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They all do that sir....

wiley_coyote

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Ever since I've owned my Boxster (2014 981 2.7) I've noticed a smell like 'hot rubber' at the back wheels after driving. Reading different forums, this seems to be classed as 'normal' with suggestions that it's the tyres/hoses/engine/whatever. General consensus seems to be that they all do and it's nothing to worry about.

I bought the car privately in August 2014 and it came with a comprehensive service history via main dealers and independents,. It seems to have had the necessary things done at the right time as minor/major services, including two sets of plugs (car's currently on 71k) and an additional oil change before a return journey to the south of Spain. It's obviously been well looked after by it's previous owners and has had OEM cruise control fitted later in its life.

Part of the 'fun' of owning a car like this for me, is that I like to get 'hands on' involved - it's only a car at the end of the day, albeit one that's nicely put together, but I like to know what's what. So I changed the engine oil and filter again, then got a bit more adventurous and changed the PDK fluids (pretty straightforward and no, you don't need PIWIS for a fluid change).

The only thing that I hadn't physically checked, and that there was no positive record of being changed, was the serpentine drive belt on the front of the engine, which I'd expect to be changed at 60k/6years. To access it, you need to remove the access panel behind the seats - really straightforward - and to be fair, it looked OK. However, to check it properly you really need to examine the belt off the car, so off it came. It still looked OK, although there was no way of telling if it was the original. It was stamped as a Porsche belt.

Design 911 offer a Gates replacement at £28 (purists can stop reading now) and reasoning that both Gates and Design 911 know what they're up to, that's what went back on.

And guess what? After a 90 minute spirited ride around some of the nether reaches of Lincolnshire earlier today, no smell of hot rubber any more..... Just sayin'.
 
One thing to watch for with the drive belt is a partially seized pivot on the belt tensioner arm (2). If the tensioner did not spring back easily, the arm may be beginning to seize on it's integral bush. Release the belt and spray some penetrating lubricant around the large hex used to release the belt then work it back and forth until it returns freely. Removing bolts 9 and 5 allow removal of the complete tensioner assembly. Access to the lower mounting bolt (5) is tricky. With the assembly removed, it will be easier to free and lubricate the tensioner arm. Also note that the hydraulic tensioner is prone to leaking with age. The tensioner arm and hydraulic tensioner are readily available on-line.
Final caution, I know of one incident where a mounting bolt sheared on removal and the remains had to be drilled out for a thread insert to be fitted.
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