Boxster fatigue....

[recycled sixtie]

It's been about 3 years since I have had my Boxster and it is this car that brought me to this forum. Now it is not you guys and girls that I tire of but it is the Boxster that is irritating me.

First off this week the windshield washer does not work. Clear nozzles with pin, pump motor makes its whirring noise but no fluid on the windshield. I put in w/s washer fluid and it ends up on the ground!

Secondly going down the road and I get an intermittent screeching noise. Not sure if it is outside the car or in. I look around and nothing is outside.

I ask myself is the water pump screeching and on the way out(water temp is 3/8 of the way from the left side of the guage close to 80C).

The IMS Guardian light is not on and engine is running fine.

I am not looking for solutions here - just a shoulder to cry on. 2001 Box base has 45k miles on it. I conclude the Boxster of this vintage needs stuff replacing on a regular basis. It is not a durable car. 911 may be more durable.

It makes me think BMW 3 series but they have their issues 2nd hand. I am not willing to spend the $$$ for a new Porsche or BMW. Possibly a BMW CPO with warranty left on it.

The extreme thoughts I have are as follows :

Just buy a Japanese small suv used eg. RAV4. I can throw a bike in the back of it,
it holds more than 2 people, carries more than 1 set of golf clubs etc etc.
It is good in snow(has ground clearance !?!

Do any of you just say p... on it , get rid of the Porsche and just get a vehicle where you turn the key and go. My wife's Camry I don't even listen for sounds. I trust it implicitly but not so the Porsche. Am I the only one?Guy

[VaSteve]

I have a 944 that I have been working on all winter rebuilding the engine. All winter. This weekend was hoping to get it done and out of the garage, but I can't get it to build oil pressure. It's either a minor thing or I'm going to have to do 1/2 the work over. I know exactly how you feel.

[Jerome74911S]

You aren't alone. I don't own a Boxster, but a good friend who has one of a similar vintage and mileage makes similar complaints. Windows go up and down by themselves, rear spoiler goes up and down by itself, many other bits failing, oh, and the clear-coat is peeling off. Etc. Then again, others are blissfully happy with their Boxsters.

There is no way for me to explain why one of those cars is good, and the next not, but finally, Porsche or not, there is nothing sacred about the thing. It's just a machine, so if it really irritates you, dump it and find the comfort you seek.

I will need a new DD before long, and although I will have to hold my nose while I do it, I might even get a little cute SUV with an automatic. It's the only way they sell these things nowadays.

So, I keep my cantankerous 911 in the workshop so that I can feel pleased with myself when I figure out problem number 39 or 40, and actually fix it.

[black_falcon]

I don't know if I'd call that fatigue. Cars are complex machines, things will wear out and break, on any brand.

Porsche has always been among the top picks of JD Powers and Consumer Reports for long term quality.

My Porsches have been as reliable as any Japanese car I've owned, they just cost a little more to maintain and actually retain their new car quality well past 100k. Ditto for most German cars. I've had well maintained high mileage Merc's, BMW's and Audi's (180k) and all still drove like newish 50,000 mile cars.

[HardDrive]

All I can say is that my experience with my Boxster was 100% the opposite. It was flawless the entire time I owned it.

[john walker's workshop]

"appliance" comes to mind. nothing will ever replace the reliable bug or simple early 911.

[Nostril Cheese]

They are basically appliances, as John says. I'd pull the serpentine belt and check the water pump pulley for binding/play. The water pumps usually go around 100K or so.

If it's just the water pump, they can be changed rather easy, but you'll need a vacuum bleeder to purge the system of air. Porsche has a way to do this by hand, but it really doesn't work that well.

Stay FAR away from modern BMWs unless you want to lease one.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Ummm, those sound really minor. Trust me, a BMW will likely be far LESS reliable. For the screech I would suspect wheel bearings, serpentine belt pulley, MAYBE the water pump (they usually go 100k+). As for the washer fluid, you have a leak in either the tank or hoses. Start at the tank and look for the drip when they are ran.

Sorry, but those are issues that you could have on a 2001 Camry. Relax and attack them in a disciplined manner, no big deal.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Am I missing some history like the car has been a lemon for 3 years and the windshield washer and unknown screeching are the last straws?

Has it been a good car up until now or just trouble all the way?

[DanielDudley]

At the end of a frustrating day, nothing beats a Dickin's Cider.

That's all I've got, except for the story about the jackass who apparently put the lugnuts on my Porsha with an impact driver, forcing me to drill two off and replace the entire set.

A high end shop that will not see me again soon, you betcha. Anyway, get your Dickin's Cider, and don't get it confused with Dickinson's. People who like the one, rarely like the other. Also, don't get caught up in Porsche Perfection Paralysis. They are just machines, and when we put them on pedestals they can really let us down.

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

Am I missing some history like the car has been a lemon for 3 years and the windshield washer and unknown screeching are the last straws?

Has it been a good car up until now or just trouble all the way?

Good question Shaun.

So far I have had done:
idler arm replaced
cv joints refurbished
w/s washer tank leak
screeching sound - have yet to conclude what it is but will drive it again to see if it reoccurs
IMS Guardian installed at my discretion.

Purchased at 32k miles now has 45 k miles. I probably expect too much for a 2001 car and low mileage. G.

[Rick V]

I am just the opposite, my 97 Boxster has been a tank. Yeah I am on my third water pump, so what. I had to replace the timing chain guides, meh it happens. The car cost per mile is well under the usual cost for an average car. I have 150+ on the clock and it still doesn't leak smoke or object to 7k shift points. They all need repair at some point, that is why I have the job I have. (mechanic).
You have to ask yourself, is it going to cost more to fix your car or buy another car and have to fix that when it breaks?
Oh I did cook a couple of coils, but cheap and easy to fix. The smile per mile factor of the Boxster is something you will have a hard time replacing.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I see your point. If the car had 80K+ miles, the items listed are normal. From 32K to 45, I wouldn't expect the first two. Screeching of course can be as simple as a belt. Can you describe it better? Under any/all conditions or at certain times? Is there a viable Boxster forum to research the issue on or post asking for help?

[HardDrive]

Well said mate.

At the end of a frustrating day, nothing beats a Dickin's Cider.



That's all I've got, except for the story about the jackass who apparently put the lugnuts on my Porsha with an impact driver, forcing me to drill two off and replace the entire set.



A high end shop that will not see me again soon, you betcha. Anyway, get your Dickin's Cider, and don't get it confused with Dickinson's. People who like the one, rarely like the other. Also, don't get caught up in Porsche Perfection Paralysis. They are just machines, and when we put them on pedestals they can really let us down.

[Tilikum Turbo]

That's a first Gen Boxster if I am correct?

Regardless of low miles, it inherently has a lot of issues(like most 1st generation models from virtually any manufacturer).

Next time you buy used, research that particular model. If three years ago someone had a 2001 Boxster for sale, I would have said absolutely not. Same with 1974-77 911's...absolute dogs with a ton of inherent engine/emission control issues.

[VincentVega]

That's just how cars are, sometimes they are great and sometimes you dump $$ into them.

My trusty old truck blew a brake line. Then another. Then a fuel line fell apart when I was swapping the pump. Then the parking brakes rusted apart, then a caliper locked up. Then the other onewent and it needed tires. It was an expensive few months. Until that it was just oil changes for a few years. Go figure.

[Tobra]

^What he said^

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

"appliance" comes to mind. nothing will ever replace the reliable bug or simple early 911.

This too

On an old car, it is not just the miles. Rubber gets old. Looked at a low mile 944 and just assumed it would need a new clutch because of this. Your car is over a dozen years old, what you are talking about is fairly small potatoes.

[Chocaholic]

That's just how cars are, sometimes they are great and sometimes you dump $$ into them.



My trusty old truck blew a brake line. Then another. Then a fuel line fell apart when I was swapping the pump. Then the parking brakes rusted apart, then a caliper locked up. Then the other onewent and it needed tires. It was an expensive few months. Until that it was just oil changes for a few years. Go figure.

Those all sound like maintenance items that could have been addressed before they failed.

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Those all sound like maintenance items that could have been addressed before they failed.

And there is the decision. In theory with the older Boxster it is possible to preemptively replace many parts that have not failed in order to be less inconvenienced or prevent major damage. Typical replacements are:
ims bearing
rms seal
water pump
coolant tank
aos
etc.

But then that is the price of owning an older car. Buy new and pay the big $$$ or buy off warranty fix/replace or preemptively replace. I could probably spend $8k at my indy shop no problem getting it up to a more desirable mechanical status.

I think back to my old 1958 VW bug. Air cooled, no smog treatment, gutless but totally reliable. Those days back in the 60's the cars were a lot simpler. G.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Those days back in the 60's the cars were a lot simpler. G.

Simpler, yes, but.... I remember many a sub-zero morning (in the '70's) with my head under the hood of whatever cheap beater I could afford on paper route wages, trying to figure out why it didn't want to start, hoping I could figure it out before the battery gave up so I could drive to school and not have to ride my bike.

And speaking of VW's, don't forget driving with the ice scraper in hand because calling for heat in one of those was like calling up Farrah Fawcett or Barbie Benton to ask for a date. Wasn't gonna happen.

Good luck with the Boxster. Something will sort itself out!