Boxster Project: Air Filter Replacement
Simple, easy, but there are some "gotchas" to watch out for :-)
Summer’s not complete without a few Boxster DIYs, amiright? Indeed I am…
After the RainyDayGarage folks updated the front speaker, we decided it was time check over the car for its annual state inspection, which made us think that it was also a good time to replace the air filter.
Air Filter Replacement
Basic steps:
- Raise the convertible roof to the “service position;”
- Remove the carpet layer/sound-proofer;
- Remove the engine cover/fire/heat shield;
- Slide out the old air filter;
- Insert the new air filter.
Best part
No tools needed for this Boxster DIY.
Accessing The Engine
Our “go-to” reference source is the Bentley’s Porsche Boxster Service Manual.
The instructions in the Bentley’s manual are always accurate, but sometimes the manual’s index is a little “off.” Those looking for the directions on how to replace their own air filter should turn to page 03-28, NOT 03-31.
This DIY is a fairly simple job and everyone should be able to do it. Getting to the Boxster’s mid-engine compartment requires the following:
- popping the hood.
Clearly not complicated, just not obvious.
The first task is to put the convertible top into the “service position” (roughly as shown in the photo below). This is to allow the easy access to the middle section.
Nine locking anchors hold everything (sound shield, heat shield) in place:
- Four plastic locking anchors on the carpet/noise shield, and
- Five metal locking anchors on the engine heat shield.
Once the covers are freed, the toughest parts are over and DIY is almost done. Seriously.
Air Filter Replacement
The big red arrow below points to the air filter compartment.
Note—and appreciate—the VERY tight and efficiently packed engine compartment.
Would you expect any less from German engineering???
The compartment’s top is secured by two spring clips on the side. Pushing them aside frees the top. Pull up the top, and the air filter with it.
Note: Debris will be trapped by the coarse filter so don’t pull it all the way out initially or the debris will fall into the chamber. We always have a shop-vac handy just in case…
The old air filter will be EXTREMELY dirty, especially so on the engine side. We always forget to wear gloves, but it’s a good idea to put them on because the dirt particles are very fine.
The old filter just pops out and the new one should fit snuggly. Be sure to push the new filter into the frame completely before reinserting it back into the chamber. Once pushed back in, this DIY is done…after everything else has been “stowed and returned to their upright position.”
Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeesy 🙂
There…that just saved a $300 service visit to the Porsche dealer, if we would ever let ourselves go to one for something like this, LOL.
“Gotchas” To Check
1. The first thing to check is whether BOTH spring clips are back in position.
- If the spring clips don’t fit, it means the top has not been pushed down far enough.
2. The next thing to check is are that all FIVE metal locking anchors are secured.
- When they are locked down, the loop handle should fit nicely in the well.
3. The last time the mechanic worked on the engine, they must have popped some of the plastic anchors from the carpet, because they were sitting just on top instead being inserted through.
- Re-inserting these anchors was a bit of a pain. We found that the easiest method was to go in from the bottom with the anchor grip flipped up, then work it into the hole. It took a bit for force, but once it was partly through, we gripped the lip and turned it clockwise, which helped it screw its way through the carpet.
4. That the cloth cover is held into place by two hooks (refer to the red arrows).
We find that the folk who work on our engine almost always forget to put reconnect this. It’s doesn’t do any harm, but it does keep leaves and other crap from getting on top of the engine bay.
5. The VERY last thing to check is that BOTH side shields on the roof mechanism are still in place. These shields can get knocked out of position when moving the sound or heat shield in/out of the bay. You don’t want that piece getting mangled by the roof mechanism, so check check check that that are in place!
Final Thoughts
We check the air filter every year right before the car’s annual inspection. What we have noticed, after 22 years of driving this car, is that we typically have to change it every two or three years, which is around 30,000 miles of mixed city/highway driving.
Of course, how dirty the filter gets is completely dependent on the environment, but we probably only have to do it a few more times for this Boxster 🙂
A final note: this 2000 Boxster with its 200,000+ miles, has still has got some get-up-and-go! We are going to keep it as healthy as we can until that eBoxster come off the line in Germany!!!
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