Air pump removal-- weight reduction - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Has anyone removed their air pump to save weight? I have a few questions -what happens if you don't get a ROW reflash? -how much weight does it save? -any reason besides emissions not to do it? Cheers,

I did it. But not to loose weight, but to loose SAI headache. You will need to row flash it if you don't want to have CE light

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The ECU will illuminate the CEL after failing the SAI test at cold startup. The pump alone is about 4 lbs but removal of the entire system (tubes, valves, reservoir, etc) can net about 10 lbs. Like calories, they all add up! None that I can think of.

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How much for the air pump you removed?

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Send me pm with offer. I have all SAI seating in the box from 3.4. But I belive they R the same

Removing any component that simplifies this complex car seems a good project to me! I already have my secondary air pump off and would love to leave it off. What is the best way to get an ROW reflash: 1. PST2 2. Softtronic 3. Sharkwerks 4. ECUDoctors -they charge $500 5.Other?? Thanks

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Take a look at Pedros garage too.

Thanks for that suggestion .I noticed that he does the reflash at his place in -Florida.I'm too far away. This suggests that some Pro version of Durametric(?) or similar allows the reflash for the simple changes to be made. Anyone know the easy way to get this done?

PST-2 or better, plus you need the DME and Alarm system passwords.

Paul, Thanks for your authoritative reply. From your signature block you are eminently well qualified on this obscure subject ! I am following in your footsteps - 2001 Boxster S doing a motor R&R

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2000 & newer will fail CA smog check if SAI is not working.

BYdriver - thanks for the warning.That would kill the idea. I thought the benefit of the ROW re-flash was that it [I]would[I] pass SMOG I realize that if you simply disconnect(not remove) SAI it will throw codes and therefore fail SMOG but if you do the ROW re-flash,surely that will prevent the codes occurring and therefore pass smog? Obviously it would fail a visual but on a Boxster ,I don't think even the most zealous Smog Tech is going to go through the whole service-position procedure to do a visual? Very possible I am missing something?

I passę emissions with flying colors. I'm in IL tho

Golonaus, Thanks for that data point -very useful and kind of you to contribute to the facts. May I ask which ROW re-flash you used? Was it any that I mentioned earlier in this thread? I ask because this is a subject that can cause Boxster enthusiasts a lot of grief and expense. Having had to pay for a total engine R&r + rebuild,I need to minimize any other problems. My wife is already suggesting I find a cheaper mistress or a less expensive car! Knowing specific,detailed solutions to the SAI issue would be helpful. Oh and as a bonus for being so helpful : I stumbled on this suggestion(Pedro's Garage) on how to remove the plastic tubes for the spark plug recess.Use a 1" boat drain bung.Yes, really ! I got one - FleaBay. It worked.It cost $4 !

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According to a thread I read on Rennlist as of 2014 CA smog check for 2000 & newer vehicles consists of a OBDII scan for software modifications, & visual inspection of engine & catalytic converters.

"I read on Rennlist as of 2014 CA smog check for 2000 & newer vehicles includes an OBDII scan for software modifications" The reason for an ROW re-flash is that it will not show as a software mod. The visual inspection is a risk that would not be an issue except at a "Gold" Smog Station IMHO. So the question becomes : "Does an ROW re-flash self identify to the Smog test computer as a modification" ? This is getting tricky because I read that the Gold Smog Station now connects your car directly to the AQMD computer .This takes the local Smog Station computer out of the loop. This may be junk info(??) but if true it kills off many ,many mods sold by the ECU-mod companies. That leaves you with the need to be able to store the original code for the DME and substitute that each time before you go for Smog Testing. That is doable and indeed several of the re-flash companies offer that facility with their latest products - no cable to your laptop -instead a separate piece of hardware that is dedicated to storing and re-flashing the two sets of code - ROW and USA.Ideal for a car that enjoys life on the Track & the street.

I know this is an old thread but I am relatively new to owning a Boxster even though it's a '99. I am hoping to get it to pass the DEQ in Washington without spending a ton of money right now because I am pretty sure I want to install a 3.4 or larger (whatever will bolt up to the 5 speed automatic transmission) at a later date but would like to be able to drive it while I am prepping for that project. Any new developments on this issue since the last comment in 20174? Thanks

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Someone on this board makes a cheat to eliminate the CEL related to the SAI. If this is installed after the equipment is removed it should`nt trigger the code ?

The part that Charles makes/made is not intended for cheating. We should be very wary about condoning such devices here because they could find their way on to a Referee's check list for Porsches The part is for testing and diagnosis only. This is an important distinction.

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there is a whole world that exists outside of california.