I would like to share my experience on working with my Boxster (Base & TIP) year 2002. But I would like you to know that I am not a mechanic. I am just a trying hard hobbyist on fixing cars. Last month, my car started creating a whining noise so I did check and found out that the noise is coming from the steering pump. I bought a new pump from autoparts warehouse for $327 brand new. So here we go.
1. Open the compartment engine as usual.
2. Remove both the trottle body tube and resonance tube by unscrewing the four screw type brackets. Be carefull because there are some wirings and vaccum hoses attached to the underside of these tubes. I actually broke one that is connected to the throttle tube and cost me $18 to buy from the dealler. Remove everything connected to it including a flex hose connected to the AOS.
3. Once cleared, disconnect the two sensor terminals on top of the engine block and behind the reservoir to make room.
4. Try to siphon or collect as much fluid as you can from the reservoir. What I did is I used a syringe with flexible tube attached to siphone some of the fluid from the reservoir. However, there is no way you can avoid leaks from the reservoir.
5. Now you will see the back of the steering fluid reservoir and the fluid's return line. "YOU HAVE TO DISCONNECT THIS METAL PIPE FIRST" before doing anything else. This is a PIA. The return line is connected through a compression fitting with a RED plastic compression ring and two rubber o-rings. My pump is seated on top of this reservoir. It took me two days and a broken knuckle to dislodge this pipe. It was so painfull and I start cursing out loud. What I did is use a block of wood as a lever and wedge it between the pipe and the back of the plastic reservoir. I used small crow bar to separate them.
6. Then, go inside the passenger side and loosen the 3 bolts holding the steering pump's flywheel. Then remove the serpentine belt. Remove the 3 loose bolts and the pump's flywheel.
7. Then remove the 3 bolts holding the pump in the front and the two bolts at the rear.
8. At the back of the pump, there is a half circle metal between the pump and the reservoir. Loosen the bolt that holding this half circle metal and temporary tie it up to clear up the area.
9. Loosen the compressor by loosening 3 bolts. Ther are 2 bolts in the front and 1 at the rear. You can use universal swivel socket through the gap in the intake manifold to reach these bolts. You have to do this because the compressor's plumbing is blocking the way.
10. Now, you can detach the filler tube reservoir by un-screwing. Once removed, the whole unit (pump & reservoir) can be maneuver and remove in one difficult way. It will takes time to remove the whole assembly.
The installation is the reverse. You will need some ties or wire to temporarily hold those things blocking your way. I totally forgot to take pictures and I am sorry about that. Well, thats all folks. I hope this explanation is clear to you.
