John McM

I've done a search on "workshop manual" and didn't pick up anything recent.

I'm a DIY mechanic with a new to me '99 2.5 manual and am looking for a good workshop manual (I'll buy the Pelican book and the Bentley manual).

Google brought up lots of PDF offers which look dodgy. Are they?

Macster

Years ago I found a link to download both the 996 and 986 factory manuals in digital form. (PDF's.) The PDF's were not quite complete but what was there was useful. If you can find a link to download the PDF's I'd recommend you download them even if the PDF's may not be complete.

Don't recall if this the link but check it out:

https://workshop-manuals.com/porsche/

Whether or not I would pay for a set of manuals on CD/DVD I can't say for sure, but I might be tempted if the price was not too high.

Sorry to report that not too long ago, since I no longer own a Boxster, I recently gave a printed set of manuals (60lbs worth) away to another owner.

TexSquirrel

PelicanParts.com

Please let us know if you have any questions - thanks for the support!

Porsche 986 Bentley Manual

101 Projects for Your Porsche Boxster

A8KED

The Pelican book is excellent and the photos are extremely helpful. The Pelican book covers all the things that are commonly in need of repair. The Bentley manual does cover some things that are not in the Pelican book.
If you have both you will have most everything you'll likely need.

Macster

Second the good reviews of the Bentley Boxster manual. Mine was dogeared from all the use I gave it.

Never bought the Pelican book so I have no experience with that.

Doug427

John,
You have a private message waiting for you.

John McM

Thanks everyone. That's exactly what I was looking for, especially the links that Doug sent.

I have done a full engine rebuild on my 964 so I'm not a complete novice mechanic but I'm back to square one here as shown by my second key not working and setting the alarm off. Baby steps towards building a Spec Boxster racer.

Brian in Tucson

I bought one of those digital downloads on Ebay. Really cheap, like $10 and worth about that. Poorly done and seems to be missing stuff. And I guess I'm used to American and Japanese manuals, whose organization isn't a puzzle. I've gotten by with the downloaded manual. Wayne R. Dempsey's "101 Projects for the Porsche Boxster" is a really good deal and is very helpful. Good quality print & binding job and really nice pictures. Between Bentley and Wayne Dempsey, you pretty much have everything you need.

A lot of the wiring connectors are like finger puzzles. And I haven't found anything anywhere that helps figure them out.

BTW, Wayne is a presence on these Pelican sponsored forums, a very knowledgeable and helpful man! I think he's the guy behind all the wonderful how to writeups on the Pelican site.

And there are volumes of info at your finger tips on the internet!

Johnny H

HI Im looking for a workshop manual as well. Is anyone able to assist me with where to get one? Thanks in advance

Mike Billings

Here's what I did.for .1 997tt factory service manuals:

Go to the Porsche PIWIS TSI web page. Maybe this link? https://techinfo2.porsche.com/PAGInf...r?Type=HOStart

Create an account and pay for one hour. It was about $14 US.

Download all of the PDFs and HTMLs in one hour. You have to be quick.

There was one serious catch I don't recall very clearly. There was a link that I needed to click but it was absent on the web page. Tried a few different browsers. Did some google searches and found the same page that had the link. Back door!

mikefocke

The pdf files that have circulated for years are 1999 versions IIRC and have missing sections and have never been updated. Meaning those pdfs are missing error corrections of hundreds of pages. And missing any info vital to newer models.

The original paper manuals they were taken from were something like $700 and then a subscription to keep them updated. And of course they were copyright protected.

Almost every manufacturer I know of has gone to the online type of providing service information. Hourly, daily or yearly subscriptions. Just as the new PST2 equivalents are now rental only.

It makes shade-treeing a mite difficult.