Boxster newbie, help appreciated

[Shotokan]

Hello everyone! I just purchased a '99 Boxster with 62,000 miles. The dealership (non-Porsche) told me the car was well maintained and freshly serviced. The local dealer couldn't squeeze me in to take a look, so I took a chance. UGH!

I don't know if it is just me, or if the car has issues. I have called the dealership and they of course say "it's a used car"

Anyway...I have just ran into the following issues. Any and all advice would be appreciated.

1)Trunk light comes on when you start the car, then stays on for 3-4 minutes before going off (don't know if this is normal or not)

2)The air bag light came on yesterday after a heavy rain and hasn't gone off. I don't know if something is wet or what is going on

3) The right side behind the seat was full of water today after a heavy rain. I could not find any water on the door or the wall behind the seat. The water was just in the floorboard under the seat.

4) I have also noticed a noise in the right rear of the car after hitting a bump. It also sounds like a jack is bouncing around, but I know that is not the case. I had new tires installed and they didn't see anything noticable. I can't honestly say they would even know what they were looking for, I don't

Final question, is it worth it to take to the dealer and spend the $495 they charge to inspect the car for possible problems?

Thanks in advance.
Cameron

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Shotokan

Hello everyone! I just purchased a '99 Boxster with 62,000 miles. The dealership (non-Porsche) told me the car was well maintained and freshly serviced. The local dealer couldn't squeeze me in to take a look, so I took a chance. UGH!

I don't know if it is just me, or if the car has issues. I have called the dealership and they of course say "it's a used car"

Anyway...I have just ran into the following issues. Any and all advice would be appreciated.

1)Trunk light comes on when you start the car, then stays on for 3-4 minutes before going off (don't know if this is normal or not)

2)The air bag light came on yesterday after a heavy rain and hasn't gone off. I don't know if something is wet or what is going on

3) The right side behind the seat was full of water today after a heavy rain. I could not find any water on the door or the wall behind the seat. The water was just in the floorboard under the seat.

4) I have also noticed a noise in the right rear of the car after hitting a bump. It also sounds like a jack is bouncing around, but I know that is not the case. I had new tires installed and they didn't see anything noticable. I can't honestly say they would even know what they were looking for, I don't

Final question, is it worth it to take to the dealer and spend the $495 they charge to inspect the car for possible problems?

Thanks in advance.
Cameron

It's not the trunk light, it's the spoiler light, and it's normal. Read your owner's manual.

There are drain plugs in the area where the top rests inside the car. These clog and then water makes it's way into the car and destroys the security computer under the driver's seat. That covers 3 and probably 2 as well.

There are many suspension bushings that wear over time and can cause clunking. There also may be something loose either under the seat, under the car, or in the trunk.

Yes, you should have done this before buying the car, but get it checked over BY A PORSCHE SPECIALIST to see what you're in for.

[Shotokan]

Blue2000s,
Thanks for the info. I have an appointment set up for next week with the Porsche dealer to go through the car. Can you tell me where the drain plugs are? Is there a recommended repair manual so I can correct come issues myself?

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Shotokan

Blue2000s,
Thanks for the info. I have an appointment set up for next week with the Porsche dealer to go through the car. Can you tell me where the drain plugs are? Is there a recommended repair manual so I can correct come issues myself?

If you put the top into service position, you'll see there are big drain holes on either side of the car. It's been covered on the board here several times if you search. I personally wouldn't go to a dealer service department with any car that's not under warranty. There are independents who know the car better, actually care to fix things instead of replace them if it can be done, aren't rediculously priced and aren't trying to sell a newer car.

[schoir]

Originally Posted by Shotokan

Blue2000s,
Thanks for the info. I have an appointment set up for next week with the Porsche dealer to go through the car. Can you tell me where the drain plugs are? Is there a recommended repair manual so I can correct come issues myself?

+1 on going to an independent Porsche specialist rather than a dealer for your '99.

Go to Mike Focke's website for the information you need to locate the drains, here:
http://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/drainsdiagram

Blue2000S has already pointed it out, but it bears repeating: if you don't prevent water from reaching the immobiliser under the driver's seat, it will fry it and you are looking at a repair of $1K to $2K and all sorts of electrical glitches until you get it fixed, not the least of which will be getting stranded.

Your airbag light can only be reset with a PST2, PIWIS or Durametric.

If you intend on keeping the car long term and maybe doing some of the work yourself, you should invest in a Bentley Manual for your Boxster. Available on Amazon and other places.

Regards, Maurice.

[Shotokan]

Ok, I found the two drain holes on each side. It appears that the original rubber gaskets/washers that were around the tubes have actually broken up and been pushed into the tubes. I was able to remove some of it from both sides, but not real confident that the lines are clear. I do not have access to compressed air at the moment.

Thanks for the lead on the repair manual.

As far as the independant specialist, I haven't been able to locate one locally yet but I will definitely start searching now.

[schoir]

Originally Posted by Shotokan

Ok, I found the two drain holes on each side. It appears that the original rubber gaskets/washers that were around the tubes have actually broken up and been pushed into the tubes. I was able to remove some of it from both sides, but not real confident that the lines are clear. I do not have access to compressed air at the moment.

Thanks for the lead on the repair manual.

As far as the independant specialist, I haven't been able to locate one locally yet but I will definitely start searching now.

Just to be clear...there are two drain holes in the front trunk (1 on each side of the battery tray), and those have rubber gaskets around them.

And, there are two drain holes in the convertible top well (1 on each side, directly under the V-lever that drives the pushrods for the convertible top). Those have a sort of little funnel UNDER the foam drain tray.

The drains in the convertible top well are the ones that get clogged most often and the ones that usually cause the water under the seat. The front ones can also cause problems, but they don't clog as often because they are a little more protected from debris.

Regards, Maurice.

[Shotokan]

Schoir,

Ok, I guess I am confused. I found the foam trays on both sides of the rear. I can see a clear tube running out of the bottom of these trays. The tubes on the bottom of the trays had pieces of rubber in it. I assumed that it was a gasket since the tubes seem to sit just under the tray. It appears to still have small pieces of rubber inside of it that I can not reach, but at this point I not real sure about anything

[schoir]

Originally Posted by Shotokan

Schoir,

Ok, I guess I am confused. I found the foam trays on both sides of the rear. I can see a clear tube running out of the bottom of these trays. The tubes on the bottom of the trays had pieces of rubber in it. I assumed that it was a gasket since the tubes seem to sit just under the tray. It appears to still have small pieces of rubber inside of it that I can not reach, but at this point I not real sure about anything

The drain hoses that are connected to the underside of the foam drain trays are not supposed to have anything in them at all. The pieces of rubber may be the rubber buffers that are normally part of the front pushrod assembly and they may have deteriorated and fallen into the drains.

You have to fish out (with a wire hanger) or blow out (with compressed air) any debris that is in the drains so that any water can drain freely.

Pour in a quart of water and verify that you are collecting a quart from the lower end of the drain hose (in the wheel well in front of the rear wheel). You can remove the front of the wheel well liner to expose the end of the drain hose.

Make sure that you verify that no water is finding its way into the cabin or you will fry your immobilizer (under the driver's seat).

I hope that clears up some of the confusion.

Regards, Maurice.

[Shotokan]

I still need to remove the wheel well liner and double check. I poured 8 oz of water in and received 4 oz at the bottom of the car as it ran out, I think part was diverted elsewhere. (Didn't see the part about the wheel liner until after I poured the water)

I have removed close to a half gallon of water from under the passenger seat with a shop vac. It took close to 2 hours to dry the pad and carpet with a hair dryer. On a positive note, I haven't had any water under the drivers seat.