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Jonny - replace the fuse for the dashboard/instrument cluster (swap with the hazard lights as same amp rating). I’ve had a 2000 986 for 12 years and been through ALL the common challenges. If you leave the key in the ignition and to position one for longer than 30 mins it overheats the instrument cluster and seems to do something to the fuse. Then when it gets warm you can’t start the car because of the fuse. It causes an instrument cluster code that you can’t see without a Durametric (I have one if you need it) or a Porsche PIIWIS diags, but swapping the fuse out resets it. That’s probably what you cleared, and I bet you left the key in the ignition to position one while you looked at the engine bay! That’s how I found this out the hard way too! Carl

The small obd2 reader probably doesnt drill down far enough to show codes in minor modules, but clearing them shows they exist. Likely If you plug it into a porsche code reader or more in depth reader it will show more. Looking forward to the progress with this

Might be worth checking the main relay for dry joints. When they warm up it can cause the non starting issue. Will be good to see this project develop.

A slightly stressful day for sure, but an absolute pleasure to meet you and Phil! Mays Modules to the rescue soon hopefully. Cheers Jonny! 😃

Lovely to finally see Jonny's own personal barn find. Also pleasantly surprised that it survived a Car Throttle vid!

Bloody loved that, felt like I was right there with you. Good luck with it Jonny!

The most sincere and genuine man on UKposts. Exactly like a chap we could all be friends with as someone else mentioned. Just at ease. Enjoy your own barn-find and we look forward to seeing how you’ve rid the demons!

The ECU under the passenger seat is the alarm & immobiliser box. If that has seen water damage that is likely your starting problem.

The fabled ghetto Boxster!

I had this issue. Turned out to be a relay for the fuel pump that overheats. Sits behind the rear bulk head passenger side. Took me months to work out

Glad you were able to get it started, Johnny! I met you in person at RR7 and took a photo with you (I’m the guy with the ‘stache) - I’d have congratulated you in person if I had seen this video at that time. Welcome to the Porsche family and keep on doing what you do best, you’re my favorite car-related presenter/personality by far!

Sounds like it might be the Clutch actuator. Potentially solvable with a trip to Porsche for a look at the software. It can happen if the clutch was replaced without updating the cars computer. So things end up misaligned.

I'm sure you didn't do this project just because it is trending type content. And you are doing it with style, your style, that's why we love you. Bonus points for the choice of car and its history. It's riskier to buy a car from Alex than a write-off Roll Royce :D :D

Honestly a superb channel! So chilled so knowledgeable and so humble

Great video - as an electrician we find faults that blow our minds from time to time and it can be so frustrating when you feel like you’re going round in circles but then so satisfying when you have that “aha” moment and find out what the problem is! Hope you get to drive her home soon…

Had an 987 Cayman, same problem, small sensor at the clutch pedal was the problem as it gets a bit fragile, took ages to find out .

Cheers to you, Jonny! Best of luck with the new-to-you 986. Bought mine off eBay, sight unseen 15 years ago and drove it 700 miles home. She's been remarkably reliable. Mostly just minor issues: water pump leaking, cracked overflow tank - both common issues to the platform. Only major issue was a failed variocam actuator, that was a bit pricy to fix. Standard maintenance stuff is all pretty easy to deal with. 5-speed and flat six are a great combo. Can't wait to see the next installment on this one. Cheers from NC!

Jonny is the one UKpostsr that most of us know we would be friends with, if given the opportunity... no doubt.

22:17 I think 🤔 it’s the key 🔑 check the other key, it might be little chip in the key fob. It does sound really nice though ❤

Those 17s were actually one of my favorite style of OEM wheels on the 986, and prob what I'd put on a non-S Boxster if I had one. Getting an updated 2.7 liter 00s one in lapis blue with blue top is more than I expected for your money! I wouldn't seek out the grey interior but obvs beggars can't be choosers. It looks like it'll clean up well, hope you can sort the mechanical/electrical issues without too much trouble!

That's what I love about Porsches and most other German machinery. You can feel that balanced chassis and engineering experience right until sensors or ECUs fail. Good luck.

I know so well the feeling of excitement at getting a new old car then the sinking feeling and depression as more and more faults manifest themselves on the way home. Especially as it grinds to a halt in the middle of open country at midnight! Enjoyed that greatly - so much better than tedious EVs.that no one wants. Look forward to what I hope will be the next episode soon. Cheers Jonny.

Pushing it through the light from the slats in the barn sides gave a really cool effect as the light moved over the car. Maybe when it’s all up to standard you could recreate it with some closeups on the body work in a kind of cinema-graphic effect.

Congrats Jonny! Looking forward to more of the car!

And my mates laugh at me for having a £350 obd2 reader ..

Love the idea of an outlaw boxster

Brilliant and look forward to seeing more of it. Definitely needs a professional diagnostics machine to scan it properly and get some live data. Love my 05 987 S here in France.

Incredible video, you've made me an instant fan of your videos. Cheers from Northern Virginia suburb of Washington, DC. I own a 1998 986 silver over red. Bought if from Ebay in late 2018 for USD $6200 shipped to my door from a fellow in Texas who 2 years and 2k miles before had bought it from original owner wife of a Houston surgeon, service book up to date to 2016. 117k miles, all 4 tires virtually bald, very weak battery. Didn't read the manual about not lowering top in extreme cold, lowered it in sub freezing temps and bang, cracked the plastic window. So I sourced a near new whole top assembly with glass window from a later car, two bolts. New battery, four new Michelins from COSTCO. Changed oil, cut filter in half, no silver, hopefully the early IMS is happy. Driven it about 3k to date in six years March 2024, great car, I think the exhaust was updated. The plastic grills in the roll bar hoops are made fragile as eggs from decades of Texas sun, one has holes. Spring loaded ashtray cover won't stay closed. Replaced window mechanism in passenger door, easy after you've done it once. Sometimes have to release and pull up again the hand brake to convince the top lowering/raising switch to work, it must be convinced you are not trying to lower your top at high speed. Passes yearly safety and emissions inspections with no issues though now that it's over 25 years old emissions will no longer be required in Virginia. Cheap Walmart two cup plastic cup holder between center console and passenger seat to hold coins and occasional soda. CD player is intermittent, some CD's just won't play. Radio is fine. Have charged the a/c couple of times, summers here are HOT. Used to hang out at my local Atlanta Porsche-Audi dealership in high school early 1970's when a 911T was over USD $7k, I started my Porsche ownership with a rusty $2500 1957 Speedster with 1964 SC engine in 1972 and drove it through "uni", then owned several 912's and 911's, coupes and Targa's, had the only 912 in Athens Greece (I think) from 1996 to 98, plus a 1982 930 Turbo which was an incredible car I wish I had not sold. The 986 beats ALL the air cooled cars for actual WORKING heat, WORKING a/c, WORKING ventilation/defrost which NONE of them had, defrost never worked, on my 1987 Carrera it would sometimes fill the cockpit with impenetrable fog if I hit a puddle, using the heat threatened death by carbon monoxide in ALL the cars. The 986 with water cooling solved and I wish it was still air cooled but it's STILL a flat six! It's as fast as any Porsche I ever owned but the 930 and handles better than any of them. It is ONLY two seats, not an inch for anything else but the two trunks are UNBELIEVABLE. Gas mileage stop and go sux but high speed trips it's very good considering - in West Virginia posted limit is 75mph and you can go over 90mph for HOURS if you like, everybody else doing it too. Just like autobahn in Germany!

What an eventful start to your Boxster journey .. I'm looking forward to seeing this progress .. Just a small tip re the rear window, I roll up a towel or place a piece of pipe insulation where the window creases on my Chimaera and it stops it creasing ..

It probably wouldn't start because Jonny had it on Accessory earlier to lower the roof a bit. Maybe the module thought the car was running.

Really appreciate the honesty of your videos Jonny. You are the one person I trust around cars. Looking forward to the follow up.

Great vid Jonny. I ran a 2004 boxster manual and loved it. Gear change and steering are just so right. Had some of the usual things go - lambda sensors, coil packs, window regulators. No issues with seals though 😊. Mine was Lapis blue too❤

That haircut/tache combo is 80's first boyfriend vibes that will be regretted being on screen in any capacity in short order. Love this channel. Love Mr Smith's enthusiasm and commentary on his specialist subject.

I'm looking forward to this project. Hopefully, it won't be too costly 🤞 Good luck 👍

Well done mate and good luck , enjoyed it so much and looking forward on the updates on the new Porsche !

Great one Jonny, looking forward to seeing you sort its issues and enjoy!

My wife passed her test recently, I can't imagine myself sleeping in the passenger seat.

Well done Jonny. I bought a 2.5 in 2021 and it’s been a proper nightmare. Still can’t understand why I love it, but I do. Good luck on your top down journey 👍🏻

I believe that the problem with starting the car is related to the anti theft system. Sometimes it happens to me as well, on my 02 Boxster. What I do is I get out of it, lock it, wait 10 seconds, unlock it and crank it. It should start right up! I thought it was the battery but it kept doing it sometimes also after replacing it. Hope it solves your problem if it arises again, good luck with your project!

So cool! Just picked up my Boxster (1999) for considerably more money (European market) and love it. Excited to follow this journey of yours!

I had a 987 S. The balance is just amazing. There is something about the way a mid-eng car goes around bends. It's very hard to put into words.

Jonny I felt your disappointment in not getting the Porsche to the MOT Station, but it does mean there will be more videos to follow on your new purchase. I have every faith in you getting this Porsche running and looking as sweet as a nut, in the not too distant future, can't wait to see the results. Good Luck Jonny. 👍

In Northern Ireland, the next available MOT date is 17 December but you can only book 4 weeks in advance!

I had a similar ignition issue in a Civic. It was dry solder joints in the ignition relay - when the relay warmed up the joints would presumably expand slightly and resulted in no spark until things had cooled down and then it would fire again. Reflowing the solder joints 100% solved it...

These are fabulous cars and great value. I have a 987.1 Boxster and it just keeps going and going. It’s beautifully balanced, the flat six sounds wonderful and it’s plenty powerful enough for our roads. I’ve driven a few 911s and I much prefer the Boxster. I’m really looking forward to this series.

When these came out i wasn't fond. But since the PlayStation 1 game Boxster Challenge came out i was sold and fell in love with the Boxster. Good to see you buy one and I'm interested in following your journey to fixing this up if you cover it on the channel.

If the engine management light does NOT come on when the key is at position two it will not start. This is almost always a fault in the ecu under the passenger seat . When this fault randomly occurs which it will time and time again, unplug that ecu and plug back in and it will start . It’ll do it again though until you get that ecu repaired.

that was a really good one Jonny! "I think the battery's wanked" lol

Oakley is a lovely guy isnt he, been following him on IG since he bought Miles. Enjoy the boxter JS

Sweet sweet car...

I love it when UKpostsrs share the love like this :)

I don't want a Boxster ...but I am bloody enjoying this. I no longer bother with all the manufactured / sanitised stuff like Wheeler Deaiers, Salvage Hunters Classic Cars & Car SOS on telly. Loving this deep dive series Jonny. Looking furward to part 3. 👍

Ghetto Boxter life! This is just great.

Congrats on your first Porsche Jonny. Mine was very similar and I loved it. But the most beautiful thing in that barn has to be the wooden sailing boat on the opposite side to where the Porsche was parked - I’d really like to own that! Good luck with the MoT and enjoy the drive home when it happens…

Always love your videos. Beautiful Boxster.

Heyy just test drove a manual '03 Boxster S last week! It was too much money (like 22k euros 🤣) but I really loved it, first Porsche I've driven thus far. Very interested to see how Ghetto Boxster turns out!

Nice work. Welcome to the Porsche world👍 Unfortunately I can trump you Jonny. Bought a 2001 boxster in Jungle green metallic last week for £1400 😂 Similar issue with the immobiliser unit.

I know the exact feeling, you know its something or nothing, your heart pounding hoping, wanting the car to start, you completely set on it, and no matter what you want the car. Glad you got it started though, hope you do a follow-up, curious to know the issue bud. Great video. 😁

I’ve owned 2 986 Boxsters and a 996 Carrera, phenomenal value for money. They really feel special, and the sound right behind your head is epic!

German here. Thank you very much for calling that car a "Porsche" and not a "Porsh". Well, you have the money to bring it back to life...

Hi Jonny, I own the same model Boxster, had it for a bit over 12mths, when I first got it I had problems with the electrical part of the ignition switch which is supposedly a common problem so that's the first place I would look. The part is cheap being common to various VW Golf models and some Audi, easy enough to fit if you are skinny and flexible enough to get under the dash🙂

Great episode. My brother has an 02 Boxster same colour as this. He bought it new, I seem to remember a figure of about £36k. He let me have a drive of it back then, which was good of him. He still owns it and it only has 19k miles on it so it’s spent most of its life garaged!

I have a 2002 Boxster S in the same color combination, although I went black when I replaced the top. You're going to love it. Please keep us updated on progress .... please

Wonderfully entertaining. Can’t wait for part two!

Hi Jonny, the VIN entered in CarVertical was completely wrong, so how was the check carried out and it actually provided results???? The VIN entered had four Z’s at the start!!!! The VIN should be WP0ZZZ98Z2S then the serial number. I’m an ex-Porsche Service Manager. Btw, to avoid grief check if the IMS bearing has been changed. If it goes the engine is toast… For the lids not opening, first check the switch on the sill trim as the switches break up internally. The boot release actuator (near the bonnet latch behind the carpet) and last, the connector on the body module. For the electric windows, it’s usually the switches themselves having burnt contacts internally. I suspect that the contacts behind the ignition switch are also on their way out,very common issue

Great video, i’m looking forward to all future videos on this car, and many more to come. 😊

Check the earthing straps and points, then i'd be getting it on a PIWIS and seeing what the modules say.

Loving the old sailing yachts in the barn too!

I'm early into watching this - Check the wiring loom, I think you might find some rubbing which could be giving an intermittent error. I remember something similar in a Merc I had. I ran it with the intermittent fault for a year before realising it must be a simple connection error. Fault was under tape too.

I had a similar issue with a saab 95. Was a magnetic sensor that failed when it got hot. Was a pain to diagnose but cheap to fix once it was found.

Johnny next time you have the roof up in that position be sure to clear the drainage points under there. I owned one of these and if they get blocked, water runs down the back of the seats and onto the modules under the seats.

Absolutely brilliant footage one of your best so informative but also quite funny as well

Subscribed… I am currently looking for the same kind of headache myself. Already looking forward to the next video Thank you for sharing 🤝

Looks like a little bit of work when you're back from the States will have it sorted! Nice find and look forward to seeing the next video of it.

8:44 I’m as excited as your videographer to hear it spent time in Norwich, my home city, now I’m on the other side of the world. Loving all your videos Jonny. 😊

Good buy Jonny. We had exactly the same fault on my wife's MX5. No fault codes. The dealer changed the camshaft sensor and Crank sensor. No joy. After sitting in Waitrose car park for an hour and a half one day. I decided to change the coil pack. Fixed straight away. Been OK for years since.

I do apologize for laughing maniacally when the car didn't start. It was just too perfect. Your frustration was palpable. The only thing missing was the swearing, throwing things, kicking things, and the busted knuckles that usually accompanies these kinds of moments in my experience. I can't wait to see the progress on this one. Fantastic, Jonny.

You said you didn't start it but you did turn it on. For the ECU that's really no different. When you turned the key on to drop the top, that likely set it into it's fault mode. You probably just need a more advanced porsche specific scan tool to figure out what the ECU is cranky about.

My 996 turbo had this same problem start runs left for a while then restart nothing won’t even crank. Dealer spent a week doing wire by wire testing as no fault codes it was the ecu failing due to heat soak not sending the start signal. You can send to ECU DOCTORS USA they also identified the fault in the ECU plus they can rebuild the immobiliser if it has water damage. Hope this helps

Love this, will follow with great interest, the boxster has always been a guilty pleasure of mine

I had exactly the same problem on my 2000 996. Got the car taken to Porsche care in Stevenage where they diagnosed one of the ems computers had a fault. Luckily they sent it off for repair. The car has been perfect ever since. I’ve had the car 9 years now and all good.

I had a similar intermittent start issue with mine. It was the MAP sensor.

Thanks for sharing this with us Jonny.

Loving the bargain Porker and look forward to seeing the updates. There is no substitute…

Well if it wasn't the cheapest boxster in the UK, it certainly is now! Great episode Johnny. Keep it for a few years and showcase it on YT for daily issues or not and it may become the most expensive Boxster ;)

I got my first flat six today too. Picked up an 07 997.1 911 C4. Already love it!

Just a tip for anyone stuck in this situation without an OBD2 reader. You can sometimes reset the ECU by disconnecting the battery, turning on the lights or sounding the horn to discharge any stored electricity then connecting the battery back up and trying to crank over. I had a BMW generation Mini Cooper with too many electrical issues to count that would give me trouble cranking over sometimes and using this trick helped me out when I was stranded.

Cant wait to see more of this project!

Great video, I look forward to follow up episodes on its renovations

Bringing back lots of memories of my 99! Had a similar issue with water getting in and buggering up the control module. Had to get a new DME and New Key$$. I did enjoy the car, but at some point what it needed to get refreshed (like suspension bushings) was cost prohibitive. Went back to my roots and replaced it with a 99 Miata 😆

Good luck with the 986, got my 51 plate 2.7 last November, also my first Porsche - absolutely love it. Will be following with interest.

Love this so much. I'm not surprised you jumped at it!

Don’t they turn it off during the MOT inspection? In Belgium they always do. Probably just for making sure that no dashlight was temporarily wiped with some sort of OBD reset. Lovely video.

I have also bought a Boxster as a project. It is the later facelift so no Boxster chops required. What a strange design having the alarm primer separate under the seat. Looking forward to the next instalment.

Very tense when it wouldn't start 😮. We need to follow your journey with this car, Jonny

When you turned the ignition to look at engine that may have been your “first attempt” then it did it’s normal fault not starting after being previously on.

Good stuff Jonny. I share your excitement, I’m picking up a Gen2 Boxster on Saturday. First Porsche for me too

These 2.7 Boxster are terrific value will only go up. Lovely steering and ride feel so well built, great on long trips for a relaxing high speed cruise. Plus exceptionally well built/ well designed. I’ve had loads of Porsches over the years ( 911, 944 turbo’s, 928, 968 sport, Boxster 3.2) and I always discounted the small engined Boxster as not worth bothering with but we’ve had one for the past 18 months and have really enjoyed it - hard to think of anything else at this price point that’s any better to drive or feels as special, look forward to more updates.

Would love to see a series on this car Jonny!