MelissaInNJ

My boxster died on the side of the road. Was driving along at about 65 MPH. Turned off defroster. Noticed an immediate power drop. Pressure to the gas did nothing....slowly lost speed until I pulled onto the shoulder of the highway I was on. Car then died. Restarting it the motor turns on and sounds great...than it dies. One theory is because my currently broken clamshell isn't flush and it was raining pretty steadily...water in teh engine???. I dunno. Either way called AAA. While waiting read manual and went looking for the tow hook. Tool kit present...tow hook not present. My choices were sign a dmage waiver and they could attempt to tow it, or leave it on the side of the highway. Though it killed me and I am thinking the worst as to the fate of my carand particularly my wheels...I left it. Now I need to locate a tow hook asap. Going to call dealer first thing in the morning. Anyone not far from Deptford (08096). Was going to try to search the registry and see if there was anyone local (if that is how the registry works), but it's not loading.


Help!

I do know someone with a Boxster (at least I think they still have it)...but they are more than an hour away. HELP!

Melissa

jamscal

This may help. Or not.

From what I remember the tow hook it's just an eye bolt, albeit metric. Call around to a hardware store and try to find a metric eye bolt.

If you have any fabrication skills... a regular metric bolt with a ring welded to it will suffice. (Perhaps a local auto [muffler shop?] business would do that for you for $10?

Good luck,

James

jamscal

I checked out mine to try to get a thread size... it's more like a big acme thread... you probably couldn't buy anything like it at a hardware store. Sorry.

bruinbro

Try posting this in the racing forum, people there will have tow hooks for either Boxsters or 996's.

ETA: Posted a cross-link for you.

Bruinbro

MelissaInNJ

Thanks all for the help!

Got up first thing this morning and started calling all the Porsche dealers. The one closest to me didn't have any, but Conshocken, PA and Newark, DE both had some in stock. Chose Newark, DE as the mileage was a bit further but the commute headache much lower. Got it for less than $14 bucks. YAY! Drove straight to my car. Fortunately it was untouched save for the tag from the state police telling me to move it! I did give them a courtesy call...the night before.

Had it towed to the local shop (Chuck Oliver's Specialty Cars in Mullica Hill, NJ) that was going to check out my convertible top not functioning. Now he just has a little more to check out! He still can't get to it Monday, but he is very graciously is storing it there a few days early!!! I am really glad I found him through Rennlist. He's a word of mouth only business.

Just wanted to keep yopu all posted!

Melissa

Doug&Julie

You can demand that AAA send you a flatbed, believe it or not. You may have to wait a little longer than usual. If you get a good company, your car won't have any problems being towed on pretty much any flatbed. ..especially if you stay with them and make sure they're careful. When I had to have my Boxster towed to my mechanics (and then again to the dealer) I just made sure they used a flatbed.

Of course, I didn't use AAA at the time. ...which was dumb...I DO have AAA...

Then again, let's just hope you never have to use them again!

GusLight-Rennsport

I have a 944 Turbo tow hook, is it the same one that you need? If so, I am located in Elkins Park, PA, just NE of Philly. You could pick it up tonight.

NetManiac

I agree, flat-bed is the way to go. Except you still have to get it up on the flat-bed. I don't think I'd want to watch that happen without the use of a tow hook.

MelissaInNJ

"I agree, flat-bed is the way to go. Except you still have to get it up on the flat-bed. I don't think I'd want to watch that happen without the use of a tow hook. "

Yes I have AAA and they did send a flatbed. However after calling them and before they arrived, we realized we didn't have a tow hook. He said he would have attempted to get it on the truck without it...but we'd have to sign a damage waiver. We opted to leave it, locate a tow hook, and then return. FORTUNATELY it all worked out. AAA provided the ride home!

Thank you all again for the advice and willingness to help out!
Melissa

Swedeboy

For future reference towhooks are interchangable from the 944 all the way through to the 997.

It's also possible to loop a rope around the bar behind the front or rear bumper on many models. This is plenty strong seeing as that's where the towhook itself screws into.