Tool Pants

Turned on the OBC and cruise control today on a 2003 S tiptronic made in Feburary 2003. This Boxster did not have OBC or cruise control. As has been reported, I was not able to change the instrument cluster coding because when you go to that screen it asks for the order type. Went into the DME and sure enough there was no order type, just 3 dashes ---. Erased the dashes and entered 986320 as the order type. Started the automatic search all over and then when I selected instrument cluster coding I was then able to see the screen where you can change the coding. Changed the coding to "with" OBC and to "with" cruise control. Then I also changed the DME coding to "with" cruise control. In the picture you can see that the OBC and cruise control has been turned on. Now the owner needs to buy the parts to complete a dual retrofit.

Played around today with my 1997. With 000000 as the order type I was able to turn the OBC off/on. I then changed it to 123456 and was still able to turn it off/on. So the 2003-2004 wants an order type, but this does not matter on my 1997. I always wanted a Carrera GT, which is 980. I did not know the last 3 digits for a Carrera GT so I guessed 100. I now have a 980100....

Replacement keys are expensive. When I bought my 1997 in 1999 it was missing the valet key. which Richard is calling the service key, and it is cheaper than the remote. For the metal part of the key I gave the local parts guy my VIN and the key was cut at the Porsche parts warehouse, which back then was in Reno. Turned out the local dealership had the key cutting machine but they did not like to use it. When you order a key that is cut based on your VIN it is called a "stipulated" key. It comes with a black plastic plug on the top that you throw away. So if you deal with Sunset they can get you a stipulated key. You may have to fax your registration as proof of ownership. Then I bought the valet key head. Then I needed to have the key programmed. Back then in the old days the dealer faxed a request to Porsche for the key learning code. Then I brought the car in and the valet key was programmed with the PST2. Porsche will only give this code out to a dealer. If you go to an independent then the independent has to go through a dealer. Back then it was a flat $50 to code a key. Finally, the missing keys should be deleted from the immobilizer in case they show up some day.

Look next to the spare.

I think this is a good list for a 2003 OBC/cruise control retrofit. As Richard said the 4 stalk unit does not come with a cap for the cruise control stalk. So you need the part he gave number 996.613.505.10.A05. You have the correct part number for the 4 stalk steering column switch assembly. The male OBC connector is current Porsche part number 999.650.513.40. The cruise control connector is 999.652.972.40 and the cover for this connector is 999.652.973.40. These connectors use to cost just a few dollars from Porsche, then with all the retrofits being done Porsche jacked up the price. You can buy these connectors for less from BMW and/or Mercedes if you want to shop around. Technically you need 9 of the VW wires. But I cheat and cut one of the wires in half, so you can get by with 8. I guess Richard does the same..... If you look at your 2 stalks they poke through a rubber gasket with a square hole. With a 4 stalk unit you need 2 more holes. You can buy the gasket with 2 holes. But we usually just cut open the unused hole. Plug C (Grey) on the Instrument Cluster Pin 25 - OBC Stalk Connector Pin 6 is still a mystery. The stalk only has 5 wires but the wiring diagram for a dot matrix cluster shows it as having 6.

1997-1999 have a cable operated throttle. These cars do have an actuator for the cruise control above and connected to the gas pedal. E-gas came out in 2000 and the cable operated throttle and actuator went away. For a 2003 the cruise control retrofit looks simple according to Richard's instructions. The cruise control stalk connector has 4 wires. You run 3 wires from this connector to the instrument cluster connector. The 4th wire is run to fues B7 to get 12 volts. The B7 fuse is for the brake lights and cruise control (on a car that has cruise control). So it makes sense to get power from this fuse. Then with a PST2/PIWIS you reprogram the instrument cluster and DME to tell the car that it now has cruise control.

Litronics was not an option until 1999. I guess someone could have done a retrofit. But if you have amber headlights then you do not have lits. Don't you have to replace the headlights anyway with RHD headlights? One of the "left hooker" guys will have to tell you all the things necessary to meet UK requirements.

There is a bulb chart in the owners manual. If you do not have the manual then you can download the 2003 manual, and look at page 219.

We did the OBC retrofit on Alberto's car a few months ago. He bought the 4 stalk steering column switch assembly from Sunset Imports for around $158. I know how to turn on the OBC. Guess I could figure out how to turn on the cruise control.

The CDR 23 radio used 2003-2004 does not have a user code.

There are retrofit kits, but I do not know anything about them other than what is here. http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...amp;hl=retrofit

Here is a picture of the key for a car without the alarm/remote. There is a round button for a light.

The standard shift knob does not have a set screw, only the optional knobs. It is easy to see the set screw if there is one. The standard knob is just a friction fit. You pull like heck to get it off, and if it does not pull off then you pull harder.

Your profile says you have a 1998 Boxster. LEDs in the instrument cluster did not start until 2001. So, I guess you need to replace a bulb? If, on the other hand, you have a bad LCD display, then I do not know of a replacement source.

So, you only come up here for Thanksgiving. Around the corner from the Porsche dealership I met you at 2 years ago is a shopping area called Santana Row. Your nephew will know it. In the back is a large parking lot and all sorts of cars show up every Saturday morning. http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/showthr...520&page=82 Don't know what the turn out will be like after the holiday. I might go and if I do I can bring the PST2 and see what your Boxstir has been up to. You should go anyway. This is our version of Crystal Cove. You can talk to the former Boxster owners who now have the Italian stuff.

The 2.7 did not come with the remote/alarm as standard. It was an option on the base Boxster. If you have a passenger side door lock like this then you do not have it. Also, if you had it your would have the option code 535 on the option sticker.

Litronics was not an option until 1999. I have a 1997 and it has the 2 holes with plugs. We have done the retrofit on a 2000 and 2002, and they did not have the holes. We did not make holes on those cars because we figured out another way to run the 2 harnesses from the control unit to the back of the headlights. Each harness has a gromet installed and we removed them as they were not needed.

Years ago I saw Peter remove a 2.5 transmission in about 30 minutes. But he has a lift. Engine stand, and transmission lift. He used a snap on cordless impact wrench. But he likes to use it on just about everything. If you can get your hands on an impact wrench. http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...1&hl=triple

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...193&hl=audi

Something is going on with the dot matrix cluster that started in 2002. This guy noticed that the wiring diagram shows 5 wires for the OBC on the instrument cluster connector. Prior to 2002 there are just 4 wires for the cluster connector. http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...039&hl=wire When we make the harness for the OBC stalk we use 5 wires. Slot 1 on the stalk connector is the ground wire, and slots 2-5 go to the cluster connector. There is a 6th slot in the stalk connector but we do not use it as there is no wire in this slot. Here is a picture of the OBC stalk connector and you can see there are just 5 wires, and an unused slot. But Loren's diagram shows a 6th wire, A6 is the 6th wire. All the slots are used on Loren's diagram. Every OBC retrofit I have done the stalk connector had 5 wires, not 6, but Loren's diagram shows 6. Then there is the instrument cluster connector with a wire in slot C25, which I guess would be for a 6th wire from the stalk connector. So I am seeing 6 wires being used with the dot matrix cluster. On paper at least. But if you look at PET there is only one OBC stalk listed. As I said other people have put in the dot matrix cluster and there was no need for a 6th wire. But those people used the stalk, not a switch, and I don't know if that is the cause of your issue. So, slot C5-lever inside on the cluster connector and slot A6 on the stalk connector are a mystery to me. All I know at this time is it is shown on the wiring diagrams. For the time being, LowFlyR, what switch are you using and I would like to see a picture of the back of the switch to see how you hooked up the wires to the switch.

22 and 24 is correct for your year. At least that is what we use when doing the retrofit that does not involve a cluster swap. When we do the OBC retrofit you cannot change the miles to empty. The third wire from the switch goes to ground. The OBC retrofits I know of with a dot matrix cluster were done with the stalk, not a switch.

Oil is debated and over debated. I am on my 9th year of Boxstering and I have not heard of any engine failure do to an oil issue. At our work on cars days over the years we sometimes do oil changes. Local owners show up with their oil and filters and we change the oil. Sometimes they show up with nonapproved oil and we still put it in. Those cars are still running fine. I use Mobil only because it is cheap and easy to find. But the Mobil I use is not approved. http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...p;hl=unapproved We once did an oil change on Larry's 2001 S. He showed up with non Mobil, I think it was Redline. His car is still alive. It is your car, use what you want. I would like to see a report on AMSOIL.

We covered this in detail 3 years ago. http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...c=659&st=60 I do not know for sure why you have 996 606 124 00 as that sensor was not put into cars made after January 31, 2000, and you have a 2001. I guess during the life of your car the sensor was replaced and "backdated" to the sensor you now have due to the idle issue reported here. http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?&...f=24&t=2649 996 606 124 00 is no longer sold as a Boxster part number. But when I check PET it is still listed for a 1999-2001 C4 and the turbo, so you should be able to buy it from Porsche. If you search around I bet you can find it in the aftermarket for less. I have in my notes that the Bosch part number is 0 280 218 009. You can confirm the Bosch number because it is on your sensor

There is a good oil message board with a few Porsche owners. http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm

Penske now owns Stevens Creek Porsche and also owns Los Gatos Acura. Before then Stevens Creek use to use Anderson-Behel Body Shop in Santa Clara. Before Penske, Lee Behel owned Stevens Creek, but never had an interest in Anderson-Behel Body Shop. It is actually owned by Dave Mello. Years ago one of the old timers told me the story as to why the body shop was able to use the name, but I do not remember the details. At one period of time when Behel owned Stevens Creek they were using German Auto Body.