98Boxster98

I have to agree - the TSB seems to indicate removing 130mm from the end for North America frequency. When I first set forth attempting this mode, I just took the antenna and fastened to the plastic trim, giving it a little more room from the rest of the cables in the bundle and the metal A-pillar and that gave me enough of a range increase to about 10 yards. I used some small diameter heat shrink to give the wire some rigidity and electrical tape so I don't consider it a long term fix but my little experiment has worked well for about a month. I think that it should be possible to fold the antenna to the two sizes in question and get a good idea if it makes much of a difference. I'll give it a try when I get a chance.

PS. Okay. I folded back the wire so it mimics as if I cut off 130mm of wire and taped it together so I have about 70mm of wire above the black sheathing. Again, I'm trying to keep it away from the cable bundle and A-pillar as much as possible. The range is still about 10 yards. So in my case, I don't believe that the length makes that much difference. I'm going to leave it that way for awhile and see what happens.

This post on the same subject might help:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=986&hl=#

Looks good. What kit did you use?

Try this link:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...id=25109&st=0

There's an auction by Roock on ebay right now to install a 3.2L engine and exhaust for MY 1997 to 2002. The engine has 5000 miles and the Buy It Now price is $7000. Doesn't say what year car from which the engine is taken and the shop is in Atlanta.

http://tinyurl.com/7nn7s

paintscratch.com uses Dupont ChromaBase paint

Interesting ebay auction by Roock on a 3.2 conversion

Oops - forgot the link: http://tinyurl.com/cfxsh

I recently had trouble after a child seat deactivation bar was installed with the airbag light with the OBDII saying consistently that it was the driver side airbag . The Porsche service center assured me that the airbag would function correctly (on when no child seat, off when child seat present) even if the light was on. The wiring underneath the seat was a mess after the deactivation bar install and the dealer agreed to clean it up. I paid for a new buckle and the dealer paid for the labor ($80 for the buckle, $100 for labor.) I haven't had a problem since (crossed fingers.) It seems that it is worth discussing with the service center. I brought with me some copies of threads here discussing the problem and any TSBs that seem to address the issue.

Valcax:

I pretty new to this board but I find the search function on it is pretty good and saves me a lot of waiting time for a response.

Maybe this will help:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...hl=solder+iron#

Porscheguy - thanks for the answers. Sleepy and other installing the top themselves - pictures before, during and after an install are always nice.

I got my GAHH top yesterday through cabrio world, and after receiving it and also instructions from the factory porsche manual on its installation, I decided to take the plunge and install it myself. This is my second top I have put on, so I was not going in totally blind, but the other one was on a 61 vette and was a two piece setup that required more adjustment and was a totally different setup. To make a long story short, the shop wanted 9-10 hours of labor, and in six hours of work I was done. It turned out great, and looks like it came from the factory with the glass window. GAHH did a really nice job. They use the same German material as the factory tops, and from the inside the pattern on the fabric even has the same tecture and design. If anyone is considering installing one, it was not too hard, but I would only attempt it if you have some mechanical know how. On my scale of 1 to 10 I would rate it a 5 as far as difficulty, just a little time consuming though. Cabrio World provides a copy of the installation instructions from a porsche factory repair manual, and I only paid 695.00 instead of the GAHH suggested retail of about 950.00 USD. Overall, I am very pleased and would recommend the product to anyone. Please let me know if anyone has any questions.

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Congrats PorscheGuy! Any pictures to post? If not a detailed description of how to install the Boxster top, could maybe you point out any unclear or difficult portions of the self install per the CabrioWorld installation instructions?

Wow, this just keeps on getting more and more interesting! At the ebay vendor's website, the top they offer for $695 on ebay is still only $698.

http://www.cabrioworld.com/secure/detail.a...454&modelID=413

Who really makes this top? It's still a mystery to me. Nice find, ToolPants and JiniJazz!

When I looked at the pictures of the top put on by Priemer I thought I saw orange defogger stripes, like the BAS top.  It was not a good picture so I can't say for sure.  CA Boxster can confirm because he just had Priemer put the top on.  I would like to see this top in the service position and to see if there is anything to hold it up.

In the meantime, Wilfey on a UK Boxster board boxa.net also just had the BAS top put on at the factory.  There is a group buy.  I do not think the link will work unless you are registered on boxa.net.  http://www.boxa.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=14592&st=0

Here are his pictures of a 1999.

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I wrote BAS to ask about the width of the defroster lines compared to the OEM Porsche glass found post-2003 and other 3rd party replacement tops. They said that they are looking into the situation and will be get back to me.

More discussion of the availability (or lack of) Porsche child seats and the deactivation redesign at www.ppbb.com. Look for "Zoom Seat Availability?" There's an interesting pdf attachment about a possible problem of the deactivation unit not working properly because of a belt buckle connection issue. I don't believe it related to the problem I having, though.

Thanks for the info, ar.

I know it sounds basic, but did you have your car reprogrammed after the installation of the deactivation kit? (I realize the dealer should have raised this issue if not). I ask because, following my self-installation of the deactivation kit, the airbag light was on whenever the child seat male buckle was inserted ..... until I got to my independent shop and had the child seat programmed into the central computer.

After proper child seat programming, the airbag light will flash for 60 seconds after the ignition is turned on ... .whenever the child seat male buckle is plugged into the deactivation female buckle. That's your signal that the pax airbag is, in fact, deactivated.

Kim

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Hi Kim:

Thanks for the advise. The dealer from whom I bought the child seat also did the install. (By the way, the dealer said if I bought the seat elsewhere then he would have to charge labor to install the deactivation bar. Since I bought it there, the labor is free.) I'm going to go by the same dealer today and see if it's the same fault.

I like the looks of the looks of the GAHH top, especially the thin defroster wires in the glass.  Price seems reasonable.  Does anyone think this is a DIY project, or is the mechanism simply too complicated to work with?  Also, anyone know if the liner is part of the top?  I'm assuming it is fully lined and insulated.

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I haven't seen a successful top install DIY post but I'm still hoping to see one. The main trick seems to be pulling the canvas tight enough so it doesn't sag.

The liner is not part of the GAHH top. There is one available for $315 (at the bottom of the same price list for the top.)

I just read TSB 6924: Airbag Light Comes On. It's obvious that's there a electrical ground problem on the early Boxster after reading it. The dealer wants $580 to fix it for what seems to be rather mundane splicing and soldering. The TSB is peppered with "Caution: Airbag warning light lights up if tie-wrap is insufficiently fastened." It strikes me as a poor design if you're depending that much on a tie-wrap for more than some strain relief. Does anybody have price information on the seatbelt receptacle cost? I'd like to see if I have any bartering room with dealer on this.

Of course, how rude of me. Congrats, Dacostad. dvu70, that's sound advice. You really don't need a Porsche child seat if you have a back seat you want to use.

If you look closely at the GAHH top, you can see that it uses thin (unobtrusive) defroster strips, unlike BAS.  And it's cheaper too.

See http://www.gahh.com/boxster/BOXSTER6.jpg

Anyone know what "Sonnendeck Canvas" is?

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Concern about defroster lines were expressed earlier in the thread. One of the chief reasons I asked GAHH to post pictures. I agree with you - the defroster lines appear less visible on the GAHH top.

The way that it was explained to me is that both German and Sonnendeck canvas are both very good canvases for tops. However, the German canvas is a tighter weave (silkier) and actually a little more durable than the Sonnendeck. I read somewhere (an online vendor site) that Porsche recommends the German canvas because it's silkier, less prone to abrade during closing and opening of the top on the Boxster..

Not the smallest of the three car seats:

http://www3.us.porsche.com/english/usa/acc...kindersitze.htm

I hope you have an easier time getting a car seat than I did. Apparently Porsche is redesigning the car seat airbag deactivation and seats were hard to come by. One dealer told me a couple of weeks ago that he had a waiting list going back to this January. I did finally get one. The weird part of it is the airbag light is suppose to blink for awhile and go off when the car is started and the child seat installed. Well, all starts out well for me but eventually the airbag light stays constantly on. I went to the dealer to have it checked out but he said that the driver side seat belt caused the alarm. If I want it fixed, it's only $560 to replace seat belts (after buying a $350 car seat.) Dealer told me at least I know what's causing it. Hmmm, not exactly reassuring. The dealer cleared the alarm and with no child seat installed, I had no problems for a week. Installed the child seat for weekend use and airbag light magically reappeared. I guess I'll drop by the dealer again to make sure if it isn't something else this time.

Anybody else have a problem like this? How hard is it to switch out seat belts. I found an earlier thread discussing seat belt changout but it didn't go further to report difficulty and success.

Check out the GAHH top:

http://www.gahh.com/boxster/index.html

GAHH responded that $500 is a reasonable installation cost. At their website, you can request recommended installers. GAHH gave me 4 installers in my area.

PS: Install price is usually based on 9 hour install time. One installer told me that GAHH is offering free 2nd day shipping for this month and next month (I'm assuming valid for North America.)

Interestingly, in the new products for 2005 section of the GAHH website, it says it has a HEATED glass windows for the 1997-2002 Boxster (model 3121G.)

http://www.gahh.com/newproducts.php

I agree with ToolPants, I wish GAHH had a picture on the website. Maybe the heating elements are less obvious on their version. I sent an email to GAHH requesting more information and pictures.

FWIW, I contacted a top shop in Fort Worth, TX that said they can install the top for $525 and they've worked on Boxsters in the the past. I haven't checked it yet.

I saw GAHH as a possible good source for a new top in a previous post.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=680#

I was confused when I saw a glass replacement listed as a possibility for a 98 Boxster and thought it was an error:

http://www.gahh.com/boxster-roadster-1998-...7_341_3003.html

Maybe it's not an error.