I am out of town this week and my wife came home tonight and the Boxster's Interior Light & Gauge lights wouldn't turn off when she got out of the car. She turned it off and back on, cranked and shut it off. After about an hour I talked her through pulling the neg battery cable off over the phone. Anyone ever experience this?

 

Just a wild guess, but could it be the door switch ?
(i.e. thinks the door is still open, even though it's closed.)

 

A malfunctioning door microswitch could be the cause here, though if you can arm the immobilizer without hearing the short horn beep or the double horn beep its most likely not a door switch. If you do hear a single horn beep chances are its a door switch. If you hear two beeps, then theres a fault in the immobilizer control unit, which is what controls all the interior lighting.

Unless she just wasnt waiting long enough for the lights to turn off which should be approximately 4 minutes.

 

The key was coming out of the ignition, but the car didn't believe it. When removing the key, it just slid out quietly without making the usual clicking sound. I could see that something didn't look quite right by comparing to the ignition in my 996. Anway. I inserted the key part way and wiggled a little bit and pulled out until I heard the customary click. That resolved the problem, but I believe the ignition may be about worn out. It does not sound like it is supposed to when removing the key. The click occurs after the the key is removed, not while being removed. I wonder if the dealer can replace the switch and use the same key pattern? If so, it will probably cost quite a bit. I may have to be satisfied with 2 keys if it comes to it. At any rate, thank you both for you responses.

Steve

 

According to my independent Porsche tech, the ignition switch is kind of cheap. My car had (has) a problem with the ignition switch, which I am waiting for the next service to fix.

When I start the car, sometimes the A/C doesn't come on. It drove me nuts for a while, until I figured out that when you start the car, and turn the key past the on position to engage the starter, the car cuts off all accessories, fans, wipers, A/C, etc. When I let off the starter, it is spring loaded to return to the on position and turn all the accesories on. Well, the switch was not touching the starter but it was not going back to the on position. So A/C, etc would not work. All I have to do is move the switch to the left til it hits the stop, and everything works. Not a major problem. It sounds like yours has a problem too, just a different problem. You would think they would do a recall on it, but I guess that's how they are the most profitable car company in the world.

It's just a cheap part, and needs to be replaced. According to my tech, it is not that expensive, but I haven't asked how much yet. In my car the shift boot, and a bolster in the leather seat were cheaply made in my opinion. Still a good car, but some disapointing things occasionally, but it happens in all cars.

Bill Seifert

1998 Silver Boxster

 

They no longer replace just the electrical part, but the entire lock. If someone has a problem with the switch then you now have to buy it from Audi. There was a recall for some 1997s due to the switch. But there are many Boxsters of all years that have had problems with the switch.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index...t=0&#entry1941

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=1866

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=1313

 

Oh man, I cant believe I didnt think of that... Doh.

Anyways if you end up getting the whole new ignition lock with the redesigned ignition switch, they take the key tumbler out of the old one and put it in the new one, so you wont need to fuss with gettings new keys.