nac.. american engineering

[cody at 5000tq.com]

Getting to the top of the engine bay looks daunting to the  
un-initiated, but is easy as pie and takes 3 or 4 minutes. Unlatch the  
roof and open it a bit...like 25%-50% just so the metal cover lifts  
up. Then you can access the two cables that hold the rear of the roof  
down, they are ball sockets that pop right off. Then you flip the rear  
1/3 of the roof towards the front and can see the 3 layers of covers  
that look like a major paint...but aren't. The storage compartment (or  
optional Bose system) is held down by 2 1/4 turn fasteners that  
require no tool, simply lift it out and set on the roof. Then the  
carpet is next - 2 more 1/4 turn tool-less fasteners, set it on the  
roof. Then you are at the actual engine lid. 4 (or is it 5?) tool-less  
1/4 turn fasteners and voila. Access is nearly as wide as the car, and  
is longer then the engine itself (not like a 914).

Front of engine (ie serp belt change, water pump, etc.) is almost  
easier, and is effing beautiful. Slide both seats forward all the way.  
4 plastic fasteners at the top edge hold the carpet in, then something  
like 10 10mm nuts hold the aluminium cover on. This cover is 4ft wide  
and about 2 or 2.5ft tall - you can see both over and under the  
engine. Easier then service mode on an Audi for damned sure!!

Also they are pattern failure cars. If its running bad it needs a MAF  
insert. If it smokes alot it needs a crankcase breather pump diaphram  
(like a late model Audi or BMW - the generation after the 'suction  
pump'). If it runs hot it needs a water pump - plastic impellors like  
a 1.8t VAG product. Beyond that not much else seems to break.

-Cody Forbes


Quoting Taka Mizutani <t44tqtro at gmail.com>:

> Do tell about the Boxster- I've avoided them because I was afraid that it's
> damn near impossible to work on without a real service lift.
>
> Taka
>
>
> On Jan 30, 2008 5:13 PM, Grant Lenahan <glenahan at vfemail.net> wrote:
>
>> My 986 boxster is about 5x easier to work on than my C5 audi.
>>
>> Its VW, not Germans, nor Americans nor Toyotans.
>>
>> Grant
>>
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