Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Boxster General Discussions

View Poll Results: How much work do you do yourself?
I do everything to my car including internal engine work 21 24.42%
I do 95% of the work on my car, except internal engine work 30 34.88%
I do majority of work on my car, but I do give the complicated ones to the mechanic 24 27.91%
I only do light maintenance items on my car. I take it to the mechanic for repairs 10 11.63%
Work on car? what is that? I only drive her 1 1.16%
Voters: 86. You may not vote on this poll

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-19-2016, 11:39 AM   #1
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: va
Posts: 62
Anyone here work on their own cars?

I consider myself a hobbyist mechanic. I do most work on my cars except internal engine work.

I have mainly had Hondas, BMWs, motorcycles and jetskis. This is my first time having a Porsche. I plan on doing most of my work myself. I do not have a garage.

How many of you work on your own Porsche for most repairs?

__________________
01 Boxster S 6Spd, Speed Yellow w/84k miles. | 991.1 911 C2 7spd Manual | 01 996 C2 -6spd - Green Machine - My baby | 997.2 C2S 6spd | 2x 01 Boxster base

Last edited by professorman; 04-19-2016 at 11:52 AM.
professorman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2016, 11:44 AM   #2
Registered User
 
CoBeerToad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Peoria IL
Posts: 529
Garage
I do. Not so much for the pleasure of a job well done, but I can't afford shop prices.

I don't do internal engine work and I avoid suspension work like the plague. That is money well spent for a job I don't want anything to do with.
CoBeerToad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2016, 11:48 AM   #3
still plays with cars...
 
BoxsterSteve's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Baden, ON, Canada
Posts: 1,087
Garage
I've done plugs, fuel filter, water pump, tstat and coolant, full front brake job, brake fluid flush, trans fluid change, cleaned the throttle body & MAF, and done several oil changes.
Things are a bit goofy to get at, seeing many of the serviceale items are reached from under the car or through one of the access hatches, but once you wrap your head around that, it's no different than working on almost anything else.
__________________
Six speed 2000 Boxster S
Arctic Silver on Metropol Blue | LN Dual Row IMSR | Arctic Silver console, spoiler frame & bumperettes | Crios mod | Technobrace | RoboTop module & modified convertible top relay for one-touch roof operation
BoxsterSteve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2016, 11:51 AM   #4
Registered User
 
Porsche9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 1,796
Just don't have the time and equipment to do anything more then light maintanance. When I have more time or I'm retired I will do most of the work myself as I do enjoy working on my own cars.
__________________
03 Carrera
02 Boxster S Guards Red, black interior with matching hardtop
89 Carrera 4
89 944 S2
78 911SC
Porsche9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2016, 11:57 AM   #5
Custom User Title Here
 
particlewave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ft. Leonard Wood
Posts: 6,163
Garage
No one touches my cars naughty bits but me.

I had Firestone mount four tires for me a couple months ago and they managed to screw that up. This is why I do all my own work.
__________________
https://youtube.com/@UnwindTimeVintageWatchMuseum
particlewave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2016, 12:07 PM   #6
There Is No Substitute.
 
rick3000's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: West Coast
Posts: 3,253
Garage
After several bad experience with various mechanics, I finally bought the equipment to do most maintenance myself. I actually enjoy it, I am able to save a good amount of money, and I know it is being done right.

The 986 is pretty easy to work on in my opinion, very few pieces that are impossible to remove once they are 'snapped' into place. Every part of the car is designed very well. Plus, there are step by step DIY guides with pictures for most regular maintenance and replacements online. That said, if I ever encounter something more complex that adding the center radiator I will probably take it to a mechanic.
__________________
1999 Ocean Blue Metallic Boxster - blueboxster.com
rick3000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2016, 02:43 PM   #7
Registered User
 
Muskoka Minute's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Bracebridge, Ontario
Posts: 256
Garage
I'm a newbie but I'm going to try and do as much as possible.
One to save some cash and I like doing what I can.

So not much...Cabin filter, air filter.
This weekend will be new plugs and looking at my heater control.
I 1st have to figure out where the jack points are.

Cheers
__________________
My Beast 2004 Boxster SE #0174
- 3.8 with all the internal goodies, Under-mount Pulley, IPD Plenum, 996 Intake, Softronic Tune, 987 Factory Sport Exhaust, skid plates, IMS solution, Ohlins R&T, RSS Toe Links, Camber Plates, Michelin Pilot Super Sport on all 4 corners, Alpine Double Din c/w new speakers & amps.
Muskoka Minute is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2016, 03:43 PM   #8
There Is No Substitute.
 
rick3000's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: West Coast
Posts: 3,253
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by Muskoka Minute View Post
1st have to figure out where the jack points are.
Jack points are covered a ton of places, including the owners manual. The search feature on this forum and google are your friend. I recommend every 986 owner interested in doing anything themselves get a Bentley Manual, it covers everything. You can often find more detail, or better pictures online, but it's super useful to have on hand.
__________________
1999 Ocean Blue Metallic Boxster - blueboxster.com
rick3000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2016, 04:02 PM   #9
Registered User
 
Gforrest2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 308
Yes, but out of necessity. The older I get, the less I enjoy working on my cars and bikes.
__________________
Glen
Gforrest2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2016, 05:19 PM   #10
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Scituate MA
Posts: 869
I think you only want to jack the car up from the 4 points that are identified in the manual. I was using the rear points shown in 101 and was told not to by my mechanic. Considering he is a porsche mechanic and I am not, I will take his word for it. Maybe some of the guys in the know can chime in for further truth regarding the matter.
To get back to your original question, I do try the easier stuff, anything more involved I leave to the professionals.
DWBOX2000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2016, 05:59 PM   #11
Registered User
 
cornontherob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 273
Garage
I started out barely knowing what oil and coolant's purpose was in the engine, but necessity meant that I had to drop the engine out of the car, and in the process, learn quite a bit about the internals. Now I just do anything and everything myself. Nothing has warranted internal repair *yet*, so hopefully it'll stay that way. It's a hobby now
cornontherob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2016, 07:23 PM   #12
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 42
I work on my own porsche. Haven't paid a pro for any labour yet, although there is a good local shop that would get the work if I needed to fork out the $$$ for something I couldn't do.

My list over the past 7 yrs.
Oil and filters
Air filter
Replaced hvac display with a part of eBay
Aux input on the stock radio for ipod
Cv joint repack, and reboot
Spark plug tubes
Pedro mount, soon going back to oem
Lightbulbs
Brake flushes
MAF, tested low voltage with multimeter, Replaced.
Passenger window door switch. Fixed loose connection that wasn't dropping the window properly when opening /closing that door.
Buffed the car with a PC random orbital buffer.
Dropped and inspected oilpan last yr, resealed with no leaks.
New head unit and small slim 10" crutchfield sub.
Removed and disassembled starter and lubed a sticky bendix(?) gear.
AOS.
windshield wipers
I top up my own windshield washer fluid.

I got a maxjax lift in my garage a few yrs ago, and it makes life much easier, although I did the 1st Cv joint and the motor mount with Jack stands.

Lots of good resources on the Web and in print form. Forums are a big help.

Still not great at reading the wiring schematics in the Bentley manual.

Dropping the tranny this spring should be interesting.


Sent from my SM-T700 using Tapatalk
petee_c is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2016, 07:34 PM   #13
Registered User
 
stelan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Austin
Posts: 395
I do most of the work on my cars and motorcycles if I have the time (with the exceptions of very specific things)
stelan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2016, 08:25 PM   #14
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Socal
Posts: 560
Yes and no .

I have a two car garage and all kinds of tools and knowledge , but I have had a 56 non-op beetle drag car and a non-op 73 911 track car in the garage for the 3 years I've lived here ...
pretty much all I've done upto now is cut one fiberglass rear widebody arch of the 911 to put on my buddies race 74 ,and clipped on a metal arch with vice-grips !!!

I have the best intentions , but at the end of the day it's easier to pay somebody to do it as 1; I'm very lazy . And 2; I can't get anything in the garage to work on it

But with a weekend off looming , and the pss-tarret stuff still not fully removed from the Boxster , I might end up working on the driveway this weekend

Last edited by Ian c; 04-19-2016 at 08:28 PM.
Ian c is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2016, 01:33 AM   #15
Registered User
 
geraintthomas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 852
I'd love to work on the internals of an engine, but I'm far too scared of things going wrong. I'll do anything else, apart from that.
__________________
Porsche Boxster S Type 986

Bi-xenon Headlight Upgrade | 987 S 18" Anthracite Alloys | Android Head Unit | 5000k 55w HID's | 5000k Cree DRL's | 5000k Cree number plate lights | Cree LED Indicators | One-touch roof operation | Bypass exhaust pipes | Parking sensors | Ambient footwell lighting
geraintthomas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2016, 03:01 AM   #16
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: LB, Germany
Posts: 1,453
Do everything myself now. If tasks are complex, i do them in a DIY workshop with a lift and let the shop owner recheck my work to make shure everything is OK (he has some Porsche knowledge and always good tips and tricks when it comes to mechanical work). Also i don't have too much special tools, which i can lend there. Also sometimes it's good to have some helping hands. For example when removing rear axles…

And there is a saying: 4 eyes see more than 2.

Regards, Markus
Smallblock454 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2016, 04:45 AM   #17
I am my own mechanic....
 
Timco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 3,433
Anything but internal engine, and I would do chains and guides or heads. Just not the block I guess.
__________________
'04 Boxster S 50 Jahre 550 Spyder Anniversary Special Edition, 851 of 1953, 6-sp, IMS/RMS, GT Metallic silver, cocoa brown leather SOLD to member Broken Linkage.
'08 VW Touareg T-3 wife's car
'13 F150 Super Crew long bed 4x4 w/ Ego Boost
Timco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2016, 05:15 AM   #18
Registered User
 
Bald Eagle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Valparaiso, IN
Posts: 169
Aside from changing the cap on the coolant bottle the only work I've done on my beautiful Arctic Silver 2000 S has been to wash and wax it. I'm not proud of this but I have absolutely no mechanical skills and fewer tools and I'm smart enough to know not to mess with things I know nothing about. I don't do my own taxes or brain surgery either. Naturally I blame my lack of mechanical ability on my father whose tool box consisted of two screwdrivers, a hammer, and a pair of pliers. I'm in awe of all of you who have the interest, the time, the skills, and have invested in the tools.
Larry (the Bald Eagle)
Bald Eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2016, 05:45 AM   #19
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ohio
Posts: 86
Garage
Diy

I started off knowing nothing about the 2000 base Porsche Boxster we purchased in 2012. I have since, thru the Bentley manual and help on this site and others, learned a great deal and have accomplished a lot. This is such a helpful site.

First thing I did was change the oil then in no particular order...
cleaned throttle body
bled brakes
replaced headlight bulbs
replaced accesory belt
replaced fuel filter
added void to dash
replaced spark plugs and 'o' rings
replaced cigarette lighter with two power ports in dash
tightened loose steering wheel
cleaned radiators and added center radiator
flushed power steering fluid and insulated hose near exhaust
replaced two idler pulleys
upgraded to 's' oil cooler
replaced water pump
replaced AOS
replaced all the rubber coolant hoses
replaced MAF
bled clutch
replaced rear oil fill tube (ugh)
replaced ignition key switch
rem503 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2016, 09:19 AM   #20
Registered User
 
DrCactus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Ottawa, ON
Posts: 452
Garage
I switched out my occupant in passenger side from a brunette to a blonde... take about a great repair.... its doesn't complain or cause me as much headaches as the old one did.... lol

__________________
DrCactus
DrCactus is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:43 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page