Bought a Porsche today and it has a mystery button

[Dale_K]

My first Porsche (a 100,000 mile 2000 Boxter S tiptronic) and my first post here. This may be the dumbest question ever but I couldn't find the answer in the owner's manual. There is an unmarked button just to the left of the headlight switch and I'd like to know what it's for.

There's a bunch of other stuff I'd like to know besides the mystery button but I'll do some searching and maybe I can find the answers by myself.

I'll post a some pics of the car in a couple of days.

[Dale_K]

Here is a crummy picture of the car and the switch I'm confused about.

[goldenwarrior1]

I guess this is as dumb as your question as I am sure you have already checked but is it shown in the owners manual? Not on my 02 996 Coupe...

R/Tom

[JFP in PA]

Here is a crummy picture of the car and the switch I'm confused about.

The elliptical opening was for a microphone component of the OEM phone system, rarely seen on these cars. The blanking insert is a favorite location for a small push button installed post delivery to operate a garage door opener, usually hidden under the dash. I’d start there……………

[More Power Man]

It appears to be an owner added switch. If that button is a momentary on (push and springs back)I would assume it is wired to a garage opener under the dash somewhere. If the button locks in the on position, then I would start looking for changes in lighting inside and out (daytime running lights, fog lights, back up lights, etc).

[Orient Express]

The elliptical opening was for a microphone component of the OEM phone system, rarely seen on these cars.

Not to be too anal, but....

The microphone for telephony as well as ambient cabin noise measurement (for GALA volume adjustment of the radio) is in the instrument cluster. The little plug that is on both air vents (for LHD/RHD cars) is for the manual headlight leveling adjustment control that is used on many ROW 996 and 986 cars.

As many have said, in this case, the button was probably installed by the previous owners for a garage door opener or alarm or some other owner installed equipment.

[JFP in PA]

I stand corrected.............

[Dale_K]

No wonder I was confused. Thanks.

[infocusf8]

Great looking top, I want that color for my Arctic Silver Boxster. Do you know if it's OEM?

[Loren]

Great looking top, I want that color for my Arctic Silver Boxster. Do you know if it's OEM?

Looks like the top is Metropole Blue on Lapis Blue Metallic or Midnight Blue Metallic.

[Dale_K]

I don't anything about the history of the car except for some recent repair receipts. The top looks original to my eyes but I don't actually know. It certainly has enough rattles & squeaks to have been on the car for 100k miles.

Yesterday I bought some "PlasticX" at the Walmart and used it on the window. That stuff is a miracle! It doesn't show in the poor picture but the window was terribly faded and scuffed. After about 30 minutes of cleaning it is totally transformed. It still doesn't look quite brand new but it looks like a 2 year old car. I was astonished by how good the PlasticX worked.

The recent work tickets show the several repairs to fix oil leaks within the past 5,000 miles. A new rear main seal, new spark plug seals and a cam seal were done. Also a water pump and a 90k service. The bills added up to well over $2,000. It's not leaking at the moment and running excellently.

I wish it was a manual transmission but the auto works well and it's cool how it changes its shift logic when the car senses you're driving it more aggressively.

I'll spend some time with my high speed buffer and see if I can get the paint looking better. The windshield washer dumps the water under the car instead of coming out the nozzles so I plan to pull the left wheel and fender liner off today and see if I can fix it.

[hokunohoaupuni]

I've actually had the same issue with the windshield wiper fluid line coming off. It's quite a simple fix. Personally I don't need to take the wheel off but I'm not the biggest guy. I jack the car up all the way and crank the wheel to the right and I can get in just enough to pull back the lining and fit the line back on the connection point. I've though about getting a small screw clamp but I still trying to find one that small. Best of luck, the car looks great.

[Dale_K]

I got the windshield washer working thanks to the tips on this site. It was indeed a disconnected hose behind the fender liner. Kind of glad I took the wheel off. I took it to the tire shop yesterday to get all the tires balanced and they had put the wheels on so tight I would never had been able to undo the bolts with the tool kit.

[Tool Pants]

Have you pushed the button yet to see if the car blows up.....