip. Would description be the same?

The car seems to run perfect, and the transmission is smooth as silk. I am a bit perplexed. Thank you

Izzy

I had a similar "squeal", high pitch when hot running and turning. Took it to the dealer and it was the rotors, the pads had created a "lip" on the outside circumference of the rotors due to wear. The pads would rub against that outer lip when hot and turning (not necessarily braking), and "sing". According to the dealer here a common problem, not threatening but annoying.

New rotors cured it. Reach in the rotors and see if you have a lip developing or developed already. Just in case.

Martin, thank you very much for your quick reply. Got the sensor on order.... Bank 1-3 is the left side, and the sensor before the cat. Just verifying. Thanks again

Izzy

I read the description of Eibach as "rear adjustable", Drivewire I think. Memory serves me right, same size as H&R. And they are red, pretty color (just kidding, I really wanted to know more about sway bars anyway)

On the understeers, I was thinking more the 996 oversteers, pendulum effect with pivot point in the front but weight bias on the rear? Just borrowing from Vic Elford's book on 911 performance driving, and my multiple experiences spinning like a top on-track and scaring the DE instructors. I learned to drive while watching the "Dukes of Hazard".

Let me know if I understood it wrong, as I was thinking about less oversteer in turn 14 of CMP, which is a tricky one for me.

Mumeh,

If I follow this thread correctly, you changed both the MAF and the O2 sensor for banks 1-3?

I am asking because I have the same code, P1123 only. At 60K miles I had the MAF code (not 1123), cleaned it (for the last time) and could not clear the MAF code. So changed it and all was clear.

500 miles later, I am getting P1123. Loren had mentioned it was a close possibility due to mileage that the 02 sensors would be next.

Just wanted to verify that was your fix, and the CEL is gone for good? Thank you

Izzy

As Loren told me recently, 60K is not too early to loose O2 sensor. There are two sensors per side. I got 60K and the MAF just got replaced.

I have the Autoengineuity OBD2 for Palm Pilot, and can read the O2 waveform. That would tell for sure which ones are out.

Last thing though, did you disconnect the battery while changing the MAF? If not, that is the last thing to try.

Scott,

I installed the same plate a few months ago. When doing my oil change after the install, left the plate in since it has a convinient hole for the drip plug.

But then I could not remove the filter housing with my banana fingers, so had to remove the protection plate. To my surprise, a lot of oil was on the plate. From then on I remove the plate before oil changes.

So I would guess previous owner did not remove the plate, and the oil had been sitting there for a while. Clean it up like Nick suggests, and drive for a while. Or just leave the plate off for a week and see if you can find the issue, if any.

Have a performance question. During a track event last weekend, met some Porsche tuners (working on the race class Porsches). During a conversation, I asked about handling performance. One of the techs metioned that to change the front sway bar from stock to upgraded would make a great difference in my 1999 996 cabrio, and that it was an easy thing to do.

I searched and found Eibach makes a decent looking kit, 24 mm front and 19 rear. Has anyone done this themselves, and is it worth doing? I do track the car every chance I get. Thank you

Izzy

Izzy,

Wouldn't you know it, I have a tiptronic too. I'd be very interested in hearing about your experience!

Could be the same culprit. It is the valve that lets coolant to the ATF cooling unit. It is a plastic body under the car, and the only way I found out it leaked was by compressing the coolant hoses in and out of the valve, then I saw some bubbles escaping, and rubbing my finger on it was wet with coolant.

To get to it, get the car up on stands, and remove the rear most under body plastic panel. You will need a flashlight to see under there, but the valve is located in the middle, right were the coolant hoses come through from the tunnel where the gas filter is.

Looks like this. The pictures are sideways, the floor is to the right of the picture. The crossmember seen in the top pic can give you a reference point:

This is a closer up. You can't see the leak, but if you squeeze the hoses, the edge between the white and black parts ooze coolant.

And it is part 14 in the diagram below.

The valve comes off easily enough, two hoses -one in, one out. I clamped the hoses to prevent coolant drip, just used a couple of small "c" clamps and some old pieces of a garden hose cut to about 1 inch lenght, and then in half to form a U channel. Placed the rubber hose cutouts against the coolant hoses and then the "c" clamps compressing on the outside. Makes a nice seal.

I think the valve is only held in place by a single phillips screw. Also, the air hose on the top simply pulls out. It is a vaccum hose that opens and closes the valve.

Hope that is it for you, from memory it was about a $30 part, no more than an hour of work including getting the car off the ground. I reused all the clamps.

Izzy

Scott, Tiptronic or manual? If it is Tip, I have some suggestions where to look. I had the same problem and found the leak in the ATF cooling area, a small valve had a leak so small I never saw or smelled it. But coolant will dissapear very slowly. Changed the valve and situation resolved.

That looks VERY nice. Is it flush with the rest of the trim pieces? Can I ask about cost/complexity? Thanks!

Izzy

From memory, I remember no more than 1/2 cup of liquid. I did not see much, if any, fuel from the lines. Mostly from the filter body. I just got a medium size wide/flat tupperware type bottom under the filter, and simply put the filter there after removing.

Can't remember what I did with the container afterwards though... Hope I cleaned it before sneaking it back to the kitchen withouth my wife seeing me.....

Very cool. Thanks

I do this for all my Track events, blows some people's mind out since they go to the dealer and are told "it is impossible". Then they watch me get a screw driver and pop them up in about 2 minutes. You first have to lower the rear seat backs, and remove the carpeted panel behind the rear seats - 2 phillips screws and done.

You can also push down on the latch from the top with a screw driver, same result. But I would first follow the instructions above until you understand how the mechanism work and how else you could position the screwdriver. Also, don't have ANYONE looking down "to see how you do it" when you are releasing them, they will get hit on the nose when the bars pop up.

Do it only with the top down, and don't operate the top with the bars up (ask me how I know...).

One plus, with the bars up most organizations will recognize them as factory roll bars and allow you to run hillclimb events.

Izzy