Recent Posts

Boxster 986 Parts Catalog

To download the parts catalog of your favorite Porsche vehicle you can visit https://www.porsche.com/usa/accessoriesandservices/classic/genuineparts/originalpartscatalogue/ and select the model of your Porsche.

I selected the Boxster (986) and 1997 - 2004 values in the form and hit the DISPLAY button, as shown in Figure 1 below, which downloads a PDF.

I am mirroring the PDF here in case it disappears.

Moreover, I am also mirroring the radio CDR-220 manual here.

Perform Coolant Leak Test on the Boxster

Since buying the Porsche Boxster S, I had not done a coolant flush. After driving it for about 1200 miles in the last 2 years, one day I saw the engine overheating light blink on the dash. Turns out there was a major coolant leak and it was causing the engine to overheat. The Boxster has 142,000 miles on it and the leak meant several possible things &emdash; damaged hoses, failing water pump or cracked coolant tank.

To determine the correct cause of the coolant leak, I needed to conduct a coolant pressure test. This post demonstrates how easy this test is and how to go about doing it.

Oil Change on 4th gen. Toyota 4Runner V6

I purchased a 2008 Toyota 4Runner Limited (4th generation) with the 4.0L V6 engine, in June 2021, to replace my aging and failing 2005 Dodge Ram 1500. In the five years I owned the Ram 1500, I never towed anything. I did use the truck to carry some large and heavy loads but that is so rare for me now, that if you run the numbers it is cheaper to rent a truck from Home Depot for that purpose. So I went with a 4Runner with a V6 engine, since I have always wanted one and unlike a 5th generation Runner it had the multi-mode 4WD with locking and unlocking center differential. I also have never been off-roading and hope to go someday this year with the 4Runner.

I had driven it about 5000 miles in 8 months and it was time to do an oil change, since the oil change MAINT light was blinking on the dash. This post outlines how to do the oil change in a V6 4th generation 4Runner and it is very simple.

Debadging Emblem on Infiniti G35 Coupe

In an earlier post we plastidipped the front grille and emblem on the Infiniti G35 coupe. To apply plastidip on the rear emblem, I first decided to debadge the car trunk. This was done in case I did not want to put the plastidipped emblem back on the trunk. This post quickly describes how to debadge a car so you can plastidip the logos correctly.

Installing Brake Pads and Bleed Brakes

In a previous post, we had replaced the rotors and brake calipers in the Miata, and this one describes changing the brake pads and bleeding the brakes. You need to bleed the brakes if you change the calipers. You must buy DOT-3 brake fluid, 2-3 cans just in case, from your local parts store.

Details on the front brake pads change can also be found in an earlier post.