Air pump removal-- weight reduction
 

Has anyone removed their air pump to save weight? I have a few questions
-what happens if you don't get a ROW reflash?
-how much weight does it save?
-any reason besides emissions not to do it?


Cheers,

I did it. But not to loose weight, but to loose SAI headache.
You will need to row flash it if you don't want to have CE light

The ECU will illuminate the CEL after failing the SAI test at cold startup.

The pump alone is about 4 lbs but removal of the entire system (tubes, valves, reservoir, etc) can net about 10 lbs. Like calories, they all add up!

None that I can think of.

How much for the air pump you removed?

Send me pm with offer.
I have all SAI seating in the box from 3.4. But I belive they R the same

Who should I call for a reflassh?
 

Removing any component that simplifies this complex car seems a good project to me! I already have my secondary air pump off and would love to leave it off.
What is the best way to get an ROW reflash:
1. PST2
2. Softtronic
3. Sharkwerks
4. ECUDoctors -they charge $500
5.Other??
Thanks

Take a look at Pedros garage too.

Thanks for that suggestion .I noticed that he does the reflash at his place in -Florida.I'm too far away.
This suggests that some Pro version of Durametric(?) or similar allows the reflash for the simple changes to be made. Anyone know the easy way to get this done?

PST-2 or better, plus you need the DME and Alarm system passwords.

Paul,
Thanks for your authoritative reply. From your signature block you are eminently well qualified on this obscure subject ! I am following in your footsteps - 2001 Boxster S doing a motor R&R

2000 & newer will fail CA smog check if SAI is not working.

BYdriver - thanks for the warning.That would kill the idea.
I thought the benefit of the ROW re-flash was that it [I]would[I] pass SMOG
I realize that if you simply disconnect(not remove) SAI it will throw codes and therefore fail SMOG but if you do the ROW re-flash,surely that will prevent the codes occurring and therefore pass smog? Obviously it would fail a visual but on a Boxster ,I don't think even the most zealous Smog Tech is going to go through the whole service-position procedure to do a visual?
Very possible I am missing something?

I passę emissions with flying colors. I'm in IL tho

Golonaus,
Thanks for that data point -very useful and kind of you to contribute to the facts.
May I ask which ROW re-flash you used? Was it any that I mentioned earlier in this thread?
I ask because this is a subject that can cause Boxster enthusiasts a lot of grief and expense. Having had to pay for a total engine R&r + rebuild,I need to minimize any other problems. My wife is already suggesting I find a cheaper mistress or a less expensive car!
Knowing specific,detailed solutions to the SAI issue would be helpful.

Oh and as a bonus for being so helpful :
I stumbled on this suggestion(Pedro's Garage) on how to remove the plastic tubes for the spark plug recess.Use a 1" boat drain bung.Yes, really ! I got one - FleaBay. It worked.It cost $4 !

According to a thread I read on Rennlist as of 2014 CA smog check for 2000 & newer vehicles consists of a OBDII scan for software modifications, & visual inspection of engine & catalytic converters.

"I read on Rennlist as of 2014 CA smog check for 2000 & newer vehicles includes an OBDII scan for software modifications"
The reason for an ROW re-flash is that it will not show as a software mod.
The visual inspection is a risk that would not be an issue except at a "Gold" Smog Station IMHO.
So the question becomes :
"Does an ROW re-flash self identify to the Smog test computer as a modification" ?
This is getting tricky because I read that the Gold Smog Station now connects your car directly to the AQMD computer .This takes the local Smog Station computer out of the loop. This may be junk info(??) but if true it kills off many ,many mods sold by the ECU-mod companies. That leaves you with the need to be able to store the original code for the DME and substitute that each time before you go for Smog Testing. That is doable and indeed several of the re-flash companies offer that facility with their latest products - no cable to your laptop -instead a separate piece of hardware that is dedicated to storing and re-flashing the two sets of code - ROW and USA.Ideal for a car that enjoys life on the Track & the street.

Secondary air system code on a 1999
 

I know this is an old thread but I am relatively new to owning a Boxster even though it's a '99. I am hoping to get it to pass the DEQ in Washington without spending a ton of money right now because I am pretty sure I want to install a 3.4 or larger (whatever will bolt up to the 5 speed automatic transmission) at a later date but would like to be able to drive it while I am prepping for that project.

Any new developments on this issue since the last comment in 20174?

Thanks

Someone on this board makes a cheat to eliminate the CEL related to the SAI. If this is installed after the equipment is removed it should`nt trigger the code ?

The part that Charles makes/made is not intended for cheating. We should be very wary about condoning such devices here because they could find their way on to a Referee's check list for Porsches
The part is for testing and diagnosis only. This is an important distinction.

there is a whole world that exists outside of california.

Fortunately there is. And I live outside CA for much of the year.
But why jeopardize those who are unfortunate enough to labor under the draconian laws in CA and the other 12 states that use CA Smog laws?
There are other states also use Referees. And in Germany we have TuV ! We don't have SAI here but we do have most of the other smog clutter and AOS

asfaik :Known as "Section 177" states, those 13 are: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
Someone else may know what % of all Boxsters still running world-wide are in California
BTW the penalties for companies selling smog defeat devices are significant
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/us-epa-settles-three-southern-california-companies-selling-pollution-control-bypass
I urge a low profile.

well, i agree. it just seems that any time anyone posts about doing something to their engine, someone from california starts with the 'will it pass ca smog' stuff. i understand if a person is selling a product then yes, ask if it is legal in your state. unfortunately, 99% of the time it's just a guy posting about what he's done to his car, and someone from california wants to know if it's legal in his state, or starts going on about how bad it is because it's not legal in ca.

ultimately it's not our job to determine your risk level with respect to the law, to do the research into the legalities of your jurisdiction, or to drive to your state and determine if what we did to our car is allowed there. if you like the idea and want to try it then get out from behind your computer and do your own homework. it's no different that the guy who says i did this or that to my engine and it feels like it made more power, only to have someone demand dyno results. it's not our job to pay hundreds of $ on a dyno to satisfy you - do it yourself. that's what diy stands for.

sorry, this just triggered a bit of a peeve that's been brewing in me.

We always appreciate readers who do a proper search before posting questions that have been discussed before, also makes it easier to find answers in the future by minimizing duplicates.


You should carefully review what will be tested at the DEQ prior to the test & address any issues 1st.
Any non-Turbo M96 engine will bolt up to your 5-speed Tiptronic & it is stronger than a manual trans. The 99-2001 3.4 engine is the most prone to premature wear so it is very hard to find a engine that doesen't need a complete rebuild. For the best trans info call California Motorsports for their input for what ever engine you will install with your 5-Speed. I have a built 3.6 engine that will fit just like your 2.5 but you would probably want to modify the cam timing for max performance & get the full 310 HP.

For many years 1/5th of all Porsches were sold in California ;)

May still be true if you ignore China.

There are eight (!) Porsche dealers in LA and OC plus the new Porsche Experience Center. Just sayin'. :D

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and that actually crossed my mind as i was typing out my rant - the cali car culture. but even if every diy post is prefaced with "for offroad use only", someone is gonna ask about smog. perhaps it's tied to the quest to own a unicorn - the ultimate street/track car. everybody wants to put race car parts on street cars. you wanna go fast? get a race licence and get a race car. you wanna drive on the street and obey the law? keep the car like the good doctor made it - it goes quick enough right out of the box, thank you very much. there's some hypocracy there - you want to go faster, but you want to be legal. can't have both. i mean, what the heck is 'canyon carving' or 'spirited driving'? sounds like exceeding the speed limit to me. as i guy who just forked over $3300 for 170 in a 100 i understand, but don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

ultimately, if you want to build the fastest machine you can, and are genuinely motivated to keep it street legal, then cool. but when some garage diy'er spends days and days trial and erroring, scraping knuckles, and ordering the wrong parts in an effort to try something new and innovative, and then takes the time to share it, only to have some internet mechanic take 15 seconds out of his day to type "post a dyno" or "will it meet smog" then i kinda get cranky.

Gotta love the rant! :cheers:

I hear you and you make several very good points! California is very self-centered. We probably don't even realize how much.

Thank God....

Amen to that.

I lived in San Diego for a while in the mid 90's...couldn't pay me to live there now.