A Few Questions
 

Okay,
I am new to boxsters (one month owner), and I have a few questions. I have a used '99 Ocean Blue Boxster with almost 18k miles. My questions are:
Can you add Traction Control? (Maybe stupid but worth asking; isn't all a computer program)
Any tips for treating the top? How does Renovo cleaner, ultra proofer, and vinyl window cleaner work?
Is it normal to hear some movement when driving over bumps, like the convertible top shifting while closed?
Is the plate under the rear, supposed to be bent over the rear anti-swat bar? (mine is bent into a v-shape to go under the rear axle sway-bar?
How do I know if the previous owner installed a short shifter?
Any tips for a new owner?

Thanks! :cool:

Any tips for treating the top?

Raggtop Top Cleaner for the top, followed w/ a lint roller to clean up after your done washing the car. Now as for the plastic window, find Plexus,I've used w/ great results everytime and I haven't seen it do anything I would warn others about.

Is the plate under the rear, supposed to be bent over the rear anti-swat bar? (mine is bent into a v-shape to go under the rear axle sway-bar?

This is what it's supposed to looks like;
http://www.renntech.org/forums/uploads/post-2-1116527104_thumb.jpg

How do I know if the previous owner installed a short shifter?

Are the shifts short & notchy or long & smooth?

Any tips for a new owner?

Have fun w/ your new toy!

The shifts are short and kind of knotchy, does that mean it has a short shifter.
The rear plate is not like that, I will get a pic soon. The guy at the Porsche dealer said that the older ones, it's a '99, come down like mine, but I am not sure about that.

The shifts are short and kind of knotchy, does that mean it has a short shifter.

Hmm well it's hard to tell w/o feeling or seeing a pic of the shifter assembly. Is it possible for you to lift up the shift boot and take a pic for us? The one thing I noticed w/ the SSK is that you can almost hear the shifter 'hit a wall' when shifting from 2nd-3rd,which my OEM super long throw shifter never made.

The rear plate is not like that, I will get a pic soon. The guy at the Porsche dealer said that the older ones, it's a '99, come down like mine, but I am not sure about that.

Yeah you should probably take a pic,I have a 99' and mine looks like that. We will let you know if the dealer is pulling a quick one on you........cause if they are...... :troll:

I'll get a pic up tomorrow, also one more question. My radio on/off button is peeling, I have an after-market warranty. If it is not covered how can I fix it?

Here are the pic's of the rear plate. You can see the bar and the plate bent around it.

What in the world? I've been underneath a few Boxsters and have never seen a plate bent like that.

By the looks of your pic, it seems as if your boxster is messed up. Possibly a serious accident or maybe the previous owner did some major modifications to the car. I'd look into the history if I were you.

That sucks, I got a free CarFax report with the car when I bought it, it didn't say anything, neither did the mechanic. I didn't notice this until a week ago. Any recommendations on where I can do a free vin report.

From your pictures I can tell you with no doubt that your car is messed up. It was either in a serious accident or a major A-hole did work on that car.

That Triangular plate under the rear is an integral component of your rear suspension and acts to add rigidity to the rear of the car. It is not supposed to be bent around the sway bar. It does have a long channel opening for the sway bar to fit into and show through a little bit. The car must never be driven without this plate or with a damaged plate.

I already did, look a few post down.

SoCal's right; that shear plate is actually a stressed member. it looks like someone backed over something and bent the cradle back, folding the shear plate in the process. get it fixed ASAP. probably just need a new cradle and a new shear plate. you can pick them up from a used boxster and have them installed fairly cheaply.

as for your question about adding traction control: the non T/C cars only have three channel ABS (two front, one rear). the T/C cars have four channel ABS so they can modulate each rear wheel individually. while theoretically possible, you'd have to switch out your ABS unit and plumb a dedicated brake channel to each rear. this is cost prohibitive.

In the photos it looks like the plate is welded to that rear support brace. Is that true? The plate is supposed to be flat and attaches under the car by several stud bolts that come down from the bottom of the car into the plate and then nuts are screwed on and also by several bolts that screw up into the underside of the car. I just removed and replaced this plate on my friends '99 Boxster when we needed access to his auto trans to replace a defective switch. On your car it is just put on all wrong.

My Boxster S has traction control and I drive with it turned off most of the time for better performance off the line when I'm "hot-dogging" around town. The traction control will kick-in on fast acceleration to limit torque to the rear wheels. It's more fun to get a little wheel spin and faster off-the-line performance. I wouldn't bother adding it if I were you. Just slow it down in the rain and snow. I started driving in 1974 and my first car was a '73 Javelin with a 360 CID V8, and here in the northeast we get plenty of rain and snow and I never needed no stinking Traction control! We actually knew how to drive back in those days. Luke, turn off the computer and use the Force.

That definitly looks to be damage, likely I'm guessing from running over a curb or debris. Get it looked at ASAP.

Now a question on ABS, are you saying my 02 S without PSM only has 3 channel ABS?

Patrick

Thanks, I appreciate the help, obviously the guy at Porsche doesn't know his stuff, because he was wrong. I will take it in and hopefully the warranty will cover it, it wasn't me and since it does affect the rigidy if the car they should take care of it. If the warranty people are jerks, can I replace it myself. Any ideas on cost?

The carfax I got with the car never mentioned an accident. So is it lying and I should be worried about anything else being wrong, or did the previous owner just drive over something? Any ideas?

Thanks!

A couple of points.

Please take your Porsche to a dealer service bay and see what is up with the underside, it is clearly in need of some professional attention. I would do it today.

Then, if the car has been severely damaged, ask you lawyer what you might be able to sue your mechanic for. I have a feeling the repair bill on this one COULD be very high indeed.

Good luck and keep us posted.

I edited my last post please check it out, and I will keep you guys posted. I may be able to go by Porsche tomorrow.

It should have been obvious that that plate is bent. You can see the bend on the edge... no factory would shape a part like THAT.

Hopefully it's just that plate, and can be replaced quickly and easily. Keep us updated!

I will take it in and hopefully the warranty will cover it, it wasn't me and since it does affect the rigidy if the car they should take care of it. If the warranty people are jerks, can I replace it myself. Any ideas on cost? Does anyone have the part number?

The carfax I got with the car never mentioned an accident. So is it lying and I should be worried about anything else being wrong, or did the previous owner just drive over something? Any ideas?

Thanks, I reposted this from an edit, so everyone would see.

Carfax is often 'incomplete' and they recently settled a class action law suit in the US b/c of it. It's only as good as the information reported to them (when they use it) but don't expect it to be overly accurate. My wife's car had an accident (minor - but $2500 in damages) where police were called and a report was written. When I went to sell it 2+ years leter, I disclosed to the buyer the accident. He didn't beleive me as it didn't show up on carfax - until I showed him the pics and receipts. Go figure.

Anyhow, w/ a '99, I think you are looking for p/n 986.331.161.03
You can check for yourself on the Pelican Parts PET catalog:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/PartsLookup/HTML/986_USA_KATALOG/501-01-Frame5.htm

It is something you could replace yourself, but it is a part of the rear suspension/cross members so you want to inspect for other damage and you will probably also need to have an alignment done afterwards.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks everyone, I am taking it in tomorrow. I got under there today, and nothing else seems to be bent. The plate is bent and the attachment bar that comes down next to the exhaust is bent, and that's it. I think they previous owner backed into something, because nothing else seems bad and if it was in an accident it would have had to have been one involving police because of the force needed to bend it like that, so it would have been on carfax. I will let you know when it is fixed, howfully it is covered under the warranty. I may post again soon if I need help with the installation if the warranty doesn't cover it. Thanks!

Hi, I think I have mentioned this before, CarFaxes can be downloaded onto a computer and edited very easily, especially coming from someone you don't know and for free :( . Also not everyone declares an accident especially if it doesn't implicate another car so be wise and do your homework, buy an AutoCheck or CarFax yourself on the internet before buying a used car and please get the car inspected by a qualified mechanic.

GOOD LUCK :cheers:

Neither carfax nor autocheck are reliable for accidents.

Both do a decent job on the owner history, reg and title problems and the like.

An under the car inspection and paint meter check is key, the only thing that consistently works.

good luck.

:)

Just an update the warranty people are being really nice, and going to replace the plate. The mechanics agreed it was wrong and said they thought that it could have been bent from being towed improperly.

It looked like more then just the plate was bent out of shape,is that all that they are replacing?

They are going to replace the plate and bend the bar it is attached to behind the exhaust back. What else do you think is bent?

Update: Nevermind I was wrong.

I didn't want to start a new post so here are some more questions I have.

Is it normal to hear the soft top shifting while it is up when you drive over a bump?
Do the porsche OEM dash cup holders work well or is the ultimate cupholder better?
How hard is it to move the a/c to the lowest console position?
Did porsche ever release the lower console in arctic silver?
Where can I get an arctic silver non smokers tray or how can I do it myself?
How do you repair peeling radio buttons (on/off)?
How do you remove the stereo face plate on a cdr-220?
Is it normal to have the upper dash the hangs over the lower dash (above the shifter boot) not perfectly centered?
What are the metal clips mounted on the underside of the seat for? Does a piece of plastic mount there?

Thank You, I really appreciate all of your answers and helping get to know my new boxster.

I will try to help you out where I can.

Is it normal to hear the soft top shifting while it is up when you drive over a bump?

Nope.

Did porsche ever release the lower console in arctic silver?

Yes,it was an option. There are many of shops and places that will paint it to match whatever you want.

How do you repair peeling radio buttons (on/off)?

You don't,you have to order a new faceplate. It can be anywhere from $50-125 on eBay.

Is it normal to have the upper dash the hangs over the lower dash (above the shifter boot) not perfectly centered?

Post a pic please.

What are the metal clips mounted on the underside of the seat for? Does a piece of plastic mount there?

Post another pic please.

The first picture, if you look the upper console is not perfectly aligned. I started messing with it and the lower console will shift into the correct position but it is tilted toward the right.
The second picture is of the mounting brackets under the seat.
The third is of my storage compartment. My question is: should it have a spring to open it and if so does it fit in the little hole?
The fourth is of the silver color my console is. Is it arctic silver?

Lastly, two more questions:
How do you remove the lowest shelf in the center console?
Are your trunks hard to close? I always close it then have to push it agin and get fingerprints on the paint?

The first picture, if you look the upper console is not perfectly aligned. I started messing with it and the lower console will shift into the correct position but it is tilted toward the right.

That's fine,you will learn to let very minor imperfections go. By the way mine is like that as well.

The fourth is of the silver color my console is. Is it arctic silver?

Hard to tell,what color is your car? If you look under the hood and see a sticker w/ your VIN and Paint Code it should have your car's options as well, XME is the code for the painted center console to match exteroir.

Are your trunks hard to close? I always close it then have to push it agin and get fingerprints on the paint?

The front I slowly let down then press down on the Porsche emblem till it locks. The rear trunk I lower about 3/5 the way from fully open then drop it,it always closes on it's own.

I will let you know about the others when I get off of work.

I would like to thank everyone who has helped me so far, and here is a list of the questions that still do not have answers:

Is it normal to hear the soft top shifting while it is up, when you drive over a bump?
Do the porsche OEM dash cup holders work well or is the ultimate cupholder better?
How hard is it to move the a/c to the lowest console position?
Where can I get an arctic silver non smokers tray or how can I paint it myself?
How do you repair peeling radio buttons (on/off)?
What are the metal clips mounted on the underside of the seat for? Does a piece of plastic mount there? (refer to picture in previous post)
How do you remove the lowest shelf in the center console?
Should the storage compartment have a spring? (refer to picture in previous post)

Thank You!

cup holders
 

I have an '04 and while I was at first skeptical of the cup holders, they have grown on me. I had my coffee mug in the holder while hurling my car up and down the Tail of the Dragon and I had no problems with it staying put just fine.

Thanks, but I am talking more McD's glasses and mugs.

I posted in another forum the only questions I have left are:
Is it normal to hear the soft top shifting while it is up, when you drive over a bump?
What are the metal clips mounted on the underside of the seat for? Does a piece of plastic mount there? (refer to picture)
Could I paint a nonsmokers tray myself with touchup paint?
How do you repair peeling radio buttons (on/off)? (Besides replacing the faceplate)

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I took it in today, there going to have it for about a week and a half, I just hope that anything the plate went out of shape is fixed. I noticed to day the rear wheels were getting angled inward. If that is causing premature axle damage, etc. I hope it is noticable and they fix it. To bad, no boxster fun for a week.

Is it normal to hear the soft top shifting while it is up when you drive over a bump?

For me, the excessive shifting was caused by a stripped fastener securing the latch mechanism housing to the windshield frame.

If this is the case:

Here's a link on how to remove the roof latch housing:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=4230&view=findpost&p=20543

Here's a link on how I fix mine with tools not normally available at the neighborhood Home Depot:

http://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/2419-convertible-top-latch.html?highlight=nutserts

Some more reference:

http://www.flat-6.net/forum/showthread.php?t=14020

Thanks, but it is not that serious.

Two words....pre-purchase inspection. You bought a jacked up car. :eek: