What Is This ????
 

Can anyone tell me what this is ? Walking back to my Boxster this morning I noticed it hanging down from the front RH corner. Just in front of the wheel and roughly below turn indicator. It is a tube about 4" long with wires atached. The corner of the tube has worn off from rubbing on the roadway.http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1527743081.jpg

That is the resistor for the radiator fan.

The fans vary their speed by lowering the voltage to the fan and that is done by sending power through this resistor. For low speed fan, the power goes thru the resistor. For high speed fan, the power is sent straight to the fan (no reduction in voltage by the resistor). Clever, eh?

There is a clip that usually holds it up onto the bottom of the radiator. Looks like you hit something under the car and it pulled the resistor loose from the clip. Just clip it back under there and you should be fine as long as the wiring isn't damaged.

And yes, those are huge resistors!

Thanks thstone, Will the fact that it has the corner worn off affect it. It is no longer a sealed unit.

You can test the fan for both high and low speed operation to determine if the resistor is still working. If the fan still works at low speed, the resistor is good. Do a search on fan testing and you'll find DIY's on how to do this (its fairly easy).

As for longevity, hard to say if damage to the case will be an issue.

If you're worried, you can replace it pretty easily. They cost something like $35. You just buy a replacement and splice it in.

Its late here in LA so I have to get to sleep. Have a nice afternoon in AUS, mate.

You are a font of information and I much appreciate your help.