Niko Posted 24July, 2011 Report Share Posted 24July, 2011 I submitted a recent forum topic on my Boxster S blowing some smoke on start up and every now and again spewing heaps of smoke on start up even when hot. It was really getting me down and apart from that was embarrassing at times. After leaving the car at the local Porsche dealer for a couple of days they told me they had checked things and could not find a problem. It would be an expensive fishing expedition to try and find the problem, and then could not guarantee a result. I did a bit of homework on the RENNLIST forums and found a few topics on what appeared to be my problem. All things indicated it was an AIR/OIL SEPARATOR. (Whatever that may be) A reasonably common problem with the boxsters normally around the 60,000 mile mark (whatever that is in K's) and older. I rang the Porsche dealer back and told them what I suspected it to be but again was told they had checked everything and that they were happy that would not be the problem, however, they would change it and the PCV valve for me if I wanted, at a cost of around $1900.00. I then rang Kelvin at JOCARO in Braeside. Told him my problem and what I thought it was. He agreed with me. I booked the car in, they replaced the Air/Oil Separator, for $400.00 and the problem is solved. No smoke at all on cold start up and certainly no bush fire smoke every now and again. I have been using the car as a daily driver for the last week since I got it back and am pretty confident the problem is solved. Very disappointed with the local Porsche dealer, not knowing about this problem/or not wanting to know about it. I will be rethinking where I get the car serviced from here on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vas930 Posted 24July, 2011 Report Share Posted 24July, 2011 That is disappointing Niko. On the good side,you now know more about your car. No more OIL FARTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webrest Posted 24July, 2011 Report Share Posted 24July, 2011 I would definitively reconsider your "Porsche dealer" consultations. I had a MB issue a few years ago myself that really pissed me off. It was on my old W124. I had just enjoyed a heart attack and could not perform the work myself. My wife drove me to the local authorized MB repairer where I explained the the problem and what I thought it was. The car was having trouble starting when hot but not when it was cold. My thoughts went immediately to the fuel rail pressure valve. It started fine on the cold circuit but was reluctant to fire when warm so therefore let's test the valve. Leave it to us was the reply we will use the MB diagnose machine. Next day I got the call, the problem was the oxygen sensor. Hmmm, how much? $540 plus labour. At this stage I questioned the price of the sensor and told them to look for Bosch one that suits for a more reasonable price. They then were starting to get a sniff that I may have been around the block a couple of times. I questioned him again are you sure it is the sensor? Yep,for sure, the machine says so. The job was done and paid for. Three weeks or so go by and I had just filled my 911 to find that I didn't have my wallet on me [no jokes here please] and I rang my wife to bring it to the service station for me to pay. She goes to start the W124 up and it is just as bad as it was before the repair. When asked how long it had been going on she came clean and said it was never really fixed but didn't want to work me up after the heart attack. Little good that did. I hit the roof. The car was booked in again at the experts and with a more definite, check the f*****g fuel rail pressure this time. The phone rings again and this time to tell me that they have now fixed the problem. What was it I ask? Reluctantly but unashamedly. Ah! the the fuel rail pressure valve. The moral: Not all experts are knowledgeable about all things and not all customers are know nothing smart asses. The summary: I paid for the pressure valve and the oxy sensor.I'm not saying that it didn't need replacing but that wasn't what the car was there for and they happily sent the vehicle back to the customer the same way that it came in. Guess it didn't really worry them they multiplied the sale in best John Cleese fashion. Anyway I now have a terrific bloke who specialises in Benzes and is fair and reasonable with his pricing. He always asks my opinion of what is happening to give him a lead even though he also has the MB diagnostic equipment. Unfortunately these days some things just can't be done without the proper software assistance and the special tools needed but there is still room for commonsense. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vas930 Posted 24July, 2011 Report Share Posted 24July, 2011 Well said Dave. The more you know yourself the better, even if you dont work on your porsche. I recently asked for a price on the gen workshop manual for my turbo from Porsche. Cant recall the price, but it was ridiculous. They dont want you to have that info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJH911 Posted 25July, 2011 Report Share Posted 25July, 2011 Great news Niko. I use Jocaro for my road cars and they do a great job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Posted 25July, 2011 Report Share Posted 25July, 2011 Hi all, Does anyone have or heard of a scanguage 2? A handy and relatively inexpensive device for post 1996 cars. Cheers Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vas930 Posted 25July, 2011 Report Share Posted 25July, 2011 What does it do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Posted 25July, 2011 Report Share Posted 25July, 2011 Amongst other things it has the ability to scan the vehicles computer and report any error codes. Let google and YouTube be your friend here Vas Cheers Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vas930 Posted 25July, 2011 Report Share Posted 25July, 2011 OK Danny. No computer in my Hot Rod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterP Posted 25July, 2011 Report Share Posted 25July, 2011 Hi Niko, Glad to hear you've got the Boxster sorted. Have to say I am astounded by the price difference (overheads considered), and the "you don't know what your talking about" approach. Interesting, as I had reason to visit the parts department of another Porsche delaership recently ( I suspect, the other one)and had three people sit on the other side of the counter chatting until someone else eventually walked from out the back and asked if they could help me. Clearly, if you have a P-car, you also have time to kill! In my next life I'm going to come back as either the owner of a Porsche Dealership, or at least a mystery shopper for Porsche cheers, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whipit Posted 26July, 2011 Report Share Posted 26July, 2011 Anybody know if this fix may tranlsate to a 996? I have been putting up with the smoke until now, maybe I dont have too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 28July, 2011 Author Report Share Posted 28July, 2011 Anybody know if this fix may tranlsate to a 996? I have been putting up with the smoke until now, maybe I dont have too? I think you will find this air oil separator may be the answer, when I paid the bill at JOCARO's Kelvin mentioned that it also effects the 996 because the engines are the same I thin k he said or similar. But he did mention the 996 could have the same problems, worth a ring to kelvin. 9587 5664. good luck with it, Cheers, now smokeless niko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 28July, 2011 Author Report Share Posted 28July, 2011 That is disappointing Niko. On the good side,you now know more about your car. No more OIL FARTS yep, a bit of time spent on the RENNLIST FORUM and bingo. Kelvin knew the problem straight away. So they have won me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 28July, 2011 Author Report Share Posted 28July, 2011 I would definitively reconsider your "Porsche dealer" consultations. I had a MB issue a few years ago myself that really pissed me off. It was on my old W124. I had just enjoyed a heart attack and could not perform the work myself. My wife drove me to the local authorized MB repairer where I explained the the problem and what I thought it was. The car was having trouble starting when hot but not when it was cold. My thoughts went immediately to the fuel rail pressure valve. It started fine on the cold circuit but was reluctant to fire when warm so therefore let's test the valve. Leave it to us was the reply we will use the MB diagnose machine. Next day I got the call, the problem was the oxygen sensor. Hmmm, how much? $540 plus labour. At this stage I questioned the price of the sensor and told them to look for Bosch one that suits for a more reasonable price. They then were starting to get a sniff that I may have been around the block a couple of times. I questioned him again are you sure it is the sensor? Yep,for sure, the machine says so. The job was done and paid for. Three weeks or so go by and I had just filled my 911 to find that I didn't have my wallet on me [no jokes here please] and I rang my wife to bring it to the service station for me to pay. She goes to start the W124 up and it is just as bad as it was before the repair. When asked how long it had been going on she came clean and said it was never really fixed but didn't want to work me up after the heart attack. Little good that did. I hit the roof. The car was booked in again at the experts and with a more definite, check the f*****g fuel rail pressure this time. The phone rings again and this time to tell me that they have now fixed the problem. What was it I ask? Reluctantly but unashamedly. Ah! the the fuel rail pressure valve. The moral: Not all experts are knowledgeable about all things and not all customers are know nothing smart asses. The summary: I paid for the pressure valve and the oxy sensor.I'm not saying that it didn't need replacing but that wasn't what the car was there for and they happily sent the vehicle back to the customer the same way that it came in. Guess it didn't really worry them they multiplied the sale in best John Cleese fashion. Anyway I now have a terrific bloke who specialises in Benzes and is fair and reasonable with his pricing. He always asks my opinion of what is happening to give him a lead even though he also has the MB diagnostic equipment. Unfortunately these days some things just can't be done without the proper software assistance and the special tools needed but there is still room for commonsense. Dave You tend to put your faith in the original dealers and I don't mind paying a bit more for that comfort zone it provides, but I am just extremely disappointed in them. You would have thought they would have put their finger on the problem straight away. Hope your missus and the Benz isn't giving you any more hearters! Thanks for your story, will definitely shop around a bit in future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 28July, 2011 Author Report Share Posted 28July, 2011 Great news Niko. I use Jocaro for my road cars and they do a great job. they've won me, I have had a couple of other jobs done there before this, and they were good with them also. I like to keep the Original Porsche Dealer stamp in my servicing book for resale value, but in reality the Coxster is 10 years old and not worth a great deal, so I am thinking of having the servicing done at JOCARO's also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 28July, 2011 Author Report Share Posted 28July, 2011 Hi Niko, Glad to hear you've got the Boxster sorted. Have to say I am astounded by the price difference (overheads considered), and the "you don't know what your talking about" approach. Interesting, as I had reason to visit the parts department of another Porsche delaership recently ( I suspect, the other one)and had three people sit on the other side of the counter chatting until someone else eventually walked from out the back and asked if they could help me. Clearly, if you have a P-car, you also have time to kill! In my next life I'm going to come back as either the owner of a Porsche Dealership, or at least a mystery shopper for Porsche cheers, Peter Thanks Peter, it is just great to know that when you fire the thing up it's not going to embarrass the crap out of me. It was getting to the stage where I didn't want to take the car out of the garage. plus I am thinking of selling it not far down the track and buying a "real porker" and there is no way you could let anyone purchase the car knowing it had that intermittent problem of belching oil smoke out. I know it would break my heart if I bought a car and not long after I took possession a gigantic smoke cloud appeared. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-banger Posted 31July, 2011 Report Share Posted 31July, 2011 plus I am thinking of selling it not far down the track and buying a "real porker" Ohhh Ahhh Niko Looking forward to hearing about that journey. Have you chosen your weapon yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 1August, 2011 Author Report Share Posted 1August, 2011 Ohhh Ahhh Niko Looking forward to hearing about that journey. Have you chosen your weapon yet? I have to say I love the look of your one that is/was up for sale. Checked out your silver one on carsales.com and having seen it in the flesh and also knowing how fastidious you are with your cars it would be ideal. But I am just not in a position to go with it at the moment. I am going to get a couple of little things touched up, on the Boxster, wait till summer for the best selling time and (maybe) all going we'll be in the market. Unfortunately, there are some real cheap Boxsters around now, so that is a bit off putting, I only want a fair price for mine so I want it to be spot on when/if I sell it. To be continued..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-banger Posted 1August, 2011 Report Share Posted 1August, 2011 I have to say I love the look of your one that is/was up for sale. Checked out your silver one on carsales.com and having seen it in the flesh and also knowing how fastidious you are with your cars it would be ideal. But I am just not in a position to go with it at the moment. Niko you caught me off guard with that response I was expecting your weapon of choice to be...hmmmm...yellow GT3 Mk1 maybe I went out in the 3.2 for a quick drive to Bunnings yesterday...I was worried that the battery might go flat after 4 weeks resting in the garage...and it brought back memories of how good it is to drive, given their age. I took the 3.2 off carsales because, 1. it's not a good time to sell anything at the moment, especially if it is a discretionary purchase, 2. I wasn't very happy with the quality of potential buyers (who were finding it hard to differentiate by price between coupes, targas, cabs, imports, modified cars and high milers). I might wait for the economy to recover Anyway you are welcome to take it for a spin on an SMT or other. I am sure you have taken this into consideration but the 3.2 doesn't have all the mod cons of your current. You never know the stars might aline and we might be able to do a deal some day. Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack this thread. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 4August, 2011 Author Report Share Posted 4August, 2011 Niko you caught me off guard with that response I was expecting your weapon of choice to be...hmmmm...yellow GT3 Mk1 maybe I went out in the 3.2 for a quick drive to Bunnings yesterday...I was worried that the battery might go flat after 4 weeks resting in the garage...and it brought back memories of how good it is to drive, given their age. I took the 3.2 off carsales because, 1. it's not a good time to sell anything at the moment, especially if it is a discretionary purchase, 2. I wasn't very happy with the quality of potential buyers (who were finding it hard to differentiate by price between coupes, targas, cabs, imports, modified cars and high milers). I might wait for the economy to recover Anyway you are welcome to take it for a spin on an SMT or other. I am sure you have taken this into consideration but the 3.2 doesn't have all the mod cons of your current. You never know the stars might aline and we might be able to do a deal some day. Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack this thread. Doug Sounds good Doug, I am certainly interested but agree with the way the economy is going, I feel now is not a good time to sell. I am not in a hurry to sell mine so maybe if and when the stars do align we might be able to do some business. I am looking at Summer time to sell the Boxster so a few months away yet. I just want a good car and I know yours would fit the bill. Maybe we have a chat at the next Forum get together or P.C.V. club night although I don't get to them all that often now. I have to confess here...I have never driven any other model Porsche so I would be a bit worried about taking it out on an SMT. Maybe I will just organise a meet with you, bring my financial planner (Wife Pam) and just have a little drive around the block a couple of times. Obviously if in the meantime you get an offer you should take please don't wait for me. Look forward to a chat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vas930 Posted 5August, 2011 Report Share Posted 5August, 2011 Try and drive as many models as you can Niko. Your welcome to take my car for a spin if you want. ITS NOT FOR SALE but it will show just how good Dougs car is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 5August, 2011 Author Report Share Posted 5August, 2011 Try and drive as many models as you can Niko. Your welcome to take my car for a spin if you want. ITS NOT FOR SALE but it will show just how good Dougs car is. Thanks Vas, appreciate that, I would like to take you up on that offer, I do need to get my head around them. When I bought the Coxster it was the first one I had driven, might broaden my horizons a bit this time around. (The way the stock market just hit my super I might be looking at test driving push bikes) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-banger Posted 6August, 2011 Report Share Posted 6August, 2011 Try and drive as many models as you can Niko. Your welcome to take my car for a spin if you want. ITS NOT FOR SALE but it will show just how good Dougs car is. Vas I'm looking for a car too...can I have a test drive of your 930 as well? Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vas930 Posted 6August, 2011 Report Share Posted 6August, 2011 Yes Doug, happy to give you a drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-banger Posted 6August, 2011 Report Share Posted 6August, 2011 When I bought the Coxster it was the first one I had driven, might broaden my horizons a bit this time around. Niko I don't want to make the decision overly complex, but another issue you have to consider with older cars is that the way the car has been treated over the years can make a huge difference to the end product. So even after you have decided on a specific model, there will still be big differences in cars of the same model/year depending on their lifelong treatment. Try to find one that still drives nice a tight and with an engine that pulls willingly. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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