New Technical Asssistant

[Mark_Bennett]

I would like to welcome Bryn Owen who has kindly offered to assist us as the Boxster Register Technical Assistant.

Bryn is a professional Electro Mechanical Engineer (now retired).
He (mostly[]) maintains his own cars, these have included quite a variation from Golf GTi's, Corrado, 308 Ferrari, TVR's and his current Boxster. He also does track days.
Bryn seems to take a pragmatic approach to maintenance. As he said in an email to me "The Boxster is a complex car and to be maintained easily and properly you really need a ramp although minor routine stuff can be carried out by the enthusiast at home but for diagnostics you really need to visit a Porsche Centre". Contact details will be in Porsche Post (I won't give out his phone number and email here!) as with most Club Officials please don't phone after 9PM.

 

[StephenWicks]

Bryn sounds like a really interesting guy Mark, hope I never need his assistance![]

If I do, I'll know who to call!

 

[Laurence Gibbs]

"but for diagnostics you really need to visit a Porsche Centre".

or buy one of these and it will pay for itself after about three uses. www.durametric.com

 

[bryno]

Laurence have you used this durametric tool and if so how easy did you find it, can it read all the fault codes etc etc?.
My experience of some of the diagnostice tools used by non franchised specialists is that they cannot read all the faults. Example I had an intemittant engine management light illuminate which could be reset by an independent and his equipment but not tell us what the fault was. In the end a visit to my local Porsche Centre revealed a faulty air mass sensor, it could have also been some other problem or problems which also trigger the same alarm/warning light. Fortunately fixed under warranty.
Regards Bryn Owen

 

[Laurence Gibbs]

No have not used this tool. But have used generic obd11 testers and the reviews from others on this one from other forums (rennlist) seems good. The nice thing about the durametric is that it's not just an engine trouble code tester, it also will bring up the other systems in the car such as A/C etc. As I understand it this tester brings up Porsches internal "P codes" as well as generic obd11. Intermittant faults are never easy to find, maybe the opc got lucky and the fault "showed up" whilst they had the car but did'nt for the independant. It should always be remembered that most things done by an obd tool can be found by other means and should not be relied on alone.

 

[bryno]

Laurence, thanks for that useful info, could you tell us more about the obd11 tester you have used, e.g. how useful/easy to use and are these obtainaable to those of us not in the "trade" if so where from.
Thanks

Bryn Owen

 

[Laurence Gibbs]

At present i have two obd "code readers" one for my 964 which uses an older protocol (iso 1941-1 roughly) and the other for my Boxster which uses the later obd 11 standard used by all manufacturers from about 99 onwards. The Boxster one is an old design using an elm 323 chip do a search on "elm 323" and uses scantool.net software (www.scantool.net) this tester/interface was featured in Elektor magazine and i built it myself but off the shelf versions exist. If you do a web search on OBD 11 you will find all the info you could ever need on where to buy and how to use . It's easy enough, simply connect the interface to a laptop (even a desktop computer will do the job) usually by a 9 way dtype lead or on newer designs a usb connection and connect the interfaces other connection to the obd port on the car, fire up the software and read the codes, if you have any! my interface will also reset or clear the code memory too.
I could'nt recommend the interface I use as the Durametric one appears to be so much better, newer and comes with much more functionality. I have no affiliation to this company or the product btw.
I suppose some might say what if I don't have a pc or laptop? a second hand laptop or old desktop pc might add to the set up cost but these can be had for peanuts as you don't need the latest kit and off course you can still use it for other work too. Last time i enquired (it was a while back) my local opc wanted £50 for a check over with their scantool so it would not take long to recoup the value imho.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Just for kicks, you guys might like to know about the diagnostics that can be done using the Air-Con display (only up to MY 2000 )

http://www.cb-racing.com/boxster_AC.html

 

[Laurence Gibbs]

thanks Mark i'd lost that url and had been trying to find it -in vain. Great[]

 

[bryno]

Thanks Laurence and Mark I hope other members can benefit from the info you supplied.

 

[TomNauntonMorgan]

Hi Mark

I was wondering if you help with a very small part!! On the sports adaptive seats there is a strap to hold the seat belt.

There is a small plastic cap which covers the screw head. Mine has got lost and Porsche want to charge me £26 for a whole strap assembly which I don't need.

The part probably costs 5pence!!!

I need one in Black. Can anyone help?

Many thanks
Tom Naunton Morgan

 

[Laurence Gibbs]

have you tried Porsche-apart or one of the other porsche dismantelers??

 

[TomNauntonMorgan]

Tried Simon Butterworth.

Just tracked down the part number as only registered for a 986 and doesn't appear for a 987!! I eventually found this out by phoning Porsche Reading!!


Part no 999507 670 40

Thanks for your help


Tom

 

[Guest]

Message for toptastictom

Re plastic cap for strap to hold seat belt in place have you tried a Number plate screw cap these are about the same size

Best wWishes

John Greaves PCGB member

 

[Guest]

Welcome to ya Bryn!