Record Time for an Oil & Filter Change
 

This morning I changed my oil & filter in record time for me: One hour and six minutes. That time included getting the car up on & off the rack, cleaning (sweeping & mopping the bay).

This first time I changed my oil & filter it must of took me close to 3.5 hours.

I purchased my 1999 Boxster in Sep 09, with 104,000 miles.
Today, I have 307,792 miles. I change my oil & filter every 10,000 miles. I have a box full of my used crush washers, old oil plugs and old rubber gaskets for the filter cover. I am on my second (Advance Auto/Auto Zone) oil filter wrench.

I discovered that I need to replace both my center and rear plastic splash guards/plates. I will have to go to a salvage yard in Buda or Dallas. The dealer wants way too much for one.

P.S. "I am quite sure that I am on the original dual row IMS."
MNC-I

noticed rear passenger tire a bit deflated, looked around and found this.....

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At least a washer was used!!! :p

Now to find a tire shop open on a sunday....

I changed the oil and filter (housing and insert) and tried to replace my brake pads and rotors so I can pass my inspection (technically they are fine, but not quite good enough I guess). I bought PowerStop products but the front rotors and pads are smaller than what was on the car already. Amazon, R0ck Aut0, Jegs, and others all say that I bought the right ones, but the PowerStop site lists a different product number!? So, I guess I have some calls to make to PowerStop to figure out what's what. The diameter of the set that PowerStop lists for me actually match what I have on the car whereas the set I bought are about an inch smaller. I don't know if there is a bad flag somewhere that is saying these are good for my 2000 S across all the sites, but I'll post whatever I find.
Luckily, my oil filter looked good and my magnetic oil plug didn't have any concerning particles stuck to it, so the afternoon wasn't a total waste.

Throttle Body
 

Spent the afternoon removing, cleaning and reinstalling my throttle body. Also cleaned the MAF. No real issues just wanted to keep things nice and clean on the inside. Although my AOS (original) is showing no symptoms of failure, it was still amazing to see how much oil coats the inside of the plenum.

Bought new front tires from Tire Rack and drove Old Topanga to Tuna Canyon down to PCH and back through Malibu Canyon.

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Never mind :)

Put about 480miles on my '03 Boxster base this weekend . Saturday, drove from Sacramento to San Jose, Sunday, spent several hours on my favorite roads in the hills near Santa Cruz - Hwy 9, Jamison Crk, Empire Grade, Pine Flats, Bonny Doon, Hwy 1, Gazos Crk, Stage Rd, Hwy 84, Hwy 35, Hwy 9, then freeway back to Sac.

Traditionally, for me, this is my motorcycle loop. I never knew it could be this good in a car. It was amazing. Maybe I'll sell my R1200GS...

The Boxster is a close second to a motorcycle but if I were you I would not sell the R1200GS. I say this as a motorcycle rider myself.

Took the Boxster in for a pre-track inspection. Ouch, new front tires and rear brakes needed. Bought the brakes and I'll do them Wednesday, ordered Michelin Pilot Sports all around to replace the Hankooks which took a beating from my driving on the track. That and had great day driving it around, even if I did get stuck in rush hour.

BTW, I hear you about the bike vs. Boxster. In my case it is time to downsize the toys and the bike (Ducati Multistrada) will be the loser. Next spring.

On the first oil change 18 months ago, I discovered some non-ferrous fragments in the pleats of the filter. Installed a spin-on adapter, filter magnets, and magnetic drain plug. Oil analysis showed lower than universal averages of metals except copper. Filled with Mobil 1 0W40. Next oil change still some non-ferrous fragments in the filter pleats but not as many as before. Very little build up on the magnetic drain plug or the inside of the metal filter housing. Oil analysis again showed lower than universal averages of metals except copper. Filled with JG BR30 in advance of a change to JG DT40.

I knew I really should have dropped the oil pan by this stage but have been putting it off for fear of finding something I didn't want to see. So, I booked Friday as a vacation day and took the plunge. Relief :) No metal particles in the pan. I did find a couple of pieces of gasket material, one in the pan and one in the oil pickup plus a small piece of plastic that looks like a piece of chain guide (bottom right-hand corner). Filled with JG DT40 and drove it like I stole it :p

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Yesterday I took my car in for an oil and filter change and tech inspection for an upcoming HPDE. While I was there I also had my ignition steering column lock/switch upgraded to the newer part. My original switch lasted 13 years, the replacement I put in lasted only 6 months. I have decided I will never change my ignition switch myself again, I hope this new unit lasts 13 more years!

Today I changed the rear brakes, since I needed to so I could pass inspection for an upcoming DE weekend. I'll take it back to the dealer and have the inspection completed and new tires all round mounted.

While I was in there I took a crack at the parking brake, which has always been a bit on the loose side, so much so that sometimes unless really pulled up the car would roll down the driveway. Figured out the adjustments thanks to 101 Projects for your Boxster, although they have changed the front adjustment betweeen the pics in the book and mine, so that I couldn't reach the adjusting nuts at the parking brake lever. They were hidden under the console, I could feel them, but could not figure out how to reach them. Some playing around with the rear adjusters had got me in shape, and it appears to hold at about 5-6 clicks vs. the 9+ before.

Took me about 4 hours tota for the discs and pads, parking break adjustment and cleaning the wheels while they were off. Doing just the pads on these cars would be dead simple.

Took the pooch for an afternoon stroll in the park.

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Just sayin'.......

TO

Got in a few hundred miles on a quick family trip yesterday. Even with 133K miles, the car still runs like new and averaged about 32.5 mpg on the cruise.

I hadn't had the opportunity to drive the car like this in a while. I won't let that happen again!

Topped off with Ethanol free 91 octane fuel. At almost 15 gallons cost was $48 and change.

Happy dog!

What's the unit to the right of the radar detector?

Garmin GPS receiver.

TO

Replaced one rear strut and spring. One, only one. I can't believe how much time it took...:confused:
Will replace the other tomorrow, hopefully much faster... The fronts were a breeze...

Did you clean out the throttle body before putting it back together? If so, I suspect a hose or something else may have not been connected/reassembled properly when you were putting everything back. The starter motor has no effect on the engine after the car starts.

Usually the second one goes much faster, like 50-60% of the time, at least for me.

This makes me happy [emoji1][emoji1]


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Got out the Turtle wax and went at it. 😪 http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1507485379.jpg

Took it for (likely) it's last day at the beach this year.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...aa346c9d9e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d87d03d631.jpg


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I jumped that battery of a ES350 with the Boxster that I replaced the alternator on on, today.

Changing seasons here means that it is getting dark earlier.
I finally got around to adjusting the aim of the headlights on my '01. I had installed the Nine8Six Vivo's in it quite a while ago and just put up with the lights being aimed too low for over a year. We hardly ever drive it at night. Aiming the headlights was silly easy and took about 5 minutes. Wish I had done it right the day I installed them.

Earlier in the day, my son said that the instrument lights in his Corolla were out. He had checked the fuse and it was good. I stopped by to help him out. First thing I noticed was the 'dim knob' was turned all the way to off.
"Hey JT, you ever touch this knob?"
-"What knob?"
I rotate it and the lights come on....
Owners manuals are awesome if you ever take a moment to read them.

So, after calling PowerStop, it turns out that Amazon and some others don't indentify the correct PowerStop rotors and pads for the 2000 S. I don't know where the problem is, but be careful and double-check/cross reference what you are ordering. I thought I had, but I was using the different sites to check instead of going to the PowerStop site.

Anyway, since I was running short on time to get everythying done before my temporary registration expired, I had to go to a local shop to get the work done. After a broken caliper bolt, cracked brake line, and stuck bleeder nipple, I'm golden and glad the shop worked on it and not me. BTW, I think the rotors were original to the car! 17 years and 66K miles later, they are replaced. I've had the car almost 10 years and hadn't had to replace them and I don't think the PO did either (maybe he did, but he didn't provide much paperwork and they sure looked age appropriate). They still seemed to work fine but failed the inspection because the inspector didn't like the look of the pitting and surface rust (worse on the inside, so it wasn't apparent by the casual look through the wheels).

Tomorrow I'll do the reinspection and finalize the registration. The process is a bit annoying, but will be worth it once I hit the unlimited section of the autobahn! :D :eek:

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Finally took off the 20" wheels. It was a fun look, but weight, occasional fender rub, and increased wear on suspension made me do it.
20"
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I painted (Plasti-dip matte black) some 18" Victor Equipment LeMans. The chrome lip just didn't look right with that car.
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I replaced the water pump, thermostat and housing, sparkplugs, coolant and transmission oil. The belt was already replaced in the last 5k. The plugs and water pump and coolant were original. my 2003 has 49k on the odometer. It runs like new. http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1507592717.jpg

At 117,000 miles long overdue to replace the original fuel filter.

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A lot of dirt came out of the fuel tank side of the old filter

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Only had to jack up one side of the car and it took only a screw driver and a 10mm deep socket.

Yes I have a lift, but I like to do fuel filters outside the shop.

Today I gave the key to my dad, who is driving it 400 miles south of Stockholm for winter storage.
He's also picking up a second hand muffler on the way. That one will most likely be modified for a bit more sound during the winter.

Needed some new shoes but one thing led to another so bought a set of 18” Cayman S wheels with 75% rubber instead and they were a lot less than the tires alone were going to cost. Reckon him going to need spacers on the front though.

So now I’ve to decide what to do, thinking about grey spokes but really like the contrast of the plain silver against the grey. The 17” will now get used specially for track days and eventually get some track specific rubber.

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I've done a bunch of things this week:
Changed the oil, and got a blackstone report. Came back VERY good, and the magnetic plug barely had anything on it. I stepped into the oil drain pan while sliding out from under the car, so I had to throw my shoes out.

I swapped turn signal stalk assemblies with one from Woody (Thanks Woody!) so now my indicators work again. Bonus points for tightening down the screws on my OBC stalk, as they were loose before. Makes the car feel much more solid.
Here's a really low quality pic:
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I threw my hard top on, and drove the car about 500 miles for a trip to the Cape.

This morning I spun it onto the grass on some wet pavement in a hard left turn. Oops!

This weekend I'll be cleaning her up for the PCA CVR rally.

Replaced my MAF and cleared code. Drives and Idles much better and no more strange hesitating at high rpm. Definitely noticeable

I thought I was the only one to do that.

Treated myself to a new key fob and programming. Ouch!

Did the same when I replaced the clockspring. I thought the lever was worn out and needed replacement but turned out just loose screws.

Did another headlight lens restoration. Came out perfect. The bumperettes were looking dry and faded. Took them off and coated them with black Plasti Dip. Came out perfect. Also stripped the car, clay barred it, washed, sealed the paint and waxed it for the coming winter. Looks great, like the car is wet all the time. Was late when I finally got it finished and couldn't take any pics. Today it is raining, so no pics for now.

Weather will be better in a couple days and I'll hit the interior and get some pics.

Well, I evidently got a nail in my tire, so pulled it out and patched it. See, a few days ago, I just got back from a 5000 mile trip (by myself!) from Wisconsin to San Jose, CA and back. It was GREAT. My driving highlights were UT 128, US 50 through Nevada (broke my personal speed record here), I-80 between Reno and Colfax, CA, CA 1 north of San Francisco up to Fort Bragg, CA, and CA 20 from Fort Bragg to Clear Lake.

Was a really great trip, tons of fun drives and met a lot of fun and interesting people along the way.

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Worked on some faded plastic trim pieces today. Did the plastic trim on the top around the side windows and the cowl cover. Pieces were pretty faded and the Solution Finish - Black Plastic & Vinyl Restorer seems to have worked really well and the trim looks close to factory color right now. Will be washing the car on Thursday to see how it holds up after the first wash.

Before and After pics.

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