New Boxster Owner

[mike914]

Hello Everyone

I just purchased a 2001 Boxster base with 100K on it.
I did not pay much for it
Looks like a fun little hobby for me.

Needs brakes and I'm told O2 sensors

How would I find out which O2 sensor needs replacing?

Thanks for any help/advice

Mike

[MARTHA]

.
.
Welcome to the forum!

[fanguy]

Welcome,

Sometimes the 02 sensor is just a vacum leak.

[por356c]

Welcome! I have had my 02 Boxster for just over a year. Lots of fun. I live in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Where are you located? Can't help you with the O2 sensors, but I just replaced rotors and pads all the way around this summer - easy peasy. Depending on where you live, I may be able to help with a mechanic recommendation for the O2 issue. If I can be of any help, send me a PM and let's talk on the phone. Welcome!

David Preston

[mike914]

Hello David

I live in Highland.

Yes the brakes and rotors should be easy.

Once Im done with those I will PM you, and thank you for offering some help.

Mike

Originally Posted by por356c

Welcome! I have had my 02 Boxster for just over a year. Lots of fun. I live in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Where are you located? Can't help you with the O2 sensors, but I just replaced rotors and pads all the way around this summer - easy peasy. Depending on where you live, I may be able to help with a mechanic recommendation for the O2 issue. If I can be of any help, send me a PM and let's talk on the phone. Welcome!

David Preston

[mike914]

Hello Fanguy

I did hear that the o2 sensors could be masked by a vacuum leak.

I would suspect a vacuum leak would exhibit a fluctuating idle or poor running.

My car starts right up and runs very well.

Thanks

Mike

Originally Posted by fanguy

Welcome,

Sometimes the 02 sensor is just a vacum leak.

[mike914]

thanks Martha

[rexcramer]

O2 sensors are expensive and there are four of them. Depending on your mechanical abilities, look for the vacuum leak or leaks. They can be a deep rabbit hole that can trigger a lot of different error codes. Buy a code reader, if you don't have one, and you can reset/turn off most codes.

I had my battery out for several days. After I put it back in, I had 1124 and 1126 pop up several times over a week, as the car learned what to do with Calif 91 octane gas. The cars are sensitive and throw codes.

I would suggest that you find a local indy mechanic that knows Boxsters, just in case. See if there is a local PCA chapter. They can be a huge hands on local resource also.

Welcome and congrats on the new car. And kudos for the proper color befitting any Porsche.

[mike914]

Sounds good to me JamesVM

[mike914]

Thanks rexcramer

Ill start looking for a code reader

[dghii]

Welcome and congrats!

O2 sensors are NOT that expensive...$74 on Amazon in March of 2015 for OEM Bosch 15182 upstream sensor. Thing is, lots of folks seem to want to replace all 4 at once if one is throwing a code.

My take is that the OBD-II code will tell you which sensor(s) are having issues. First thing I did was note and then clear the code to see if/when it came back. Over the course of a few years, I would sporadically get the same O2 code....maybe once every 6 months or so. Once the code finally started to pop up more frequently, I bought and installed the one offending sensor, March of 2015year. No codes since.
BTW, my 2000S has just under 132K miles.

[por356c]

Hi James - M3 would be fun. Maybe we can get together before the season ends - which is not far off, sadly! Send Mike and I a PM!

Thanks.

David Preston
Rochester Hills

[Smallblock454]

Hello Mike,

welcome to the forum from Germany…

Markus

[mike914]

Thanks dghii

I like you idea, do you know which OBD-II code reader I should borrow/Buy??

Originally Posted by dghii

Welcome and congrats!

O2 sensors are NOT that expensive...$74 on Amazon in March of 2015 for OEM Bosch 15182 upstream sensor. Thing is, lots of folks seem to want to replace all 4 at once if one is throwing a code.

My take is that the OBD-II code will tell you which sensor(s) are having issues. First thing I did was note and then clear the code to see if/when it came back. Over the course of a few years, I would sporadically get the same O2 code....maybe once every 6 months or so. Once the code finally started to pop up more frequently, I bought and installed the one offending sensor, March of 2015year. No codes since.
BTW, my 2000S has just under 132K miles.

[bwdz]

What is M3, I work off the m59 corridor you guys are mentioning about a mile from the old Silverdome.
Oh, and a good scanner and even some cheap apps like Torque, can monitor individual oxygen sensors output so you can scroll through each one and see the reads to look for a funny one

[dghii]

I have a very generic WalMart OBD-II reader years ago for under$50. Itworks in all our cars and gets me in the ballpark every time.

Check Amazon or Harbor Freight.

Keep in mind these inexpensive readers will not pinpoint every Porsche specific problem. Will definitely help with O2 codes or misfires.

[mikefocke]

O2 sensors can be done with a special wrench designed to let the wires pass through the opening in the wrench. Once you have read the codes (and thus know which one is faulting) and, if you don't want to do the job yourself, I found any muffler shop can do it in 15 minutes if you have the part. Most of that time is waiting for the exhaust system to cool down.

And the parts are made by Bosch and then relabeled by Porsche so buying the appropriate Bosch part number gets you the exactly right part for much less money. List of part numbers towards the .

[dghii]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

O2 sensors can be done with a special wrench designed to let the wires pass through the opening in the wrench. Once you have read the codes (and thus know which one is faulting) and, if you don't want to do the job yourself, I found any muffler shop can do it in 15 minutes if you have the part. Most of that time is waiting for the exhaust system to cool down.

And the parts are made by Bosch and then relabeled by Porsche so buying the appropriate Bosch part number gets you the exactly right part for much less money. List of part numbers towards the .

The 'special tool' is a socket with a slot for he wire. They are $5 at harbor freight. Can also try to use an open end wrench.

[dghii]

BTW, to the new OP. You need to visit Mike Focke's website! Great resource, including O2 part numbers and loads of info on the workings of the convertible top.

Big thank you to Mike for keeping the site up even though he's Boxsterless.....

[bwdz]

Originally Posted by JamesVM

M3 is the new raceway off Woodward south of m-59. A road course, brand spankin new!
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwiStNf2guvPAhVJC8AKHTgyD5MQFggOMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fm1concourse.com%2F&usg=AFQjCNHwA973SUEogypgqIF71PLCdG1HNQ&sig2=oYSIENkJd8QdnjJZ9BY9QA


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh yes, I know about M1 but you guys said M3 and when it was repeated I assumed it was not a typo and something new. I have stopped in there but have not been to any of the cars and coffee or track days yet but I will run into you guys there at some point if not in my Boxster I'll be in my TT. BTW, a friend of mine runs the service station at Woodward and Square Lake down the street, he just got a new $40k alignment rack in case you guys need to do a "track worthy" alignment, I get to do my own on his rack and it took me 3 tries to get the TT dialed in playing with camber mostly (it's front heavy unlike the Boxster) but I now have it right where I like it. Now I just got the Cayman 18" rims for the Boxster with 235 fronts so I will have to redial in the Boxster most likely.