1999 Boxster - New Purchase Review

[ALuv986]

Hello All,

I'm in the process of purchasing a 1999 Boxster 2.5L stock with 80k miles and 5-spd.

During my inspection of the car I have noted a few issues of concern and would really like to hear from you about each of the following::

1) The car has a continuous, small pull to the right. I have taken it on roads with crowns and flat surfaces and the pull remains. There is an alignment scheduled for tomorrorow with an "Alignment Specialist".

Have any of you had a similar experience and if so, how did you resolve your problem?

2) There is a start-up chain rattle...It goes away immediately (I hope!) and then runs on a fairly even pulse. During my next car visit, we plan to perform the diagnostics.

Is there anything particular to the 2.5L I should pay particular attention to during this check?
A porsche scan tool/durametric will be used to perform this check.

I will be sure to let you know what I learn from these upcoming tests,

I will post pictures and video upon shrinking them to fit site requirements.

Thanks,
a

[spinjockey]

So the chain rattle is due to faulty tensioners. There are three of them and you should change them all to the updated version. There is a TSB.

You should check the cam deviations. Depending on driving style you may be close to the spec limit which is +/- 6 degrees for each bank. Anything over 8 needs to be addressed asap. You can only reliably check the deviations after the engine is fully warmed up. I don’t subscribe much to using cam angle variation to assessing IMS health.

You should ask when the AOS, drive belt, spark plugs, coil packs, and water pump/thermostat were all replaced. There are updated coil packs. All the other parts are due for replacement or should be suspect.

[ALuv986]

SpinJockey, thanks for the "spin" on the maintenance information.

I have driven the car many times and it is such a blast. However, if I cannot sort out the steering pulling issue, this will be a dealbreaker. But, there are so many Boxsters for sale...I'm sure I will have one soon, maybe not exact choice,,,Oh well, its a Boxster.

I have plans to sort the known suspects immediately after I get it into my garage..

I'm excited to see what I am getting into...

[spinjockey]

I agree that the steering pulling is a concern. I would move on too as it could be a hidden sign of an unreported accident, need for some major suspension overhaul, or just an alignment issue. The fact that the seller isn’t sorting it out is concerning.

[husker boxster]

It's very easy to knock a Porsche out of alignment. Chances are someone clipped a curb on a corner and messed up the alignment.

Also, do the tires sizes match front to front and rear to rear? Owners can do some funky things. Maybe they needed a single tire immediately and couldn't find the proper size so put on a "close" facsimile.

Regardless, a Porsche shouldn't have a pull.

[Hamstuh]

Originally Posted by spinjockey

So the chain rattle is due to faulty tensioners. There are three of them and you should change them all to the updated version. There is a TSB.

You should check the cam deviations. Depending on driving style you may be close to the spec limit which is +/- 6 degrees for each bank. Anything over 8 needs to be addressed asap. You can only reliably check the deviations after the engine is fully warmed up. I don’t subscribe much to using cam angle variation to assessing IMS health.

You should ask when the AOS, drive belt, spark plugs, coil packs, and water pump/thermostat were all replaced. There are updated coil packs. All the other parts are due for replacement or should be suspect.

This reply is more so to verify what i've heard or be corrected, though when it comes to a rattle, ive heard only 2 of the tensioners have a chance of causing the rattle while one is very unlikely too. As well as if the rattling continues it's possible the chain guides themselves could be shot

[ALuv986]

All,

Thanks so much for your inputs on this inquiry. I will be running the diagnoistics this afternoon to know if what the cam deviations are.

I like the car and it is what I was looking for across the nation and it turned up in my area...serendipity maybe???

Anyway, it looks like I will be on this forum asking all sorts of questions.

I'm still waiting to download some pictures of the car...will get it done asap.

Again thanks.
a

[ALuv986]

[ALuv986]

[ALuv986]

[DWBOX2000]

With that color it’s hard not to just buy. White with 18’s, wowza.

[ALuv986]

Yeaahhhh...but the deal fell through. Finally put the durametric on it and it displayed some good and bad data.

The engine shows 2800 hours of run time and the car only had Zero Stage 2 over revs and 300 Stage 1 over revs...the last time the car had a Stage 1 over revs was 2700 hours ago. During the math, this car could have had its last redline in 1999 or 2000.

But, there were so many more issues that I had to rethink this purchase and was able to gain enough strength (and common sense) to say NO to the deal...heartbreaker!!!

Also, the car pulls to the left...as I finally got a good look at the springs, I noticed the passenger's side spring was red and the driver's (and the rest of the coil springs) are black. And the stop plate (#5) was inverted...so, someone has worked on it.



From what I learned, I need a car which has been driven often and maintained

Thank you all for reading and advising!

Anyway, onward with the search.

[ALuv986]

I know I will be adding18" wheels to what ever car I finally get. WOWZA is right!

[spinjockey]

The mismatched suspension is concerning. The vehicle definitely hasn’t been maintained well and correcting would take some investment. It would have to be for the right price which I’m guessing was not likely.

Also noticed that it is missing a piece of trim on the drivers side by the clamshell. It is somewhat common for these pieces to get lost L. While not expensive to replace, I can guarantee you that there are other parts missing or broken here and there.

What did the durametric report show?

[ALuv986]

The durametric show the cam deviations.were great on both banks (0 and -3?), But, there is chain slap during startup...thinking tensioners or guides.

Other things showed up during this drive and I parted without the car..

Oh well, just gives me more time to find a solid Boxster (Porsche speak = Maintained)

I don't like to purchase sight unseen, but with a PPI and a good maintenance history...I'm game!

[Rob175]

Glad you decided to keep looking. There are some really well maintained "older" Boxsters out there. I know that because my 98' is one of them.

But having said that, I maintain that which needs to be maintained without trying to make a 25 year old car "new again". As issues arise (thankfully few) I get those fixed, but I don't replace items just "because" as some prefer to do. Mine is a sunny day summer driver only and it runs well. I don't track it or drive it "hard". The only major work that's been done is replacing the coolant tank in the rear trunk and replacing the water pump and associated hoses.

My 98' (5-speed) just turned 92,000 miles (yep, about 4,000 miles a summer) and I know I should have it tuned up soon (plugs/coils, wires etc) but the car runs great getting 28 miles a gallon so I'm delaying the work for now.

BUT....if you plan on buying one that "needs work", projects can snowball and it can get very expensive. IMHO, its better to pay a higher purchase price for a sweet one that requires little work other than typical maintenance.....but that's me.