Cel

[fatmike]

These are pretty common repairs on Boxsters (and any 9 year old car).

I'm not an expert, but:

The MAF = the "mass air flow" sensor. Its a sensor that sits right behind the air intake behind the driver. You can easily change that yourself it you buy the right type of socket wrench. Hardest part about this job is access to the engine bay -- but the MAF is right on top. You can also clean the MAF, NAPA sells "MAF cleaner". Cleaning has to be done right though.

The "oxygen sensors" are sensors that plug into the exhaust. If you look under the car, they pop into the exhaust system (before and after the catalytic converters) and they have a 6" wire with a plug on the end. Also a do-it-yourself job that is roughly as complex as changing your oil. Hardest part with this is getting under the car and "finding" the sensors. You can change 'em in :30 seconds each.

The MAF tells the engine computer how much fresh air is coming in. The oxygen sensors tell how well the gas and air are being burned in the engine. Together they tell the engine computer how to adjust fuel and air to optimize performance and tune. If the MAF or O2 sensors give bad readings, the car can run rich or lean, resulting in loss of fuel economy, poor idle, loss of power, clogged spark plugs, etc.

I'd suggest running a bottle of TECHRON thru your gas. Read and follow the label directions. After you do that run a full tank of gas (or two) thru. Then change the oil. Techron will clean system out (and dirty your oil). Reset your CEL and see what happens.

If the CEL doesn't go away, you can take the car to someone who can diagnose which bank of O2 sensors (or maybe its just the MAF). Another option is skip all the fretting and diagnostics, change the spark plugs, MAF and O2 sensors and I bet your car will run like a champ for the next 30K miles...

Good luck with it.