DIY Air Filter Replacement - 987
#1
05-19-2012, 02:36 PM
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SFBA (was S. Florida)
Posts: 666
Rep Power: 56 
DIY Air Filter Replacement - 987
DIY Guide to Replacing the Air Filter in the 987 Boxster
You can download the PDF here: https://www.box.com/s/2b0a1132ac51680b0d6b
This is a suggestive guide detailing steps one can take to replace the engine air filter in the 987 Boxster. The first section includes steps to put the Boxster convertible top into service position, as the 2007-on Porsche owner’s manual no longer includes these steps. Putting the top in service position will enable the owner to access the engine bay.
Important dress/outfit tip: You’ll be leaning on the car/paint OFTEN. Unless you don’t care about paint work, I strongly recommend wearing clothes that do not have buttons, zippers or made of tough fabric (i.e., AVOID button down shirts, jeans, belts, etc.). Gym shorts, sweat pants and regular tee shirts are great. If you want to be George Costanza and “drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable”, now is the time.
Putting Convertible Top in Service Mode:
1) Open the convertible about half way as pictured below. According to pre-2007 owner’s manual, Porsche suggests a distance of 60cm (23.5 inches) between the top windshield frame and the convertible top.
2) Lift the rear glass about 6 inches or so to find a silver wire cable attached to the window frame via a ball-joint. Simply “pop” the ball-joint out of the socket (circled & close-up). Repeat for other side. This let you lift the glass frame greater than the 6” now.
3) As you lift up on the rear window glass frame, you’ll find a fabric cover connected to a drain gutter/channel (blue line) clipped to the trunk firewall. Unclip the “gutter” from the two clips (circled) located at the firewall to the trunk - see close-up.
4) Now, lift up on the rear window, un-Velcro the tether (circled) and hook the “hoop” to the front of the convertible top to hold the window frame at service position (see picture & close-up). That’s it. The top is now in service position. I then used some painters tape to “tape up” the fabric cover.
Removing Bose Subwoofer:
If you have the Bose system with Subwoofer, you’ll need to now remove the subwoofer from the shelf. If you don’t have this option, you can skip to next section.
1) Look for two twist lock holding the subwoofer down (circled). Turn the lock 90 degrees to un-lock. Repeat for other side (arrow). You should now be able to move/wiggle the subwoofer unit.
2) You must now disconnect the power connector at the sub. I found it was easier to wiggle the driver side of the sub at an angle towards rear of the car. This will give you more room to flip open the door and disconnect the connector. Now is also a good time to lay a towel down across the trunk to protect the paint.
3) The power connector is located passenger side, under a small “flip-up door”. There is a small plastic clip (circled) that you need to push down so you can flip-up to open the door. Reach in, follow the cable and unclip the power connector. Like other connectors, you squeeze the sides and pull. After that, simply remove the sub from the trunk side.
Removing Engine Cover Carpet & Aluminum:
1) Un-lock the two twist locks by turning them 90 degrees. Now, you can lift the carpet out of the way.
2) Undo the five T30 torx screws (2 towards back of trunk and 3 under the roll-bar to remove the aluminum engine cover. Tip: You can remove the aluminum cover from the cabin side to avoid risk of scratching paint.
Air Filter Replacement:
1) Find the airbox (on drive side) and remove two Philips head screws (circled). Pull up and remove the cover/flap from the airbox, then remove the 3rd screw (circled)
2) Push the filter towards front of car. Once filter is free, wiggle it out of the airbox.
3) Re-installation is reverse. Be patient as you put the filter back into the box. The filter removes easier than the install. Depending on location, 17.7k miles filter looks like this.
While you have the engine bay open, it’s also a good time to check your hydraulic fluid. Open the twist top (circled) and check the dipstick – one side marks for hot/other side for cold.
You can download the PDF here: https://www.box.com/s/2b0a1132ac51680b0d6b
This is a suggestive guide detailing steps one can take to replace the engine air filter in the 987 Boxster. The first section includes steps to put the Boxster convertible top into service position, as the 2007-on Porsche owner’s manual no longer includes these steps. Putting the top in service position will enable the owner to access the engine bay.
Important dress/outfit tip: You’ll be leaning on the car/paint OFTEN. Unless you don’t care about paint work, I strongly recommend wearing clothes that do not have buttons, zippers or made of tough fabric (i.e., AVOID button down shirts, jeans, belts, etc.). Gym shorts, sweat pants and regular tee shirts are great. If you want to be George Costanza and “drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable”, now is the time.
Putting Convertible Top in Service Mode:
1) Open the convertible about half way as pictured below. According to pre-2007 owner’s manual, Porsche suggests a distance of 60cm (23.5 inches) between the top windshield frame and the convertible top.
2) Lift the rear glass about 6 inches or so to find a silver wire cable attached to the window frame via a ball-joint. Simply “pop” the ball-joint out of the socket (circled & close-up). Repeat for other side. This let you lift the glass frame greater than the 6” now.
3) As you lift up on the rear window glass frame, you’ll find a fabric cover connected to a drain gutter/channel (blue line) clipped to the trunk firewall. Unclip the “gutter” from the two clips (circled) located at the firewall to the trunk - see close-up.
4) Now, lift up on the rear window, un-Velcro the tether (circled) and hook the “hoop” to the front of the convertible top to hold the window frame at service position (see picture & close-up). That’s it. The top is now in service position. I then used some painters tape to “tape up” the fabric cover.
Removing Bose Subwoofer:
If you have the Bose system with Subwoofer, you’ll need to now remove the subwoofer from the shelf. If you don’t have this option, you can skip to next section.
1) Look for two twist lock holding the subwoofer down (circled). Turn the lock 90 degrees to un-lock. Repeat for other side (arrow). You should now be able to move/wiggle the subwoofer unit.
2) You must now disconnect the power connector at the sub. I found it was easier to wiggle the driver side of the sub at an angle towards rear of the car. This will give you more room to flip open the door and disconnect the connector. Now is also a good time to lay a towel down across the trunk to protect the paint.
3) The power connector is located passenger side, under a small “flip-up door”. There is a small plastic clip (circled) that you need to push down so you can flip-up to open the door. Reach in, follow the cable and unclip the power connector. Like other connectors, you squeeze the sides and pull. After that, simply remove the sub from the trunk side.
Removing Engine Cover Carpet & Aluminum:
1) Un-lock the two twist locks by turning them 90 degrees. Now, you can lift the carpet out of the way.
2) Undo the five T30 torx screws (2 towards back of trunk and 3 under the roll-bar to remove the aluminum engine cover. Tip: You can remove the aluminum cover from the cabin side to avoid risk of scratching paint.
Air Filter Replacement:
1) Find the airbox (on drive side) and remove two Philips head screws (circled). Pull up and remove the cover/flap from the airbox, then remove the 3rd screw (circled)
2) Push the filter towards front of car. Once filter is free, wiggle it out of the airbox.
3) Re-installation is reverse. Be patient as you put the filter back into the box. The filter removes easier than the install. Depending on location, 17.7k miles filter looks like this.
While you have the engine bay open, it’s also a good time to check your hydraulic fluid. Open the twist top (circled) and check the dipstick – one side marks for hot/other side for cold.
#3
05-21-2012, 08:34 PM
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SFBA (was S. Florida)
Posts: 666
Rep Power: 56
glad to help. The most time consuming piece was removing the sub... but that only b/c you don't have a lot of room to unplug the connector.
#7
08-31-2012, 06:54 AM
DIY Guide to Replacing the Air Filter in the 987 Boxster
You can download the PDF here: https://www.box.com/s/2b0a1132ac51680b0d6b
This is a suggestive guide detailing steps one can take to replace the engine air filter in the 987 Boxster. The first section includes steps to put the Boxster convertible top into service position, as the 2007-on Porsche owner’s manual no longer includes these steps. Putting the top in service position will enable the owner to access the engine bay.
Important dress/outfit tip: You’ll be leaning on the car/paint OFTEN. Unless you don’t care about paint work, I strongly recommend wearing clothes that do not have buttons, zippers or made of tough fabric (i.e., AVOID button down shirts, jeans, belts, etc.). Gym shorts, sweat pants and regular tee shirts are great. If you want to be George Costanza and “drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable”, now is the time.
Putting Convertible Top in Service Mode:
1) Open the convertible about half way as pictured below. According to pre-2007 owner’s manual, Porsche suggests a distance of 60cm (23.5 inches) between the top windshield frame and the convertible top.
2) Lift the rear glass about 6 inches or so to find a silver wire cable attached to the window frame via a ball-joint. Simply “pop” the ball-joint out of the socket (circled & close-up). Repeat for other side. This let you lift the glass frame greater than the 6” now.
3) As you lift up on the rear window glass frame, you’ll find a fabric cover connected to a drain gutter/channel (blue line) clipped to the trunk firewall. Unclip the “gutter” from the two clips (circled) located at the firewall to the trunk - see close-up.
4) Now, lift up on the rear window, un-Velcro the tether (circled) and hook the “hoop” to the front of the convertible top to hold the window frame at service position (see picture & close-up). That’s it. The top is now in service position. I then used some painters tape to “tape up” the fabric cover.
Removing Bose Subwoofer:
If you have the Bose system with Subwoofer, you’ll need to now remove the subwoofer from the shelf. If you don’t have this option, you can skip to next section.
1) Look for two twist lock holding the subwoofer down (circled). Turn the lock 90 degrees to un-lock. Repeat for other side (arrow). You should now be able to move/wiggle the subwoofer unit.
2) You must now disconnect the power connector at the sub. I found it was easier to wiggle the driver side of the sub at an angle towards rear of the car. This will give you more room to flip open the door and disconnect the connector. Now is also a good time to lay a towel down across the trunk to protect the paint.
3) The power connector is located passenger side, under a small “flip-up door”. There is a small plastic clip (circled) that you need to push down so you can flip-up to open the door. Reach in, follow the cable and unclip the power connector. Like other connectors, you squeeze the sides and pull. After that, simply remove the sub from the trunk side.
Removing Engine Cover Carpet & Aluminum:
1) Un-lock the two twist locks by turning them 90 degrees. Now, you can lift the carpet out of the way.
2) Undo the five T30 torx screws (2 towards back of trunk and 3 under the roll-bar to remove the aluminum engine cover. Tip: You can remove the aluminum cover from the cabin side to avoid risk of scratching paint.
Air Filter Replacement:
1) Find the airbox (on drive side) and remove two Philips head screws (circled). Pull up and remove the cover/flap from the airbox, then remove the 3rd screw (circled)
2) Push the filter towards front of car. Once filter is free, wiggle it out of the airbox.
3) Re-installation is reverse. Be patient as you put the filter back into the box. The filter removes easier than the install. Depending on location, 17.7k miles filter looks like this.
While you have the engine bay open, it’s also a good time to check your hydraulic fluid. Open the twist top (circled) and check the dipstick – one side marks for hot/other side for cold.
You can download the PDF here: https://www.box.com/s/2b0a1132ac51680b0d6b
This is a suggestive guide detailing steps one can take to replace the engine air filter in the 987 Boxster. The first section includes steps to put the Boxster convertible top into service position, as the 2007-on Porsche owner’s manual no longer includes these steps. Putting the top in service position will enable the owner to access the engine bay.
Important dress/outfit tip: You’ll be leaning on the car/paint OFTEN. Unless you don’t care about paint work, I strongly recommend wearing clothes that do not have buttons, zippers or made of tough fabric (i.e., AVOID button down shirts, jeans, belts, etc.). Gym shorts, sweat pants and regular tee shirts are great. If you want to be George Costanza and “drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable”, now is the time.
Putting Convertible Top in Service Mode:
1) Open the convertible about half way as pictured below. According to pre-2007 owner’s manual, Porsche suggests a distance of 60cm (23.5 inches) between the top windshield frame and the convertible top.
2) Lift the rear glass about 6 inches or so to find a silver wire cable attached to the window frame via a ball-joint. Simply “pop” the ball-joint out of the socket (circled & close-up). Repeat for other side. This let you lift the glass frame greater than the 6” now.
3) As you lift up on the rear window glass frame, you’ll find a fabric cover connected to a drain gutter/channel (blue line) clipped to the trunk firewall. Unclip the “gutter” from the two clips (circled) located at the firewall to the trunk - see close-up.
4) Now, lift up on the rear window, un-Velcro the tether (circled) and hook the “hoop” to the front of the convertible top to hold the window frame at service position (see picture & close-up). That’s it. The top is now in service position. I then used some painters tape to “tape up” the fabric cover.
Removing Bose Subwoofer:
If you have the Bose system with Subwoofer, you’ll need to now remove the subwoofer from the shelf. If you don’t have this option, you can skip to next section.
1) Look for two twist lock holding the subwoofer down (circled). Turn the lock 90 degrees to un-lock. Repeat for other side (arrow). You should now be able to move/wiggle the subwoofer unit.
2) You must now disconnect the power connector at the sub. I found it was easier to wiggle the driver side of the sub at an angle towards rear of the car. This will give you more room to flip open the door and disconnect the connector. Now is also a good time to lay a towel down across the trunk to protect the paint.
3) The power connector is located passenger side, under a small “flip-up door”. There is a small plastic clip (circled) that you need to push down so you can flip-up to open the door. Reach in, follow the cable and unclip the power connector. Like other connectors, you squeeze the sides and pull. After that, simply remove the sub from the trunk side.
Removing Engine Cover Carpet & Aluminum:
1) Un-lock the two twist locks by turning them 90 degrees. Now, you can lift the carpet out of the way.
2) Undo the five T30 torx screws (2 towards back of trunk and 3 under the roll-bar to remove the aluminum engine cover. Tip: You can remove the aluminum cover from the cabin side to avoid risk of scratching paint.
Air Filter Replacement:
1) Find the airbox (on drive side) and remove two Philips head screws (circled). Pull up and remove the cover/flap from the airbox, then remove the 3rd screw (circled)
2) Push the filter towards front of car. Once filter is free, wiggle it out of the airbox.
3) Re-installation is reverse. Be patient as you put the filter back into the box. The filter removes easier than the install. Depending on location, 17.7k miles filter looks like this.
While you have the engine bay open, it’s also a good time to check your hydraulic fluid. Open the twist top (circled) and check the dipstick – one side marks for hot/other side for cold.
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#8
07-16-2014, 04:19 PM
Thank you very very much
DIY Guide to Replacing the Air Filter in the 987 Boxster
You can download the PDF here: https://www.box.com/s/2b0a1132ac51680b0d6b
This is a suggestive guide detailing steps one can take to replace the engine air filter in the 987 Boxster. The first section includes steps to put the Boxster convertible top into service position, as the 2007-on Porsche owner’s manual no longer includes these steps. Putting the top in service position will enable the owner to access the engine bay.
Important dress/outfit tip: You’ll be leaning on the car/paint OFTEN. Unless you don’t care about paint work, I strongly recommend wearing clothes that do not have buttons, zippers or made of tough fabric (i.e., AVOID button down shirts, jeans, belts, etc.). Gym shorts, sweat pants and regular tee shirts are great. If you want to be George Costanza and “drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable”, now is the time.
Putting Convertible Top in Service Mode:
1) Open the convertible about half way as pictured below. According to pre-2007 owner’s manual, Porsche suggests a distance of 60cm (23.5 inches) between the top windshield frame and the convertible top.
2) Lift the rear glass about 6 inches or so to find a silver wire cable attached to the window frame via a ball-joint. Simply “pop” the ball-joint out of the socket (circled & close-up). Repeat for other side. This let you lift the glass frame greater than the 6” now.
3) As you lift up on the rear window glass frame, you’ll find a fabric cover connected to a drain gutter/channel (blue line) clipped to the trunk firewall. Unclip the “gutter” from the two clips (circled) located at the firewall to the trunk - see close-up.
4) Now, lift up on the rear window, un-Velcro the tether (circled) and hook the “hoop” to the front of the convertible top to hold the window frame at service position (see picture & close-up). That’s it. The top is now in service position. I then used some painters tape to “tape up” the fabric cover.
Removing Bose Subwoofer:
If you have the Bose system with Subwoofer, you’ll need to now remove the subwoofer from the shelf. If you don’t have this option, you can skip to next section.
1) Look for two twist lock holding the subwoofer down (circled). Turn the lock 90 degrees to un-lock. Repeat for other side (arrow). You should now be able to move/wiggle the subwoofer unit.
2) You must now disconnect the power connector at the sub. I found it was easier to wiggle the driver side of the sub at an angle towards rear of the car. This will give you more room to flip open the door and disconnect the connector. Now is also a good time to lay a towel down across the trunk to protect the paint.
3) The power connector is located passenger side, under a small “flip-up door”. There is a small plastic clip (circled) that you need to push down so you can flip-up to open the door. Reach in, follow the cable and unclip the power connector. Like other connectors, you squeeze the sides and pull. After that, simply remove the sub from the trunk side.
Removing Engine Cover Carpet & Aluminum:
1) Un-lock the two twist locks by turning them 90 degrees. Now, you can lift the carpet out of the way.
2) Undo the five T30 torx screws (2 towards back of trunk and 3 under the roll-bar to remove the aluminum engine cover. Tip: You can remove the aluminum cover from the cabin side to avoid risk of scratching paint.
Air Filter Replacement:
1) Find the airbox (on drive side) and remove two Philips head screws (circled). Pull up and remove the cover/flap from the airbox, then remove the 3rd screw (circled)
2) Push the filter towards front of car. Once filter is free, wiggle it out of the airbox.
3) Re-installation is reverse. Be patient as you put the filter back into the box. The filter removes easier than the install. Depending on location, 17.7k miles filter looks like this.
While you have the engine bay open, it’s also a good time to check your hydraulic fluid. Open the twist top (circled) and check the dipstick – one side marks for hot/other side for cold.
You can download the PDF here: https://www.box.com/s/2b0a1132ac51680b0d6b
This is a suggestive guide detailing steps one can take to replace the engine air filter in the 987 Boxster. The first section includes steps to put the Boxster convertible top into service position, as the 2007-on Porsche owner’s manual no longer includes these steps. Putting the top in service position will enable the owner to access the engine bay.
Important dress/outfit tip: You’ll be leaning on the car/paint OFTEN. Unless you don’t care about paint work, I strongly recommend wearing clothes that do not have buttons, zippers or made of tough fabric (i.e., AVOID button down shirts, jeans, belts, etc.). Gym shorts, sweat pants and regular tee shirts are great. If you want to be George Costanza and “drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable”, now is the time.
Putting Convertible Top in Service Mode:
1) Open the convertible about half way as pictured below. According to pre-2007 owner’s manual, Porsche suggests a distance of 60cm (23.5 inches) between the top windshield frame and the convertible top.
2) Lift the rear glass about 6 inches or so to find a silver wire cable attached to the window frame via a ball-joint. Simply “pop” the ball-joint out of the socket (circled & close-up). Repeat for other side. This let you lift the glass frame greater than the 6” now.
3) As you lift up on the rear window glass frame, you’ll find a fabric cover connected to a drain gutter/channel (blue line) clipped to the trunk firewall. Unclip the “gutter” from the two clips (circled) located at the firewall to the trunk - see close-up.
4) Now, lift up on the rear window, un-Velcro the tether (circled) and hook the “hoop” to the front of the convertible top to hold the window frame at service position (see picture & close-up). That’s it. The top is now in service position. I then used some painters tape to “tape up” the fabric cover.
Removing Bose Subwoofer:
If you have the Bose system with Subwoofer, you’ll need to now remove the subwoofer from the shelf. If you don’t have this option, you can skip to next section.
1) Look for two twist lock holding the subwoofer down (circled). Turn the lock 90 degrees to un-lock. Repeat for other side (arrow). You should now be able to move/wiggle the subwoofer unit.
2) You must now disconnect the power connector at the sub. I found it was easier to wiggle the driver side of the sub at an angle towards rear of the car. This will give you more room to flip open the door and disconnect the connector. Now is also a good time to lay a towel down across the trunk to protect the paint.
3) The power connector is located passenger side, under a small “flip-up door”. There is a small plastic clip (circled) that you need to push down so you can flip-up to open the door. Reach in, follow the cable and unclip the power connector. Like other connectors, you squeeze the sides and pull. After that, simply remove the sub from the trunk side.
Removing Engine Cover Carpet & Aluminum:
1) Un-lock the two twist locks by turning them 90 degrees. Now, you can lift the carpet out of the way.
2) Undo the five T30 torx screws (2 towards back of trunk and 3 under the roll-bar to remove the aluminum engine cover. Tip: You can remove the aluminum cover from the cabin side to avoid risk of scratching paint.
Air Filter Replacement:
1) Find the airbox (on drive side) and remove two Philips head screws (circled). Pull up and remove the cover/flap from the airbox, then remove the 3rd screw (circled)
2) Push the filter towards front of car. Once filter is free, wiggle it out of the airbox.
3) Re-installation is reverse. Be patient as you put the filter back into the box. The filter removes easier than the install. Depending on location, 17.7k miles filter looks like this.
While you have the engine bay open, it’s also a good time to check your hydraulic fluid. Open the twist top (circled) and check the dipstick – one side marks for hot/other side for cold.
Fantastic.
Thank you very much.
I live in Brazil and here is very difficult and very expensive to maintain a Porsche.
Helped me a lot and saved a lot $$$$$$$$.
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