99 Boxster Check engine light issue ( Not Normal)

[porscherescuer]

Hi everyone,

I have a 99 Boxster with 90k miles. The cel has been on for a few months now. When the codes were checked it threw six codes. One for every o2 sensor and also maf sensor. I replaced all of the 02 sensors, which I thought was really odd that they would all go out at once. We erased the codes and they came back within 10 minutes. So I have just been driving and not worrying about it. This morning I was driving it and it started jerking slightly and got bogged down. Had the codes checked and it was the same codes. I replaced the maf sensor and cleared the codes. The car drives very good now and seems to have fixed the issue, however four 02 sensors, maf sensor and nearly $1000 later I still have a check engine light on. My indie told me he thought there might be a short or broken wire somewhere, probably something to do with the DME or a connection. I am stumped and they are booked up for several weeks. Does anyone have any clue where to begin? What am I looking for, and where? Thanks so much for any help. Surely someone has experienced a similar issue. To reiterate the car runs very good now and is averaging around 25 mpg.

[Steve Tinker]

Without knowing the CEL codes, you are guessing what the problem is.....
Post them here and I'm sure someone will be able to help you.

[Topless]

Yep,
You can spend a lot of money and change a lot of parts but not fix the problem on these cars. The money pit can get real deep, real fast.

A careful diagnosis starts with the symptoms, exact error codes, model, year, mileage, and any recent work done. Get your own code reader and pull the codes, write them down and report back here. Then we can walk you through the process. There are a lot of common problems and easy fixes but you will need the codes first.

[porscherescuer]

Thanks for the responses guys. I will get the exact codes tonight. I know it was for the 02 sensors. One code for each sensor. My mechanic replaced all of them and it threw the exact same codes the next time I drove it. I have tomorrow off and would love to get to the bottom of this tonight and tomorrow. I will get a scanner and post the codes asap. Keep in mind that my mechanic is a Porsche repair specialist and has the very expensive computer to hook up. So, I'm sure his codes are correct and will be much more accurate than what I can get.

[JFP in PA]

Just as a reference point, you should get the exact same codes with a $40 code reader that a shop with a $17,000 a year PIWIS gets; only difference is what is done with that information. Diagnostics is more than reading codes, it is interpreting them.

In all the years I’ve been turning wrenches, I have never seen all four O2 sensors on a car crap out at one time; never………..

[Topless]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

Just as a reference point, you should get the exact same codes with a $40 code reader that a shop with a $17,000 a year PIWIS gets; only difference is what is done with that information. Diagnostics is more than reading codes, it is interpreting them.

In all the years I’ve been turning wrenches, I have never seen all four O2 sensors on a car crap out at one time; never………..

Yep,
If all four O2 sensors are barking they are just trying to tell me something. All going bad on the same day never happens so... What are they saying?