981 Hood Drains - and stuff.....

[wiley_coyote]

I've only owned my 2014 981 base since August. It was a private purchase, very clean and has a comprehensive service history. I'm VERY pleased with it (previous ride was an '04 996 C4 cabriolet) and all I've really needed to do apart from put fuel in and drive it (so far) is keep it clean.

I decided to dig into the 'dealer service history' and started to read the invoices for work carried out over the years. The car is currently sitting at 70k. It would appear that 'by the book' servicing has been carried out at the prescribed intervals with the relevant ticks and stamps in the service book, but to me, this still leaves some things to chance. Things that the 'OPC' or 'Indie' might overlook. So I decided to have a poke around and see what's what.

First of all, I couldn't find any reference to air filters in the invoices that came with the car. I found that aftermarket filters had been fitted at some time in the past, but they weren't what I would call 'clean' and someone had used GP grease on the sealing rings which made them unnecessarily difficult to remove. Replaced. Result? Car starts better, sounds better and sooty tailpipes a thing of the past. Easy job to do.

Next, there seems to be lots of different advice regarding changing the PDK fluids. This is my first experience of a PDK and I love it - really smooth and responsive. I was sure that the fluids had never have been changed, and with some people advocating 'change at 60k' and others '12 years or 120k' I just decided to get stuck in and do it. Result? Super-smooth transmission. (It's a doddle and no, you don't need PIWIS or any special tools).

Then there are horror stories about blocked roof drains and soggy carpets. So why isn't this a service item? Who knows, so I thought I'd make it one. And I'm glad I did.

The previous owner garaged the car and so do I. As I said, the car is very clean - obviously hasn't been left languishing under a hedge anywhere - so you'd think all would be well. Wrong. All four drains full of sludge. Yuk. Another straightforward job that can be done easily without lifting the car or removing wheels - just over 30 minutes per side.

I've yet to check the serpentine belt, but while poking around underneath, I couldn't help but notice that the oil filter housing was pretty scruffy - yet according to the supplied bills, 'oil and filter' were changed by a 'specialist' just over 6k ago .... so I'm suspicious. I'd never replace a filter cover without cleaning it so that will get sorted as soon as I get some decent oil (I'm going to stick with Mobil1) and a new filter next week.

Why am I posting this? Because Porsche are great cars, but at the end or the day, they're just cars, and unless it gets complicated, they're pretty straightforward to work on. I realise that not everyone wants to get intimate with their pride and joy, but there's a lot of preventative (and regular) maintenance that can be carried out on older cars, with basic tools and at little cost. Some of us even enjoy it....

 

[911hillclimber]

I think there are several who follow your direction on here, me included.
Cleaning those drains are top of the list as things 'forgotten' by many, but easy DIY and you can see the flush of water proving all is well, good!

Time to search out a good indie, ask your local Region Officer for experiences by area members, go and actually see/talk to any you feel are right.

Once found an indie you feel trust in is worth a lot when he going get tough.

My 987.1 lives outside, has done for many years, but get lots of DIY lavished on it or gets done by Zuffenhaus who are simple, straight forward and trustworthy.

I feel the trick with these cars is to use them regularly.

Welcome to the Boxster forum, lots of very useful advice here as I've found out over the years, esp Motorhead.

 

[BoxsterLL11]

I'm delighted to read your comments as it sort of ties in with a thread I have just started about the PDK fluids.

I have owned my 2012 3.4S since Feb 2017.
Wasn't a Porsche person before and am not sure i am now but the Boxster is a lovely car to drive.
I have a long story to tell about my roof drains, I bought mine form an OPC, the previous owner only had it 3 months and it was bought back by the OPC after that time. It had blocked drains and caused no end of problems, for the previous owner.
When I enquired about the car and asked about the reason as to why the previous owner had it for the 3 months, in effect the OPC told me a load of fibs but I found out the truth via this forum and another Boxster forum.
I wasn't impressed.
If you want to know the details am sure you can search for it.
The OPC took the "tea strainers" out at the top of the drain tubes.
My car is garaged but I blow through the tubes every so often with compressed air with a blow gun with an extended tube to reach them.

It beats me why the tubes are not checked by OPC's during a regular service especially when its a known problem and the issues it can cause if they get blocked and the £££'s it can cost to put them right.

PDK fluids - I'm glad you mentioned you have done this yourself.
I started a PDK thread the other day as mine are due for replacement.
My car is 12 years old but only done 32k and its had an easy life.
My gear changes are smooth but I have the fluids and equipment to do the work myself also.
I wasn't going to change the plastic sump but have just ordered one from as it does make the job easier and less messy.

Apart from the PDK fluids, I have done all over the other service jobs since buying the car and they are all straight forward, certainly not rocket science as an OPC would have you believe.
I have fitted K&N air filters so every 2 years I take them out, clean, re-oil and refit.
Spark plugs are fiddly but not difficult, these definitely need doing every 4 years as they can become seized in the alloy heads.
Oil change is a doddle.
Serpentine belt is a bit fiddly too but no hassle.

I too enjoy servicing the car and have the satisfaction that its been done to my standard.
It saves £££'s too.

I had a roof fault due to a faulty microswitch.
Cost me £85 to fix for a new one and I know another member was charged £880 by his local OPC.

My AC failed a few years after I boght the car, a holed condenser.
Think I was quoted about £800-900 to fix by an automotive ac specialist.
I fixed it for less than £300 including a regas.

I have gone through 2 siren units, original failed due to water ingress. I think a new one was £80.
I bought an ebay one for £16 which also failed a year later.
So I bought another ebay one which is still on the car and have two 2nd hand ones in stock, bought for about £18.
Ebay ones are now selling for £40-60.

These cars may be full of electronics but when it comes down to it, the basic servicing is the same as for those cars made 50 years ago.

I too get suspicious when you buy a second hand car that's supposedly got full service history yet when you drill down into the details its never quite what it seems.

And like I said, if you can and do service it yourself, you know its been done to your satisfaction.
Mines a keeper but I always keep a log of all the jobs I do on the car, keep all the receipts and keep a photographic record too so If I do decide to sell the car at some point in the future, although the service book won't have the dealer stamps I will have all the necessary info to prove the car has been well looked after.

Enjoy your Boxster.

 

[Tony_Br]

I'm delighted to read your comments as it sort of ties in with a thread I have just started about the PDK fluids.

I have owned my 2012 3.4S since Feb 2017.
Wasn't a Porsche person before and am not sure i am now but the Boxster is a lovely car to drive.
I have a long story to tell about my roof drains, I bought mine form an OPC, the previous owner only had it 3 months and it was bought back by the OPC after that time. It had blocked drains and caused no end of problems, for the previous owner.
When I enquired about the car and asked about the reason as to why the previous owner had it for the 3 months, in effect the OPC told me a load of fibs but I found out the truth via this forum and another Boxster forum.
I wasn't impressed.
If you want to know the details am sure you can search for it.
The OPC took the "tea strainers" out at the top of the drain tubes.
My car is garaged but I blow through the tubes every so often with compressed air with a blow gun with an extended tube to reach them.

It beats me why the tubes are not checked by OPC's during a regular service especially when its a known problem and the issues it can cause if they get blocked and the £££'s it can cost to put them right.

PDK fluids - I'm glad you mentioned you have done this yourself.
I started a PDK thread the other day as mine are due for replacement.
My car is 12 years old but only done 32k and its had an easy life.
My gear changes are smooth but I have the fluids and equipment to do the work myself also.
I wasn't going to change the plastic sump but have just ordered one from as it does make the job easier and less messy.

Apart from the PDK fluids, I have done all over the other service jobs since buying the car and they are all straight forward, certainly not rocket science as an OPC would have you believe.
I have fitted K&N air filters so every 2 years I take them out, clean, re-oil and refit.
Spark plugs are fiddly but not difficult, these definitely need doing every 4 years as they can become seized in the alloy heads.
Oil change is a doddle.
Serpentine belt is a bit fiddly too but no hassle.

I too enjoy servicing the car and have the satisfaction that its been done to my standard.
It saves £££'s too.

I had a roof fault due to a faulty microswitch.
Cost me £85 to fix for a new one and I know another member was charged £880 by his local OPC.

My AC failed a few years after I boght the car, a holed condenser.
Think I was quoted about £800-900 to fix by an automotive ac specialist.
I fixed it for less than £300 including a regas.

I have gone through 2 siren units, original failed due to water ingress. I think a new one was £80.
I bought an ebay one for £16 which also failed a year later.
So I bought another ebay one which is still on the car and have two 2nd hand ones in stock, bought for about £18.
Ebay ones are now selling for £40-60.

These cars may be full of electronics but when it comes down to it, the basic servicing is the same as for those cars made 50 years ago.

I too get suspicious when you buy a second hand car that's supposedly got full service history yet when you drill down into the details its never quite what it seems.

And like I said, if you can and do service it yourself, you know its been done to your satisfaction.
Mines a keeper but I always keep a log of all the jobs I do on the car, keep all the receipts and keep a photographic record too so If I do decide to sell the car at some point in the future, although the service book won't have the dealer stamps I will have all the necessary info to prove the car has been well looked after.

Enjoy your Boxster.

"The OPC took the "tea strainers" out at the top of the drain tubes."

Do you have any pictures of what should be in position at the top of the tubes?

I have checked mine (718 Spyder) and can see nothing that fits this description, although the different hood/mechanism might have caused a redesign here. But having something to act as a filter/barrier to debris definitely makes sense.

 

[BoxsterLL11]

This was a picture taken by the OPC doing the rectification work at the time

 

[BoxsterLL11]

and apart from blowing up the body ecu beneath the drivers seat this was the corrosion of a loom multi-connector behind the passenger seat caused by the ingress of into the cabin accumulating in a pool of water beneath the seat

 

[Tony_Br]

and apart from blowing up the body ecu beneath the drivers seat this was the corrosion of a loom multi-connector behind the passenger seat caused by the ingress of into the cabin accumulating in a pool of water beneath the seat

Bloody hell - that 3rd picture is like a small swimming pool!

 

[wiley_coyote]

This was a picture taken by the OPC doing the rectification work at the time

The units shown above aren't from the top of the tubes. There are four of these (two per side) fitted as 'non-return valves' at the bottom of the drain tubes. They are accessed by removing the lower rear wing / cill panel, which is not a difficult job. There's nothing at the top of the tubes which is why debris can enter and subsequently block the valves.