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HOPE ONE OF YOU KNOWLEDGABLE READERS CAN HELP.

N

Neil Strange

New member
Last year my 2.5 boxster 1998 had some water ingress thus the ecu under the passenger seat got covered in water, I removed it and cleaned it all down and left it to dry I then gave it to a ECU specialist who stated that he had repaired some issues inside the unit. The car was then started and it has a massive misfire like its only running on a couple of cylinders, so I replaced the spark plugs and also the coil packs and also the water pump. The car starts fine but the ECU light is on permanently and there is no power but its starts first time. Anyone with any idea help would be appreciated as it has already cost me over £1000 pounds and still not running.
 
Find a good well known independent Porsche specialist and have then run a full diagnostics. That will show the fault(s) and take it from there.

Such people advertise in Porsche Post at the back, located by region.

 
Richard prior to any work being carried out the ECU light in the cockpit was not visible its only since I have had the immobiliser refurbished and the plugs and coil packs and water pump changed the light has come on. It starts first time every time and ticks over nicely, but as soon as I throttle it the miss fire is heavy and it has a job to pull off or drive could it be the lambda in the exhaust system.

 
Neil,

I assume you mean that the CEL (check engine light) is illuminated permanently? It’s true that if there’s a problem with the lambda sensors this will happen, but with what you’re describing there may well be another problem. As Graham has suggested, the most efficient way forward is to run some Porsche-specific diagnostics to locate the problem source otherwise potentially you’re into an expensive part-swapping exercise which may or may not be successful.

Incidentally it’s permissible to drive the car with a solid CEL, but not if it’s flashing.

Jeff

 
Jeff its very difficult to drive the car as it seems to be functioning on about 2 cylinders if i go to up the revs it dies out and goes into like tick over mood then wait a few seconds and picks up again will most garages be able to read the diagnostics code or would it have to be a diagnostic by a porsche computer

 
Quite obviously the car isn’t drivable in its current state Neil. It’s possible that a general OBD2 reader would be of help if it’s something simple but really you need the full capability of Porsche’s PIWIS diagnostics - or similar - if it’s a complex problem. As suggested, a competent Porsche Independent is your best bet since they will have a full diagnostic capability compared with your average garage.

If you Google “Porsche specialist” for your area there may be someone fairly close who can advise you.

Jeff

 
Jeff thanks for info I want to look after the old girl I have had her many years and she has only covered 92000 with brand new Mot and she is Turquoise in colour a limited edition production model I am based in Paignton in Devon so I think my nearest specialist is in Plymouth unless you know someone closer. I have had her looked after mainly up in Reading by Ray Northway very knowledgeable and nice guy.

 
Neil,

You’ve got Williams Crawford near you in Saltash who I think have been around for a while, and it’s a name that I recognise, although of course I can’t vouch for them since I’m far from your locality. They’re a Porsche specialist who sell and service Porsches and will be in a good position to provide advice.

I notice that you’re not a Club member but you could always contact the Regional Officer for the South West region to ask if he can recommend someone in your area.

https://www.porscheclubgb.com/regions-registers/regions/south-west/south-west

Good to hear that you’re keen to keep your cherished Boxster going, and I hope that you succeed in resolving the problem.

Jeff

 
The full check an indie can do is very very detailed. Had mine done (for free) but I drove the car there. Having paid a lot already, quickest way to resolving the issue(s) is by the diagnostic. Good indie will come to see you or collect it, and there is a cost, but also a very firm outcome which you or they can efficiently (time and cost) complete.

You can be in danger of stabbing at the problem and repeatedly missing the mark.

Find your indie and discuss with him as a first step?

 
If the car is throwing a CEL then you may be able to get basic codes from a (very cheap) generic reader. Cheap like 20 quid from Amazon. (Prime let’s you return things as ”not fit for purpose”! )

Or. Do you have rac/aa/green flag. ?

you could play dumb. Get them to come out and read the codes.

you will likely end up with multiple Pxxxx codes. If you do. Then post them here and we can dig a little further.

in the absence of those And pure internet guesswork. Multiple misfires seem to be variocam or o2 sensor and the fix may not be “roadside“ but gives more data to work with.

 
Did it run ok before the water got under the passenger seat to the ECU ?

As others have suggested it really needs a code reader to see what's going on to show up any faults.

Hope you get it sorted.

 
Hi thanks for all the help from you porsche guys I have sorted out the problem hopefully it seems that somehow the petrol in the boxster had become contaminated due to sitting for a long period so filled the old girl up started her left her running for a considerable time on tick over and heh presto give her full revs and she doesn't miss a beat, so going to purchase an OBD2 to knock out the CEL light on the dash that is on permanently at present, due the the malfunction I suppose of the engine searching for clear petrol. Going to give her a blast on an open road ASAP.

 
Result! Good to hear that you’re sorted Neil.

As Graham says, a salutary lesson to use the car regularly. [;)]

Jeff

 
Neil Strange said:
WHICH IS THE BEST OBD2 to clear the CEL light on my dashboard something cheap and cheeerful will do
Click to expand...

Best or Cheap ? Not the same answer......

If you just want a generic reader with no porsche specific smarts that will read and clear Pxxxx codes and turn of the CEL ( that arises from the Pxxxx codes) then something like this will do it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082WZKSTC/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_KZ2X19PJP0E64PC95JEK

If you have a smart phone - then one of the wifi/blueTooth elm327 clones will do it

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08P7KRRG2/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_1VY95HRDVRMQM3ZXS3K1

But you will need an App on the phone i have used Auto Doctor on an iPhone - others use Torque on android - but for simples - a hand help unit that you stuff in the glove box is probably a winner.

But it likely won't tell you anything about anything else on any car you plug it into...

If you want Porsche smarts - looks at the ICARSOFT POR models - for a 986 the POR 1 model is fine - but if you want some future proofing then the later models cover more cars....

By the way - sometime the CEL will extinguish itself - some issues are "in the last x number of times I have run, this fault has occurred Y times" - so it *might* go off all by itself if you have really chased the problem away and you drive it a few times - but me personally - I don't like that light shining at me.

Hope this helps

 
Can anyone inform me where the immobilisher horn is situated on my 1998 2.5 boxster I can hear it beeping when alarm goes but dont know where it is located on the vehicle

 
Neil Strange said:
Can anyone inform me where the immobilisher horn is situated on my 1998 2.5 boxster I can hear it beeping when alarm goes but dont know where it is located on the vehicle
Click to expand...
the immobiliser on the 986 is part of the alarm control unit. The ACU. It lives under the passenger seat on rhd drive cars.

Bit as far as I know it doesn’t beep. It’s a box of electronics.

when the alarm sounds it’s either the car horns and/or the alarm siren. On early cars the siren is bolted to the tilt sensor on the right hand side (viewed from the front looking towards the car ) of the battery under the trim plastics.

 
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