CEL and Airbag Lights

[akpud]

Hi All - I have a 98 Boxster (non S) with 60K Miles.

Since I bought this car (which I truly love) about a year ago, the CEL has been on just about the entire time. (I didn't know this when I bought the car as the bulb had been removed!@). All O2 sensors and the MAF have been replaced twice and the other likely candidates have been given a good going over - all to no avail. Sorry I do not have the codes at this point - but when previously checked - it was always the O2 sensors (which were then changed)

Second, the AB light has come on repeatedly, been cleared, and re-appeared a short time later. In this case the wiring harness was also replaced - but no luck with the light!

Questions:

1. Assuming for the purpose of this question that the CEL is not flashing.......it is worth tearing the car apart to find the source of the problem? For the time being I've covered it with a piece of black electrical tape so it won't bug me, but I've left a sliver visible so if it starts to flash...................

2. Is it worth spending $500 CDN to buy the Durametric device to read and clear the codes? and

3. Does anyone have an view on how will these two issues might affect the marketability of the car when I trade the car in for a newer model at the dealer sometime next year. Should these be dealt with?

And - just for your info - the car is running very well - no noticeable issues at all!

Many thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions............

akpud

Edited May 27, 2006 by akpud

[akpud]

Hi All - I have a 98 Boxster (non S) with 60K Miles.

Since I bought this car (which I truly love) about a year ago, the CEL has been on just about the entire time. (I didn't know this when I bought the car as the bulb had been removed!@). All O2 sensors and the MAF have been replaced twice and the other likely candidates have been given a good going over - all to no avail. Sorry I do not have the codes at this point - but when previously checked - it was always the O2 sensors (which were then changed)

Second, the AB light has come on repeatedly, been cleared, and re-appeared a short time later. In this case the wiring harness was also replaced - but no luck with the light!

Questions:

1. Assuming for the purpose of this question that the CEL is not flashing.......it is worth tearing the car apart to find the source of the problem? For the time being I've covered it with a piece of black electrical tape so it won't bug me, but I've left a sliver visible so if it starts to flash...................

2. Is it worth spending $500 CDN to buy the Durametric device to read and clear the codes? and

3. Does anyone have an view on how will these two issues might affect the marketability of the car when I trade the car in for a newer model at the dealer sometime next year. Should these be dealt with?

And - just for your info - the car is running very well - no noticeable issues at all!

Many thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions............

akpud

Hi Guys - I'm just re-posting hoping for a little guidance on this one........................

Thanks,

AK

[Loren]

Without the fault codes you are shooting in the dark.

Here in the US some parts stores will read your codes for free (Autozone).

Based on the year of your car - your airbag light is likely a bad seat belt connector and needs the TSB update done to the seat belts and grounds.

Both of these problems are easily fixed by a shop or dealer with the right tools.

[akpud]

Thanks Loren. Just fyi a reputable repair shop here in Toronto gave the car a thorough going over on both counts - with the CEL the fault codes always pointed to the O2 Sensors and they (and the MAF) were replaced twice - but the CEL keeps coming on. With the Airbag light the wiring harness was changed and bing - the light came on again!

Question - (a) should I keep digging and (B) should I get the Durametric so I can at least get the codes and turn the lights off!

Thanks for your advice.

AK

[Loren]

The Durametric software can certainly read and reset the codes. You (or someone) will still need to interpret the faults and fix the problems.

[akpud]

Thanks Loren - I wish it could be me fixing that stuff - but that's not very likely I'm afraid!

AK

[akpud]

Loren, I would like to update this saga for the information of all.

I finally decided to change repair shops here in Toronto and went to another shop that also specializes in Porsches. They found 12 fault codes (this, of course, if AFTER the other shop repeatedly "fixed" the car and told me the problems had been solved).

The faults we derived from 6 rusted and cracked ignition coils, bad sparks, one damaged hose and finally, they got down to one more fault they couldn't clear and couldn't find. They sent it out to a shop with a 'smoker' which blew blue smoke through the intake (they told me) and they finally were able to pinpoint the leak - another small hose which was completely mashed. (Keep in mind that the 1st shop had done the pre-purchase inspection, a major tune on the car and had been trying to get the CEL to go off for the better part of a year!)

Now, for the first time since I bought the car - the CEL is off and it's been off for weeks! :cheers:

Now let me assure everyone that the original repair shop is VERY well known and respected in Toronto - and, in spite of that, the work was horrible AND expensive. Every time I left that shop the CEL would come back on within a day or so. They had no idea what they were doing - because the parts that we pulled out of the car were certainly there when they did the work and the pre-purchase analysis. At the pre-purchase inspection I asked them if they had plugged in the car to check for fault codes and they said that they had (later they admitted that they had not). If they had plugged it in - it would have thrown off multiple codes for sure. We also would have known that the CEL was on (we couldn't tell because the bulb had been pulled).

I'll post some pics of the parts taken out of the car in a few days.

Regards,

AK