Weekend projects for a rainy weekend

[no1joey]

Going to get a few things off my list done (hopefully :)) during this weekend, one of them is topping up the cabriolet hydraulic fluid. Does anyone know if this reservoir is accessed from where the roof folds in or from behind the rear seats? I know its accessed from where the roof folds in on a 996 I was wondering if it's different for a 997...

 

Also I have no idea how old my power steering fluid is so I bought a large plastic syringe, hose, and was thinking of sucking out what I can from the power steering reservoir, topping up, turning the car on and going from lock to lock, repeating until the 1 litre is gone. Is this method ok?

 

Thanks Guys!!! 

Edited October 30, 2015 by no1joey

[JFP in PA]

Going to get a few things off my list done (hopefully :)) during this weekend, one of them is topping up the cabriolet hydraulic fluid. Does anyone know if this reservoir is accessed from where the roof folds in or from behind the rear seats? I know its accessed from where the roof folds in on a 996 I was wondering if it's different for a 997...

 

Also I have no idea how old my power steering fluid is so I bought a large plastic syringe, hose, and was thinking of sucking out what I can from the power steering reservoir, topping up, turning the car on and going from lock to lock, repeating until the 1 litre is gone. Is this method ok?

 

Thanks Guys!!! 

 

Couple of suggestions:  We have an excellent archive of "how to's" on just about every subject (DIY Tutorials tab at the top of the page), so "search" is your friend.   This topic can be found here: http://www.renntech.org/forums/tutorials/article/56-cabrio-top-hydraulic-fluid-step-by-step/

 

And yes, the syringe/siphon method on the steering fluid is fine.

 

Considering the potential amount we may have saved you on projects already, now might also be a good time to become a contributing member.......

[no1joey]

Done. 

 

And re the cabriolet fluid, it's slightly different than the 996, for anyone that's interested here is a pic of the reservoir. I siphoned out 90% of the fluid from the reservoir, then filled with new fluid, then put the top up and down a few times, then repeated again. Pics below showing old fluid colour and new fluid in bottle. 

 

I noted the level of the fluid inside the reservoir before I started and couldn't quite get it back to the same level as the fluid sits level with the screw and spills out at a certain level, so I jacked up one side of the car a bit to tilt the fluid down, added the required amount put the screw back in and lowered the car, the level was back to where it was at the start. 

 

Location

 

 

 

Original level 

 

 

 

Old fluid

 

 

 

New fluid

 

 

 

Finished level

 

[no1joey]

Productive day also did the power steering fluid, I used about .75 litres does that sound about right?

 

I kept siphoning until the fluid went from dark green to blue. Turning on the car inbetween and rotating steering. 

[JFP in PA]

Productive day also did the power steering fluid, I used about .75 litres does that sound about right?

 

I kept siphoning until the fluid went from dark green to blue. Turning on the car inbetween and rotating steering. 

 

That volume sounds about right.  Periodic (every other year) siphon replacement of the fluid helps keep the system clean and the seals happy without going through the overly complicated method of removing the under trays, disconnecting the lines, etc.

[no1joey]

Thanks JFP. I dare say the old fluid was original from factory, I don't know if it had ever been changed before. 

 

Hopefully my seals are ok. I don't have any leak though and don't have any whining noises when turning the steering wheel full lock.