Just Bought a 2005 Boxter S And Have No Service Manual a Couple of Questions

[boxxerbill]

First, wow what a car. I am going to get soooo many tickets.

It is sooo fun to drive. But I bought it used and it has no service manual so I have a couple of questions if ya'll don't mind.

What is the button that has picture of a key on in it in the middle of the dash? Also how do you use the headlight sprayer?
It has a xm but cannot figure out how change the source button on the stereo?
How do you check the oil?
And how much $$$ and how often do change the oil?

Sorry for so many questions i am going to order a owners manual but would like to know a few things before it gets here.

One more question some time the rear deck isn't flush when you close the top and other times it is. Is that normal or should I take it in for warranty work.

Thanks for all the help please answer as many questions as you know. What a car. Vette smetts. This sucker corners like a Julia Roberts saided it is like it is on rails.

[RandallNeighbour]

I am going to get soooo many tickets.

Invest in a Valentine One radar detector. Best $400 you will ever spend and it pays for itself in two months. And ignore Jeph and others on this board that say that Escorts are better... they have no experience with a V1 so they haven't a leg on which to stand.

But I bought it used and it has no service manual

Order one through Sunset Imports. It has so much good info in it that you really should have one as the owner of the car.

What is the button that has picture of a key on in it in the middle of the dash?


If it's the same as mine, it's the central locking feature. Try it.


Also how do you use the headlight sprayer?

I think you pull back on the headlight stalk when the lights are on or push it toward the front of the car... but you will find it totally messes up your clean car and is a total waste of a feature.

It has a xm but cannot figure out how change the source button on the stereo?

You're on your own with this one. I've no idea.

How do you check the oil?

There is no dip stick, but you have a dash indicator that is actually quite accurate if you use it the right way.

1. Car must be level. Turn key to ACC and then watch it count down.
2. Check it first thing in the morning or after the motor has been shut off for at least 30 minutes to an hour. There's 9 friggin' quarts of oil in the motor that has to drain into the bottom to get an accurate reading.
3. Each digital bar between the lines represents about a cup of synthetic Mobil 1 oil. Anywhere in that range is fine, but most guys like it closer to the top... but NEVER over the top. Overfilling is really damaging on our cars.

It will also check your oil level at fill ups if you turn it to the ACC, but this is rarely accurate because the motor is still full of oil and hasn't had the time to drain into the bottom.

And how much $$$ and how often do change the oil?

Oil changes can cost as little as $100 if you do it yourself (and you should learn because it's super easy and fun) or as much as $250 if you take it to the stealership. Frankly, I wouldn't pay more than $125 to have it done, which is what my indy mechanic charges. The cost is high because you have so much Mobil 1 oil to buy.

Although somewhat of a debate on this forum, most guys change their oil every 7,500 to 10k miles, even though you could go 12k between changes. Or, once a year if it's a garage queen. I change mine annually which works out to be 7500 miles.

One more question some time the rear deck isn't flush when you close the top and other times it is. Is that normal or should I take it in for warranty work.

If the spoiler does not fully retract, there maybe a motor going out on it and if you have some factory warranty, get it into the stealership and make them fix it.

As soon as you can, join PCA, find your local chapter, and get to their next meeting to meet other Pcar owners. Great bunch of people and not stuck up like one might think... and sign up for a high speed DE as soon as you can. That's where you'll really learn to drive your car fast and you don't need a radar detector on the track!

Hope this info helps. Hey, where in TX do you live anyway?

[boxxerbill]

I live in Corpus Christi. I bought the car in Houston for 33.4k with 21000 miles is that a good deal it looked good when i checked nada. I am already a track junkie with a sportbike. Go to MSR H all the time and TWS sometimes. I really want to take the car to the twisted sisters. But I will do a trackday with it what do they charge for cars? On a bike it cost me between $130 - $200.

Will definetely buy a V1 they are the best you are right.

Thanks for the answers btw.

Boxxerbill, congrats on the new car!

You can have a dealership program the central locking features several different ways on the 987. For example, it can be automatic and even speed dependant.

I have my oil changed yearly, just prior to winter storage. I buy the oil (approx. $80 for Red Line 5W40) and the dealerships does the rest- labor, filter, crush ring ($150). I drive about 8,000 miles per driving season.

The rear trunk has two large black rubber bump-stops that screw in & out. These may need to be adjusted so your trunk lid closes better.

There is a seperate button on the stalk for the headlight washers. Right side stalk. Also, for about every 6th time you wash the windshield, the headlights will automatically be washed too. I forget the exact number of cycles.

[boxxerbill]

Originally Posted by bmussatti

Boxxerbill, congrats on the new car!

The rear trunk has two large black rubber bump-stops that screw in & out. These may need to be adjusted so your trunk lid closes better.

.

It isn't on the trunk it is on the metal piece(part of the top) that closes where the center brake light is. It ain't flush sometimes when the top is down like maybe the cloth part ain't folding right. . There is a 1/4 inch gap on the drivers side where it is flush on the right side. Does that make sense?

Thanks for the rest of the answers.

Originally Posted by boxxerbill

It isn't on the trunk it is on the metal piece(part of the top) that closes where the center brake light is. It ain't flush sometimes when the top is down like maybe the cloth part ain't folding right. . There is a 1/4 inch gap on the drivers side where it is flush on the right side. Does that make sense?

Thanks for the rest of the answers.

That's more of an issue. Go to the dealership since you are under warranty. Don't operate the top until fixed.

[RandallNeighbour]

Originally Posted by boxxerbill

It isn't on the trunk it is on the metal piece(part of the top) that closes where the center brake light is. It ain't flush sometimes when the top is down like maybe the cloth part ain't folding right. . There is a 1/4 inch gap on the drivers side where it is flush on the right side. Does that make sense?

That piece is what we call the top "clam shell." The fact that it doesn't go all the way down on one side now and then is a serious top-timing issue. Bill's advice is spot-on. Get the car to a dealership for warranty work ASAP.

When you pick the car up, raise and lower the top a half dozen times to ensure they actually fixed it right.

[FTD]

Originally Posted by boxxerbill

It ain't flush sometimes when the top is down like maybe the cloth part ain't folding right.

Congrats on your new car. I love your enthusiasm!

Y'all say "ain't" in Corpus Christi? I thought that was just a SE region thing. I moved to Atlanta from Big D and got coached on how to interpret Georgians, "ain't" being one of the words in that new dictionary.

[RandallNeighbour]

Originally Posted by boxxerbill

I live in Corpus Christi. I bought the car in Houston for 33.4k with 21000 miles is that a good deal it looked good when i checked nada. I am already a track junkie with a sportbike. Go to MSR H all the time and TWS sometimes. I really want to take the car to the twisted sisters. But I will do a trackday with it what do they charge for cars? On a bike it cost me between $130 - $200.

I have a rental house in Corpus. My wife grew up there.

DE's in my region are $265 at Texas World Speedway. We run clockwise I think.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by boxxerbill

First, wow what a car. I am going to get soooo many tickets.

It is sooo fun to drive. But I bought it used and it has no service manual so I have a couple of questions if ya'll don't mind.

What is the button that has picture of a key on in it in the middle of the dash? Also how do you use the headlight sprayer?
It has a xm but cannot figure out how change the source button on the stereo?
How do you check the oil?
And how much $$$ and how often do change the oil?

Sorry for so many questions i am going to order a owners manual but would like to know a few things before it gets here.

One more question some time the rear deck isn't flush when you close the top and other times it is. Is that normal or should I take it in for warranty work.

Thanks for all the help please answer as many questions as you know. What a car. Vette smetts. This sucker corners like a Julia Roberts saided it is like it is on rails.

I strongly suggest you go over to Renntech.org and become a member. You can download the owner's manual and other very useful documents in pdf format.