I recently purchased a 2000 boxster with cel light on. I've cleaned the maf, replaced the air filter, checked for any leaks etc. Code reader says maf. My chassis is 4yu623351 my current I'm assuming not stock maf only says PBT-GF-30 which sensor do I need.

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This post was auto-generated based upon a question asked on our tech article page here: Pelican Technical Article: Troubleshooting and Replacing the Boxster Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF) - 986 / 987

There should be a BOSCH part number on the sensor itself, you should be able to see it there on the side. Your chassis number is not familiar to me, can you post the full VIN on the forums and I will check the PN with the Porsche parts diagrams.

- Wayne

I got that number off the sensor. Didn't see any other no. unless they are very very tiny.
I may pull it again tomorrow. My full vin is WPOCA2984YU623351. Thanks for your help.

The part number you are looking for is on the opposite side of the MAF. PBT number is on one side and part number is on the other side

When replacing the MAF with the updated part number (99660612400 to 98660612501), is it necessary for the dealer to re-program the car??

Yes you need the reflash. More at https://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/checkenginelightcausedbymassairflowsensor

I think you need 996-606-124-00, but the Porsche documentation isn't 100% clear. Also, your DME may have already been updated. You need to read the part number on the sensor.

-Wayne

Not the -123 as that is 97-99 years only
 

Wayne recall we worked together on this table a while back.

https://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/checkenginelightcausedbymassairflowsensor

I pulled the sensor again and carefully inspected it, and there are no other #on it. apparently it is a reconditioned sensor. So in this case I can assume It was not replaced by a dealer and the computer probably not reprogrammed... or at least not this time. Do dealers ever disclose that info via phone or internet? Also the mfg. tag on drivers door says 11/99 made in Finland.
I also took close up pics of sensor with a good camera. Don't know if they're all identical or not if this would help.
Thanks again for any suggestions

Right, I read the wrong line from my table, you're right, it's the .124 sensor.

-Wayne

Pls post pics, it may be the completely wrong sensor to begin with.

-Wayne

Maf pic
 

Here are the Pics of my sensor.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1299708861.jpg

Maf pic
 

Another angle of sensorhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1299709360.jpg

Maf pic
 

Another anglehttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1299709952.jpg

Maf pic
 

yet anotherhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1299710179.jpg

The "PBT-GF30" designation is not a part number but rather the designation of the material used according to Where can you get the “PBT-GF30″ airflow meter? — Air Mass Meter-Blog.

Gosh only knows where that MAF came from and it is certainly not surprising that the ECU should be confused by its signals. I don't suppose you have any idea if the engine has been tuned to run a program that interprets the signals from this part do you? I ask because one approach is installing the correct MAF part but that will only work if the ECU program is also original...or is flashed back to its "correct" state.

If you Google "PBT-GF30 MAF" you'll see all sorts of car makes complaining about what must be a part having that part number ... VW, Alfa, Ford, etc. My guess it is from someone who buys plastic parts and attempts to duplicate what Bosch does but with suspect quality control.

Look at the bottom of checkenginelightcausedbymassairflowsensor - mikefocke2 to see what a real one should look like. Note all the extra lettering, the Bosch name, part #, etc.

Once again, I agree with Mike. I would probably replace it with an OEM BOSCH sensor that would have fit in your car. Here's a link to the part in our catalog:

Porsche Boxster Intake System - Page 1

Like Mike, I haven't seen one of those available for any modern Porsche. I think that this indeed must have been off some other car, and is most likely the wrong one.

-Wayne

By "flashing" do you mean disconnecting the battery for more than 20 seconds?

Sorry no. He's referring to reprogramming the ECU with new code and storing it in his flash memory. I'll quote a section from wikipedia that explains it:

If you use the updated sensor, then the computer needs an updated fuel injection map to be uploaded or "flashed" to the main ECU.

-Wayne

Ok. Well today. I contacted the previous owner, he said he didn't replace unknown sensor, his garaged said they didn't. Don't know who experimented in there. I contacted a Porsche dealer and they said it does not appear that the ecu has ever been updated, except for warranty issue on fuel filler neck (which is still Problematic). So if seems I should be safe to go ahead and order the 024 from Pelican If the light doesn't cel doesn't reset. May I return and try a different?
Thanks,
Garry

As an old software meets hardware guy, I sometimes forget that not everyone understands software vs hardware vs firmware and loading versus flashing. How few even updated their BIOS on a PC...a flash process.

After you replace the MAF, disconnect the battery for 30 seconds (after first locating the radio code and your owners manual section on how to reset the windows.) That should reset the ECU to initial parameters and force it to relearn from the new sensor readings over a few days of use. It will take that long before you can be sure things are right. And if no one recently changed the MAF, there may be some other fault present because presumably the car ran right for a time after the MAF was replaced.

Good luck.

Hi there. Sorry, once parts are installed, they are non-returnable. That is pretty much the policy wherever you buy almost any part in the world.

You are getting an MAF code. You have an odd MAF in your car that doesn't appear to be correct. Odds are that the MAF is a problem, if not *the* problem you're having. Replacing it with a known Porsche-spec one is a no-brainer task.

-Wayne

Thanks for the clarification. I thought I had that down, but the Mike Focke article confused me.

Now that's settled, I guess one needs the factory computer to do this. Something Mike maybe failed to mention while talking about code reading at Auto Zone, reading with a generic device or using a Durametrix.

All in all, this once again points to the idea that having a qualified shop do work on electronic systems is better than DIY.

Lets go back to the beginning as this thread has diverged with questions coming from other than the original poster. And maybe we have all assumed because of your question you need a MAF.

You have a CEL. I don't see a definitive cause that points to the MAF unless you you know the code behind the CEL and what the possible causes could be and just haven't said. Throwing parts at the problem could be an expensive diagnostic route.

Yes we know the MAF is suspect. But Bosch or Porsche MAFs are expensive so I'd want to eliminate the other possible causes before I replaced an expensive MAF.

If this were my problem, I'd read the code(s) and post them, then someone will post the possible causes.

More MAFs are replaced than are bad and often the fault lies in something else entirely. Been there and almost did that...but the problem was an air leak and that was 4 years ago and I'm still running the same MAF with $$ in my pocket.

Also re-validate your chassis number.

vin
 

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1299908503.jpg
Here's my vin. I've checked it with my scanner and confirmed with friends very expensive scanner and both say MAf. I've cleaned airbox and replaced airfilter and checked hose to throttlebody for leaks and cleaned throttlebody. I've cleaned the unknown maf 4 times with maf cleaner, cleaned plug connection with electronic cleaner. and reset code. I've also had battery disconnected when I had the fuel rail and intake off while replacing oil fill tube engine to firewall. Replaced intake o-rings, rebuilt injectors on right side, and confirmed all vaccum lines and check valves were good while I was in there. Mainly I want to make sure I get the right sensor for my chassis. But if there's anything else I should check...I'm all over it.
Thanks Again.

Porsche says part number 986-606-125-00 for the following chassis numbers, which corresponds to the 2000 model year:

F 98YS6 02146 and later
F 98YS6 42001 and later

Which is confusing to me, as the 98YS6 numbers are typically different when they list this chassis information. I think this is incorrect in the PET system.

Just checked, in my book, it looks like I corrected this error in the Porsche documentation (it was over two years ago that I last addressed this). I have the following table:

So, unless your car has been updated with the new flash software, then I would think that you would need 996.606.124.00.

-Wayne

Thanks Wayne, Mike and everyone else for your input. I'll order the sensor right now. Nice job on 101 Projects as well Wayne.

Here's a link to the part: Porsche Boxster Intake System - Page 1

-Wayne

Yep the 124 sensor did the trick. CEL came on once about a week later with a maf code. And I remembered reading in a thread that K&N filters come pre-oiled a bit heavy on the oil and can contaminate the sensor so I removed filter and blew out excess oil with the compressor, replaced, cleaned maf with cleaner and ok again. Thanks for everyone's input.

Right, I'm not a huge fan of those filters for that very reason...

-Wayne