Crossing my fingers
 

I left the Boxster to Porsche Center this morning.

On my yearly inspection i got a mark since they found an error code in the diagnostics, P0343 (camshaft sensor = low).

As this, in theory, could affect exhaust values our strict laws say i have a month to fix it before the car becomes illegal to drive on public roads.

Now i'm just keeping my fingers crossed that this is as easy as a new sensor, but i'm suspecting i will get a call within the day with a frightening costly proposal....

What do you think?

Hopefully they are honest and is a simple thing, best of luck

Judgement: Sensor needs to be replaced

approx 9000 swedish crows, which equals roughly 1000 USD.

For the part, the labour and trouble shooting.

They will do the work in one week since the part needs to be shipped from Germany.

Sounds fair?

Wow. That is crazy expensive.

The part is only $130. Add in $120 for an hour of labor for the diagnosis and the total cost should be around $250.

I'd replace it myself - there is only one bolt and an electrical connector. Cost $0.

Even if you had a shop replace it, add another hour of labor and the total cost would be under $400.

For another $655, you could fly me from LA to Stockholm to replace it for you and you'd only be paying $55 more. :)

(Flight LA to Stockholm)

The thing is that I'm getting married next saturday and would love to have the Box as the getaway car afterwards.

The part arrives from Germany on Thursday and I got a time on Friday. Then I need to make a reinspection immediately since it has already been 1 month since the original inspection, otherwise it will not be street legal.

So all combined i feel kind of forced to pay up and shut up, in order to make her dressed for the wedding so to speak.

I did try to search for any grounding issues before taking it to PC, and thereby realize how silly easy it is to replace the sensor itself with easy access from the inspection hatch since it is on bank 1.

Congrats on getting married and condolences on the parts and labor. Make sure to ask about that labor charge. The part can be very expensive since you are in Sweden and then there's the "Porsche tax" to be paid...

Special circumstances. Bite the bullet and enjoy your car with your new bride! :)

Price seems a bit high as the sensor is easily accessed and the part retails for less than $100 (US):

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...small/Pic5.jpg

Hello,

there are 3 different camshaft sensors available (M 660 = OBD2):
996 606 106 01 (M 660)
996 606 106 02 - (M 660) 98->02
996 606 106 03 - 03->

You'll need the last one, because you have a 2003 car.
And because it's a 2003 i think your car has 2 camshaft sensors.

At ebay you can get one for about 20-40 Euros (185 - 370 SEK) like Mezger and other after market manufactureres or a Bosch one for about 90-100 Euros (835 - 927 SEK).

1.000 USD is much to much for that repair.

http://www.roesen-sportwagen.de/medi...erneuern-1.jpg
http://www.roesen-sportwagen.de/medi...erneuern-2.jpg
http://www.roesen-sportwagen.de/medi...erneuern-3.jpg
http://www.roesen-sportwagen.de/medi...erneuern-4.jpg

Regards from Germany, Markus

Thanks guys for your input!

I will contenplate durung the weekend whether to diy or bite the bullet!

Well, I did solve it the expensive way through Porsche Center to be sure to have it done by tomorrow when our wedding is happening.

The sick part is that they charge equivalent to 240$ for the part while the full invoice is for 920$. Can you imagine?

The rest of my maintaining and repairing will hopefullt be based on a bit more pro-active planning and DIY's.

I hate dealers really.. Porsche gave me a courtesy gift while at the counter to pay, a LED flashlight with a porsche logo on it.. Hate that as much as when I maintained my leased daily driving volvo and the shop said "we offer you a free lunch, wifi and gym access while waiting for your car - for free". Who is willing to pay the extra dollars to get these "courtesy" crap for "free"?

Gaah... but I know, noone forced me...

Anyhow, it now passed inspection and I will be riding on with my perma-grin intact, so now i shall just prevail and forget that above ever happened....

Congratulations on your wedding!

Stelan. Can you add a fuel additive & a spirited run . Mighr cure the problem.

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

Hello Crib,

don't be angry. Sometimes you loose, sometimes you win. Tomorrow is a very important day. I wish you both all the best and a wonderful wedding.

Regards from Germany
Markus

Crib,
In your place, I would have said I will pay for 1 hour labor or forget it. Call their bluff.
Use these forums to learn to maintain your car. Start small, and it is very rewarding.

Thanks everyone for both your answers and congrats, we had a wonderful weekend and I am now a married man :)

Yeah, my intention has always been to DIY as much as possible, and this one would have been in that scope for sure under different circumstances.

Nevertheless, as of pure luck i now notice that my ignition switch is failing, it cuts aux power if i dont turn the key backwards a bit after starting the engine... so as it has it I will be able to spend some time with a DIY with both cheap parts and loads of tutorials on this forum. Haha :)

Congratulations on your wedding! 12 years in December here.

Get the Pelican 101 book and the Bently book for the Boxster. Both are great resources.