mikesporscheboxsterwebpages
Personal Boxster Stuff
Mike Focke's
Porsche Boxster Web Pages Index
I am no longer as active in the Boxster community as I once was and these pages are no longer as actively maintained. I have sold my car only because it was so seldom used and deserved a new home from someone who would appreciate it.
Good luck "E J" and, as of March 2015, Jason. 5 owners and 80k plus miles.
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Ask technical questions on one of the online forums
as the collective wisdom is frequently
better than a single individual's. (see note 1)
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These pages are generally specific to the
Model 986 (1997-2004) Boxster
and not the Model 987 (2005-2011).
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Buying and Selling Thoughts
Tips on Buying a 1997-2004 (986) Boxster- Part 1 and read Part 2 also Modified 5/10/2009
Boxster Model Year to Model Year Changes This goes in the middle of the buying tips articles to help you figure out what model years had significant changes and which didn't..
Tips on Buying A Boxster- Part 2 we'll assume you've already read part 1 Modified 2/18/2009
986 or 987? New 3/18/2010
VIN and Option Decoding (where was it built and what options came from the factory?)
The Pre-Purchase Inspection Almost every used car purchase needs one
What Else To Buy From The Dealer
Extended Warranty? Modified 3/1/2009
Ten Best, Ten Worst Things about a Boxster (one person's opinion)
Problem Areas No car is without some Modified 3/17/2012
The Boxster in Winter It can be a 4 season car. And how best to store it.
Tips On Selling a Boxster Modified 8/9/2011
Prolonging the Life of your Boxster New 11/2/2009
Upgrades?
It Isn't Fast Enough? Modified 4/8/2009
Cup Holders For the '97-'99 Boxsters without them
Replacement Bulbs for Headlights Are they worth it?
Accident?
After A Bad Accident, What You Can Expect? Modified 5/4/2009
Battery
Boxster Batteries Replacement batteries, battery maintainers, how to test them, etc Modified 4/4/2010
When Your Battery Is Dead And you've locked the truck so you can't get to it Modified 5/10/2009
Fluids and Such
Approved Motor Oils Modified 3/7/2009
Oiled Air Filters Should you use one?
Tires
Buying Tires For A Boxster Modified 2/28/2009
Where To Go For Repairs and Maintenance
Dealer or Independent Mechanic for maintenance?
Northern Virginia and Maryland Porsche Repair Shops Modified 10/20 2014
A Parts List (for free with diagrams)
A link to the official site for PETs for all models PDF format Modified 6/26/2017
Do It Yourself Maintenance
Accessing the engine bay from the top
The 986's Check Engine Light Modified 4/23/2009
Maintenance How-to "do it yourself" links Modified 1/24/2009
Hacks Links to small modifications which change the way the car looks or functions. Modified 2/17/2009
Maintenance Schedule For An '01
Specific Maintenance Do-It-Yourself Pages
What I Use To Maintain The Looks Of My Boxster
Ignition Switch Replacement Erratic electricals? A How To.
Heater-A/C Blower Removal and Replacement.
Broken Retainer Nuts for Visors or Center Latch Housing in Windshield Header
Cam Cover Leaks Modified 2/1/09
Replacing the Power Steering Fluid New 5/16//09
Airbag Warning Light TSB If you have repeated problems
Drains Diagram Keep 'em clean and free flowing
Fuse Box Scan of the diagram that was inside the access hatch of my fuse box
Improving AM Radio Reception Get rid of the static
What side is Bank 1? And where is cylinder #3? Modified 1/13/2010
Blown Engine Options
What can you do if your engine is blown? Modified 12/15/2014
IMS
Subject too dynamic to maintain a list of available kits
Pollution Control System Maintenance
Air Oil Separator Replacement Huge cloud of white smoke? A how to. Modified 1/10/2010
Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF) ? Information on the Mass Air Flow Sensor and the Secondary Air Injection System Modified 4/9/2009
Oxygen Sensor Part numbers and tips on where to buy and how to do it yourself. Save $$$$ !
Throttle Body Cleaning often cures rough idle (a direct link to Pedro's writeup)
HVAC
Undocumented A/C Diagnostics They aren't just for displaying A/C parameters!
The Top
A sub-index of top related articles provided by Maurice
Lists of Links
Lists of Dismantlers, Salvage Yards, Parts Sources, Shippers Wrecking yards specializing in porsche parts, upholstery vendors, after-market heated seats, parts lists, etc. Modified 3/21/2021
Manuals Links to online manual sources
Communicating About The Boxster
Acronyms You'll Read Modified 2/17/2017
Boxster Forums Links Modified 7/10/2017
Note 1: See "the Jury Theorem" of Nicolas de Condorcet ( an 18th century French philosopher) who posited that the decision made collectively by large groups of people were more likely to turn out correctly than decisions made by an individual especially in cases where each individual has only partial information as in the case where a single person has experience in only one aspect of the question..
Required Legal Disclaimer
I am not a Porsche mechanic. Far from it.
You use these instructions at your own risk. I accept no liability. If you can’t accept those terms, don’t use them.
If you find a problem with them, please advise me at mike.focke@gmail.com so I can either revise or withdraw them.
This assemblage of web pages and their contents is copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 and 2021 by Michael W. Focke.
They may be directly linked to without specific permission but the contents may not be copied to or hosted on any other web site but this one.
Comments from the Author
They are often a collection of many others contributions and wisdom. The errors are mine.
They are offered in the spirit of sharing what I know about this wonderful hobby of owning a Porsche. I've always had a bit of the "librarian of information" about me, why not extend that to this hobby for the benefit of others. If we hoard what we know, we all know only what we know. If we all share what we know, we all benefit from the collective wisdom.
Always remember how lucky we are to be able to afford such a car. Don't look down on those who aren't so lucky.
Treat the new owner nicely, remember you were there once.
Porsche, Boxster and the Porsche Shield logo are copyright or trademarks or service marks of Dr. Ing. h.c. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
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