987.2 A few irritations out of the blue

[911hillclimber]

My Boxster has been running perfectly for months, but now 12 years old, things get quirky..

Started it as usual yesterday to slip into central Wales in the sun.
Started but on 5 ish cylinders, moments later 'engine' light came on an 'get to a garage' or similar message. The 'tick over' was erratic @ 1100 ish rpm.
Disappointed, I gently revved it to 2k and after 30 secs or less it cleared and settled to the usual 8/900 rpm idle, lights out, all normal.
I had previously moved the car just on the drive twice over a few days, so about 30 secs running each time before sitting still, engine off for a day, so cold start each time. (bit of a fouled plug crossed my mind).
Went to Wales and back with several hot starts through the day sweet as could be, 34 mpg never over 50 mph.....sigh. Traffic everywhere.

hopefully a blip on the landscape episode.

Before the off the boot lid release on the sill worked as usual, then during the day it sopped.
Opens on the key fob as usual so suspect the sill switch is broken or dirty. Front lid realse is fine, used far less than the rear.
Noticed a mass of aftermarket switches on ebay @ £20 or so which usually means it is a common problem. Porsche switch a lot more.
Do you simply prise it out and replace or undo the whole sill black plastic guard strip?

 

[Motorhead]

I suppose it’s inevitable that there’ll be a few electrical gremlins on a 12-year old car Graham. A bit of dampness maybe causing the misfire? Have you replaced the coil packs fairly recently?

I think that there are just a couple of Allen bolts under the two covers on the inner edge of the switch panel trim. Once the trim is free the switch panel can be removed. Maybe it’s just a dirty contact?

Jeff

 

[hotfrog1]

From what little I know as an owner driver I would say there is nothing wrong. The two short runs probably confused the ECU and on the 3rd start it was a bit off plot using dead reckoning. The oxygen sensors kick in about 30secs after a cold start, to correctly trim the fuel. Hence it returned to normal once that had happened. I know it cannot always be done, but I do not start the engine unless I can fully warm the engine even if it means going out for an unplanned drive. You could plug in an OBD2 device and check the fuel trims but my bet is that it is AOK now. Time will tell!

 

[laura]

hotfrog1's suggestion sounds about right. If it was coil pack I doubt it would clear - it didn't on mine!

The sill switch is a fairly easy thing to replace, especially for a man of your skills! I think I got one from 9apart when mine went on the black 987.

See you on a hill somewhere []

 

[kitchens]

My 981 it is the trunk that does not open with the switch the boot switch works ok.. can open trunk with key though ,been like that for a while but going nowhere did not mind .

 

[911hillclimber]

Just a duff plug at start, but will give it a drive tomorrow morning and see?
plug tops are all original.
Newswitch ordered, easier to replace than clean and hope.

Laura! congrats on your new appointment, you got my vote!

 

[JMR]

I was cleaning my car about 18 months ago and asked my lad to get in the car and open the boot with the sill switch.
It had been temperamental, and I said you just need to lift the switch and turn it a bit at the same time.

Oops I hear, and he's pulled the boot switch out the little panel !!!
From memory I think it was just pop two screw plugs out the inside of the sill panel and you can pull the switch panel straight up and out?
Maybe you move the sill first - but whatever it was it was easy to sort.


I had mine serviced at Cavendish Porsche last week and they said do you know your boot release switch is a bit temperamental, I said yes but couldn't be bothered spending £80 or whatever it is on a new one
I know how it works, and tbh I usually use the fob.

How much did you get one for @911hillclimber ?
And did you genuine in the end?

 

[JMR]

During the service also had all 6 coil packs replaced.
Two were cracked 2 years ago, but no misfiring.

All six cracked right thro the insulation this time.

Replaced them to avoid any problems similar to what you were having.
Doing a trip round the Yorkshire Dales (in a day) soon and don't want any issues - so I just put them to bed. [8D]

 

[911hillclimber]

Thanks for that.
The new switch arrived today off ebay, £19 delivered to my door. Looks exact to the original.
Type911 non OEM wanted £40 + vat etc, real OPC 180 I think....
Fitting will be easy, doing it Monday, racing this weekend (I do hill climbing).
Will have a look at the old switch just to be curious, but the lever is a bit (lot) looser than the front release is.

Moved the Boxster yesterday and it fired up sweet as a nut. Ran it for 5 mins to get over the Cold Start of the system so expect all to be good tomorrow when I move it back!

Doing a BIG euro tour next year, but the 70K service will arrive before that trip, so will have Zuffenhaus check the plug tops out for me during that service.

 

[911hillclimber]

Put the new switch in this morning.
Bit of a faff to do, the kick strip is fastened to the sill better than the engine to the gearbox!
You need an Allen key, but one with a short 'long' side as access is short.
Switch clips out and the new snapped back in.
All done in 20 mins.
And it works!
Took the old one apart, but could see nothing amis, but now in the bin.

 

[JMR]

Put the new switch in this morning.
Bit of a faff to do, the kick strip is fastened to the sill better than the engine to the gearbox!
You need an Allen key, but one with a short 'long' side as access is short.
Switch clips out and the new snapped back in.
All done in 20 mins.
And it works!
Took the old one apart, but could see nothing amis, but now in the bin.

Great stuff.
Are you happy that the new switch is JUST like the original and fits in with the colour/type of plastic ok?

If so would you send me a link to the one you bought off eBay please?
There's loads on there and most of them look to be chinese sellers, but uk based product?

Cheers

 

[911hillclimber]

It snapped into place with a very positive fit, the connector the same.
Appearance looks exactly like the one I took out which was date marked 2009, the year of my 987.2 so original.
all works, pull levers nice and firm with no slop, my broken one was not like that!

ebay # 1147 313 26 509 seller is yesteam001
Cost £19.19, 5 year warrantee, 100% selling record.

I'd have another.
Regards, Graham.

 

[JMR]

Thats one that I looked at

Cheers Graham I think I'll get one ordered for the sake of £20

Nice one. []