981 Boxster Issues

[Tom__P]

Hi Guys and Girls,

So whilst at the OPC having the warranty recall done for the axel hangers, they carried out a health check and came up with a couple of issues...
1) Fault in system for bank 1 sensor 1 o2 sensor RFI. Do we think it just needs a new o2 sensor? Is this something I can change at home? I have no faults or warnings showing on the dash and it runs fine although its always had a stutter at around 2k so wonder if that could be contributing to this???
2) Both AC condensers leaking. How hard is it to change these out? I've had the bumper off a few times to clean the radiator and condenser previously so they are easy to access.


Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Chappelle]

Different model I know but I did the condensers on my 987. Hardest part was getting the bumper off.

Kwik Fit drained the refrigerant (probably not much left), bought a kit from Design911 (with PCGB discount) and had Kwik Fit recharge. It was an easy job. Make sure you buy new seals etc and read up on the web

 

[AlistairF]

I had a condenser changed under warranty last year, I think some had a welding issue.

I actually expected to pay so was pleasantly surprised when, after they had stripped it, they told me it was a warranty issue. My car is 2015. I asked them to do both while they were at it, the second one was booked at 30 mins labour. Agrees with consensus that most labour time is the bumper.

 

[Motorhead]

Tom,

A lambda sensor change should be straightforward. Maybe it just needs a clean, especially if you’ve not been using the car very much, or you could fill-up with Shell or a similar decent super unleaded and give it an “Italian tune-up” and see if that improves the hesitancy. On the other hand the hesitancy could be due to a coil-pack on the way out.

Jeff

 

[BoxsterLL11]

I changed both ac condensers and the drier on my 981 a few years ago.

As already suggested, most awkward part of the job was getting the front bumper off.

Got the parts from Euro Car parts, some special oil to lubricate the o-rings seals off the internet and I got it gassed locally.

All in for less than £300.

Had quotes of £1000 to do the job.

 

[malarcy]

Re the sensor - did they say if the code was active or not? Could easily be an old error that hasn't "aged" out of the system. Personally, I would get that code cleared and run the car for a few days and recheck, if it's come back then investigate further. As to contribution to the issue at 2k revs - I doubt the sensor would directly be involved in that since its more about emissions that running but I guess if there is an actual issue "upstream" of the sensor then it may be pointing to something going on.

I have read on another forum of a 981 owner having what they described as a "flutter" around 3.5K revs - which left no code and as dismissed by the dealer as "they all do that" - they persevered and after demonstrating the issue to a tech, the OPC agreed to swap the throttle body under warranty - that solved their problem.

Your mileage (as well as your issue) may vary - but on the face of it - I reckon a number of cars would show a random error if checked that is a transitive glitch, and unless you know the comes back before you swap any parts then you would never know if replacing anything had actually solved it.