987 manual transaxle oil check/change

I couldn't find this elsewhere on these forums. Forgive me if it has already been answered. What does it take to check the t'axle oil level on a 5-spd? Do I need to drop the engine cover? Is it a normal metric female hex on the plugs?

Unless you've detected a leak, you don't need to check the transaxle fluid level. The hex-key plugs are common. The fill plug is near the driver side axle boot. To access it you'll need to drop the reinforcement plate.

Is there a reason you need to check or change the transaxle oil?

Grasping at straws. At 8k miles i started to detect a rotational noise in the car. have checked tires, rotors, lug torque, etc, but could see nothing. At 11k it went to dealer for 1 year maintenance. Car returned with no comment on the noise. I returned to the dealer a week later with complaint of rotational noise. Dealer recommended rear tire change. Tires were worn about 50% crooked to the inside (is that normal on these cars?), so I ponyed up for the Conti's (mine is base with 17" rubber). Noise still there. Returned to dealer this week with complaint. Service writer went for a ride and says nothing wrong -- can't hear anything but tire noise. Since then noticed noise and vibration in steering wheel when accelerating in corner at anything above 30. Seems to get worse when car has been driven at speed for a while. Last night after driving for a while, parked and could smell gear oil. Think maybe a check of gear oil level/condition is in order. Any suggestions?

What sort of rotational noise? (Of course, internet diagnoses of noises are not easy...) Regarding the smell, several members have complained of a smell coming from the rear of the car after the car has been driven enough to make it hot. Some people think it smells like a brake problem, others (like me) aren't sure. I tried to find the cause with the car on a lift and never did. See this thread: http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-boxster-complaints/29689-hot-rubber-smell.html Unless you are actually smelling the sulphur in the gear oil, it probably isn't gear oil. If the rotational noise is a squeaking when you corner hard, see this thread: http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-boxster-tech/34223-excessive-rotor-run-out.html

Are you the original owner? What model year? What kind of tires? No mods? Can you describe the noise. Stones lodged in parking brakes is a common problem for example. As blueone says this is a hard one to figure out without being there. I guess I doubt the transaxle oil as a problem without knowing more about the history of the car.

I wouldn't characterize the smell as burnt rubber or friction material (like clutch brake). the sound is more of a low pitched munch munch like dry gears, with backlash. runs at speed of the wheels, not the engine clutch in our out. About twice a second at 30 mph, four times at 60.

2008 boxster, original owner, no mods, original style conti contact 3 17" rubber (as i stated in my second post). N1 spec. Original rears were replaced by porsche dealer at 12k.

Are you absolutely sure that there is no screw or nail in a tire? Nothing like a brake line rubbing the wheel from the underside? Frustrating. I still suspect a stone in the parking brake. Perhaps you can take your car to a PCA event next weekend and get someone else to help id the sound?

Thanks Santa. I'll keep the thread updated as this develops.

Again, internet diagnosis is tenuous, but your description of the sound immediately brought "wheel bearing problem" to mind. If this is the case that's a dangerous problem. If I were hearing that noise I wouldn't be driving the car except to get it investigated.

lift the rear of the car, put a gear on, preferably first, check if there is a "game" in the rear wheels. if there is, you should have a problem with the flywheel. i know i had one. just a thought.

I would tend to agree with you but I have had all four corners of it up and checked for play in the bearings. Also the dealer has seen this twice in the last thousand miles, once for Annual safety inspection/Porsche 1 year maintenance and once to troubleshoot the rotational noise. I don't think it's wheel bearings.

Sometimes bad bearings don't have play. There aren't that many parts on a Cayman/Boxster that turn at wheel speed and not engine speed. Good luck.

Do tell me. How would a qualified service provider come to the conclusion that a wheel bearing with no excessive play an no excessive friction or noise when rotating the tire is defective? Is there a wheel bearing tester?