6/8/00
Well, after all that arm twisting, it seems that the condensation
problem has been fixed, it hasn't reoccured since March. However,
I would definitely recommend going to another dealership for
service. My experience with Rector of Burlingame, CA has left a
bad taste in my mouth.
3/15/00
Picked up Boxster today, service guy stated that parts needed to
be ordered for condensation problem. Car was returned to me with
a slight but noticeable scratch in left front fender that I
hadn't noticed before. In addition to that, the guy who drove my
car left some sticky substance on handles and steering wheel,
which came off with water... Service tech commented that he would
have a rental car ready for me when I drop my car off for my next
appt. (sounded slightly apologetic)
3/14/00
Update...
So, they finally got around to finding me a rental car... after I
called them back after leaving a message which
went unreturned. They said they would know by 2:30 pm whether or
not they'd need to keep it overnight. I found out at 4 pm that
yes indeed, they will be keeping it overnight. You would think
that he would have prearranged a rental for me by then right?
Wrong! This is most likely no fault of the dealership but the
rental agency that was nearest to me was out of cars , so the
dealer service tech called his local office (Enterprise), which
did not return my 3 messages until I just decided to hold for the
guy. He tells me he's working on it... this is at 5:30 PM ... I
end up getting a Mazda Protege P.O.S. at 6:30 pm. This whole
experience is leaving a very bad taste in my mouth.
Quick Poll of boarders show that out of 13 respondents...
1 dealer gave no loaners
7 got rentals (4 of which were economy compact cars, a step above
Geo Metro, I suppose)
5 got decent dealer loaners ( 3 Porsches , 1 saab, 1 person got a
variety of choices including a 996 and a S600!)
3/14/00
I dropped off my car today (10:30 AM) at my dealership service
department armed with the information I collected from all the Boxster Board posters.
The service tech promised to look it over and took the car.
Apparently, they don't do loaners... so I end up with a shuttle
ride back to work. In a turbocharged GMC Suburban, which was
neat, but I'm still disappointed that I'm Boxsterless and car-less
at the moment. At this moment, Dan, the service tech, just
informed me that they will need to keep my car overnight.
Which sucks, because the dealership has yet to provide me with a
loaner vehicle, much less a rental car. The local rental car
place is out of cars, which better not mean I'm out of luck...
We'll see if the dealership is going to stick me in a deathtrap
Geo Metro or see if they redeem themselves by paying for a decent
car. I'll update to let you know if they strand me without a car
tonight or not...
3/1/00
Here are various responses to the coolant
condensation problem. Collected from Porsche Pete's
Boxster Board. Hopefully this will help others out there in
this situation.
2/29/00
I just went to Rector motors
in Burlingame today to get the condensation under the rear
deck lid in the small circular area directly above the coolant
and oil caps checked out. There were two mechanics I dealt with,
one was nice but he admitted to being inexperienced with my
problem so he brought in another guy , who was not as patient/
pleasant. The jerky service guy says that the condensation is
normal because there's some kind of pressure valve beneath the
caps that allows heat/vapors to escape. (I thought that coolant
only releases through the bottom of the car) He says that the
condensation is a result of the exterior temperature of the
decklid and the temperature of the engine combining to form the
oily condensation. Now that totally conflicts with what I've
heard , so I tell him so. I mention that others have had this
problem due to faulty coolant caps and o-ring problems. He just
gets defensive and basically says that I'm wrong and that the
condensation is perfectly normal. He did mention i needed to top
off my coolant, but did NOTHING about it. If I'm not mistaken,
Jiffy Lube tops off your fluids for free if they notice it,
without even asking. Am I to expect less from a full service
Porsche service center? I'm going back in a week to have them
look at it, because they finally agreed to check it out. But with
some skepticism, of course. Maybe they'll top off my coolant this
time. I will update the situation after I go there on 3/14/00.