Need help with Fixing new Boxster

[Joji]

Hi,
I found a couple of things wrong with my new car. The back right tail light is out. I figured out how to open it. Do you have to buy the bulbs at the Porsche dealer or can you get them at Homedepot.

The light in the middle near the Convertible latch release works but is extremly loose. Anytips how to fix this.

On the stereo I only have dash speakers. I noticed that the high and hig mids come from the left speaker. And the low end comes from the right speaker. I have not looked into the stereo yet. So it might be set wrong. But is this normal for Dash speakers only. Remind me of old Beatle recordings.

Next is more serious. I notice the Horn does not work. Can I fix this or is this have to be done by a mechanic because of the airbag.

thanks

[deliriousga]

Originally Posted by Joji

Hi,
I found a couple of things wrong with my new car. The back right tail light is out. I figured out how to open it. Do you have to buy the bulbs at the Porsche dealer or can you get them at Homedepot.

You can get them at any auto parts store. Nothing special about them.

Originally Posted by Joji

The light in the middle near the Convertible latch release works but is extremly loose. Anytips how to fix this.

I don't know off hand. I can look into it if nobody else has worked with it, but it will be tomorrow since today is my anniversary. No working on the car tonight.

Originally Posted by Joji

On the stereo I only have dash speakers. I noticed that the high and hig mids come from the left speaker. And the low end comes from the right speaker. I have not looked into the stereo yet. So it might be set wrong. But is this normal for Dash speakers only. Remind me of old Beatle recordings.

Doesn't sound normal. Probably the settings in the stereo.

Originally Posted by Joji

Next is more serious. I notice the Horn does not work. Can I fix this or is this have to be done by a mechanic because of the airbag.

Most likely the relay or fuse. Check the fuse box (there should be a layout sheet in th cover to the fuse box) for a blown fuse first. If that's ok, replace the relay. The relay is #10 in the relay panel under the dash. The relay panel is right behind the fuse box and is not covered. The horn relay Porsche part number is 141 951 253 B. It's cheap, about $15 at a dealer or $7 at Radio Shack. One of those two should take care of the problem. Btw, I ran into one other person who's PO removed the fuse. When they put it back in, the horn just kept blowing by itself. Just an FYI in case it happens to you. She replaced the relay and it was fine.

Make sure you remove the negative battery terminal before removing fuses or relays. After you fix it and reconnect the battery, you need to put the key in and turn it to the "on" position without starting the car and leave it there for one minute minimum. Then turn it to the off position for 10 seconds minimum. You can start the car after that. This allows the computer to test and re-calibrate everything before you start it.

Good luck!

[RandallNeighbour]

You're the man, John! I must say I truly admire your willingness to learn and fix your Porsches yourself. Here's some info on the bit you couldn't investigate concerning the 3rd light being loose (it was my very first repair on my box):

Joji, what year is your Boxster? I replaced the center lamp housing on my 1997 shortly after I bought it because a few of the tiny lamps lit up intermitently. The problem was remedied most easily by replacing it.

While swapping the old for the new, I learned that it is held in place with rubber nuts, so it feels loose even when you have new ones. But, with the top up or down, the clamshell covers it and it doesn't go anywhere.

What I am not certain of is if this kind of rubber nut attachment system is the same on your model year. My original ones were falling apart making it far more loose than normal, so I replaced those while I the lamp assembly was removed.

To make my third light installation work, I had to screw the rubber nuts into the bottom of the lamp assembly and then seat the whole thing into the holes in which the nuts reside. I could not find an easy way to install the nuts from the bottom of the metal. (If I installed mine wrong, someone please correct me and tell me how to get it right!)

[Joji]

"Most likely the relay or fuse. Check the fuse box (there should be a layout sheet in th cover to the fuse box) for a blown fuse first. If that's ok, replace the relay. The relay is #10 in the relay panel under the dash. The relay panel is right behind the fuse box and is not covered. The horn relay Porsche part number is 141 951 253 B. It's cheap, about $15 at a dealer or $7 at Radio Shack. One of those two should take care of the problem. Btw, I ran into one other person who's PO removed the fuse. When they put it back in, the horn just kept blowing by itself. Just an FYI in case it happens to you. She replaced the relay and it was fine"

I just loooked inside the fuse box. The fuse for the horn was missing. I am going to go out and get a new one. I have a feeling though when I put it in the horn will go on without stopping.

Just so I under stand and not electrocute myself. Before I put the fuse in I have to remove the negative battery terminal. How do I do this. is it a clip or something that snaps in . Or do I have to unscrew something. I don't want to get hurt. Do I have to do this just to pop a new fuse in?

[PA986S]

I have never heard of disconnecting the battery for a fuse swap or check...I also have never done it and never had a problem. I even built my own street rod doing the wiring from the ground up although there is no computer in it.

Is this something specific to Porsche or have I been doing it wrong for all these years? I was told to disconnect when I swapped the ash try holder with the cubby since I had to disconnect the switches...I didn't, and had no problems.

Does the radio have to be reset or code entered if this done?

By the way there is only 12 volts...I wouldn't worry too much about electrocution.

[deliriousga]

Originally Posted by PA986S

Does the radio have to be reset or code entered if this done?

Thanks for the reminder. You do have to enter the radio code after you disconnect the battery. If you don't have it, go to your local dealership and they can give you the code beforehand so you don't have to do without the stereo until you can get the code. Most dealers won't charge you for the code lookup.

[deliriousga]

Originally Posted by Joji

Just so I under stand and not electrocute myself. Before I put the fuse in I have to remove the negative battery terminal. How do I do this. is it a clip or something that snaps in . Or do I have to unscrew something. I don't want to get hurt. Do I have to do this just to pop a new fuse in?

It's not for your safety, it's for your computer's safety. It can cause power surges in your system when you plug in fuses or relays, especially in something like the horn that's on when the key is out. Since the computer costs a fortune to replace, and I've seen people with the 928 who have blown the computer several different ways because the battery was connected, I won't replace a fuse or relay without disconnecting the battery and I won't jump start the car with anything but a jumpstart battery pack.