LowTemp Tstat. No winter heat?

[RandallNeighbour]

Installed a low temp thermostat and wondered why I can't get much heat out of the vents in the cold days I'm forced to drive the car to work. Is it due to the low temp thermostat, or has my heater core gone out on me?

[Perfectlap]

Fixing the heater in Houston..... LOL.

[RandallNeighbour]

It's more of an inquiry than a need to repair it!

[Topless]

Not related unless you goofed and fouled the T-stat. More likely your mix flaps are wrecked and blowing foam out the vents instead of warm air. There is a fix for that.
http://www.renntech.org/forums/tutorials/category/20-boxster-986-common-fixes-and-repairs/ "fixed my no heat problem"

[spongebob]

Randall, on your 97 Box you can use the AC hack to check the cooling water temp.
Think you neex to press two buttons on the left side , the one on top and the other one on the bottom for a few seconds. Cant remember exact how I get there without the ACC in front of me but water temp is on row 6. That will tell you for sure if Termostat is working instead of the flimsy needle

[SF-Rockster]

Originally Posted by spongebob

Randall, on your 97 Box you can use the AC hack to check the cooling water temp.
Think you neex to press two buttons on the left side , the one on top and the other one on the bottom for a few seconds. Cant remember exact how I get there without the ACC in front of me but water temp is on row 6. That will tell you for sure if Termostat is working instead of the flimsy needle

Can you explain in a little more detail?
Which buttons on the left of what?
I'm interested in trying to do this as well.
A picture is always nice.
Thanks

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Installed a low temp thermostat and wondered why I can't get much heat out of the vents in the cold days I'm forced to drive the car to work. Is it due to the low temp thermostat, or has my heater core gone out on me?

Definitely something else is wrong, we install many low temp stats which are used in frigid weather (it is 7F this morning) and the most common comment we get is that the owners feel they get heat quicker in the AM, which should be correct as the coolant begins to circulate sooner.

[pothole]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

Definitely something else is wrong, we install many low temp stats which are used in frigid weather (it is 7F this morning) and the most common comment we get is that the owners feel they get heat quicker in the AM, which should be correct as the coolant begins to circulate sooner.

Seems unlikely. Heater in my car warms as the engine temp rises. There's no delay waiting for the stat to open.

[spongebob]

Originally Posted by SF-Rockster

Can you explain in a little more detail?
Which buttons on the left of what?
I'm interested in trying to do this as well.
A picture is always nice.
Thanks

I was a little bit wrong, this is the way to fo it. Works on 97 - 00
To access:hold recirc and air up for 5 sec
+ and - takes you through different codes, 6c is cooling water temp, 5 c = outside temp
Press center vent to show value
Auto will take you back

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by pothole

Seems unlikely. Heater in my car warms as the engine temp rises. There's no delay waiting for the stat to open.

Actually, there is very limited circulation until it does open, and as the 160 stat opens sooner, people notice more heat sooner. Very common statement amongst those who drive year round.

[thom4782]

Spongebob or anyone else:

Is there a similar procedure for 01? If so, what is it. Thanks

[SF-Rockster]

Originally Posted by spongebob

I was a little bit wrong, this is the way to fo it. Works on 97 - 00
To access:hold recirc and air up for 5 sec
+ and - takes you through different codes, 6c is cooling water temp, 5 c = outside temp
Press center vent to show value
Auto will take you back

Thanks bob!
I'll try it tomorrow.

[Eric G]

From RennTech:
The AC Climatronic unit is actually manufactured by Audi. There is some sort of serial data stream or CAN interface that allows the AC unit to display engine parameters. This works on 97-00 boxsters. Here is a list of what can be seen:

To switch from F to C:
Hold down the recirculating button then push both the temperature + - buttons.

To access diagnostics:
Hold down the Recirculating & Air up buttons for 5 seconds. The + - buttons go up and down through the list of "c" codes. The center vent button switches the left display between the "c" code and its actual value. Press the Auto button to exit.

0c - ERL
1c - Oil Temp?
2c - Inside temp. Sensor mounted in the aspirator assembly at the side of the dash.
3c - Outside temp. Sensor located inside the air inlet of the A/C unit.
4c - Outside temp. Sensor located in front grill of the radiator. The data is fed to the Climatronic from the instrument cluster. When not moving, the instrument cluster OBC temp display retains it's last setting until moving. This is to prevent heat emanating from the radiator affecting the temp. sensor. The A/C unit uses the lower of the two outside air temp values in determining fresh-air temp.
5c - Outside temp. (matches with OBC outside temp display)
6c - Coolant temp.
7c - Footwell discharge temp.
8c - Sun sensor (dash top)
9c - Sun sensor.
10c - Passenger compartment fan speed.
11c - Passenger compartment fan voltage.
12c - Temperature mix Flap command 1=COLD, 100=HOT
13c - Temperature mix Flap position
14c - Central Flap command
15c - Central Flap position
16c - Footwell/Defrost Flap command
17c - Footwell/Defrost Flap position
18c - Recirculation Valve command 1=OFF, 100=RECIRC
19c - Recirculation Valve position (feedback)
20c - Vehicle speed in kph, updating only once per second. (real speed, not speed+safety margin as in the speedometer)
21c - Engine RPM in hundreds. This too only updates once per second.
22c - ?
23c - ?
24c - Sun sensor, exterior lights switch & panel lights control (term. 58 & 58d voltage) - used for A/C panel display illum.
25c - ?
26c - ?
27c - ?
28c - Fan speed?
29c - ?
30c - Engine run time in seconds (255 max.)(=0xff)
31c - Timing counter
32c - Displays test
33c - Software version? Mine states 3.4
34c - ?
35c - Outside temp. from inlet sensor (filtered?)
36c - temp?

[Jake Raby]

During testing of the LN T Stat it was employed in temps reaching -27F. You shouldn't be having any issues.