Porsche Boxster 3.2 S Tiptronic gearbox slip

[MicroStratus]

I recently bought a 2003 Boxster 3.2 S Tiptronic and while the car runs very well I am a little concerned at what appears to be some slip on the gearbox. This is the first auto that I have owned so this may be perfectly normal behaviour however when driving at a constant speed (say 50mph) and you depress the accelerator the revs increase by about 400 rpm before it starts accelerating. Another way to describe this is that when you take your foot off the accelerator and then push it down again the revs change by about 800 rpm between the decelerating revs and the accelerating revs. Is this just normal slip on the torque converter or is there a problem?

Many thanks for any advice.

[IMI A]

You need to get that fixed as its not normal. Try NineExcellence they know a thing or two about tips.

[Timbo_Mint]

There was a car program on where they brought a very cheap Boxster (with Tiptronic) and one of the issues was a slipping clutch. The mechanic on the show fixed it by replacing the gearbox oil.

Now this could have just masked the problem but it may be that your issue isn't as bad as you might be thinking.

Perhaps it would have been helpful if I could remember the name of the program but hay hum.. sorry

[thegoose]

It was Wheeler Dealers. Changing the gear box oil & filter is a good place to start - it's due at 96,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first IIRC so it's due anyway.

[Nineexcellence]

What you have described is not normal. You need to get the tiptronic control unit (TCU) read out to see what is happening, but best case would be to do a gearbox service - not that expensive. One common reason for this is incorrect ATF level, so if your sump gasket has been leaking etc, that will cause similar issues - it takes just 200ml less of ATF to stop the gearbox working correctly.

Ken

[tr7v8]

Just had the Tip done in my Boxster by OPC Tonbridge, was around £300. They also re-adapted the box ECU to reset it. Made a fantastic difference. Mine had done 82k over 12ish years.

[MicroStratus]

Thanks everyone for your responces. I will do as suggested and take it in in for a service. Hopefully the issue is related to oil level.