Engine Failure - Help, What do I do?
This is my first post on the forum and I am desperately in need of some advice. I've had my 2001 Boxster S for only about 6 months. It just got the 60,000 mile inspection about a month ago. Last week while on a very short trip (only a few blocks) the coolant light started flashing. I had the car parked a few minutes then drove it home and the light had turned off. Same thing happened the next day so I called the dealer who instructed me to top it off with coolant. Everything seemed fine as the light went off again. Later as I was getting on the freeway I blew a big cloud of smoke out of the tailpipe and a few minutes later the lights flashing again and so is the check engine light. It wasn't overheating and didn't seem to be driving bad other than that but I was very concerned so I went straight home (not far). I didn't drive it all weekend and made an appointment with the dealer first thing on Monday morning. They said it was Ok to drive in as long as it wasn't overheating. Now I just got the call with the diagnosis. Engine Failure! They explained that it was leaking coolant into the oil. The only fix is a new (or possibly used) engine at a cost of $15,000! I have no idea what to do now. Its not as if I am a millionaire and that was a disposable toy. It was my baby and now I am absolutely heart broken. Any words of advice, wisdom, or comfort from anyone who has gone through this would be greatly appreciated.
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Did you drive the car with a flashing CEL?
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It is my understanding that it was not the loss of coolant that caused the engine failure, but rather the other way around. The coolant was lost into the oil pan because of a cracked/shifted cylinder sleeve. |
Saxster,
So sorry to hear that ! Unfortunately, it looks like you are not the only one that this has happened to : http://986forum.com/forums/search.php?searchid=467825 I am suprised, it seems like this was a problem with the 99's, but you have a 01 :confused: Can't offer much but my condolences... Nick |
When you lose coolant and it isn't coming OUT of the car, it is going IN, into the oil.
This is a very bad thing of course. I do think you engine is toast. The cheapest route is a used engine, with all the caveats of that route. Either way, get estimates from several reputable service shops, as the labor rates vary greatly. Sorry and good luck. |
For the future, if you get a coolant and CEL light at the same time,
Pull over and park the car. Call the tow truck. This MAY have made a difference but I doubt it. |
Man - I have been shopping for a boxster - I planned on not buying a 97-99 for this reason. Now I am wondering if I should just pass on a boxster. :(
All cars have issues - did you carfax it and see if a dealer even ever serviced this car? All and all - very sad news. |
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I've had my check coolant light flash on 2 separate occasions, about 2 weeks apart. I immediately stopped the engine checked the coolant and everything seemed fine. I started the car again and no problems. This happened twice as i said. I don't know what happened but i haven't seen that light flash now for quite awhile.
I know this is different from your situation. I really do feel for you . If this happened to me I dont know what I would do, except cry. I wish i knew why my coolant light flashed those 2 times when everything apparently looks ok. GOOD LUCK to you. |
What dealership are you dealing with?
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2001saxster, do not get any hopes of PCNA giving you any good-will coverage. Your car is well beyond warranty.
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well, if ya need a new engine, go with a used 911 motor conversion... I hear they will fit.. I don't know for sure...
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If you have oil in your coolant, then the engine is most likely dead... have them run a compression and leak down test to just make sure... the most likely culprit is a cracked cylinder sleeve... they may tell you its a head gasket, but I from my experience with the problem, no one I can find has had a head gasket go out on a M96
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Stuff like this
Makes we want to steer clear. I can handle increased ticky tacky maintenance requirements and being vigilant with things like belt changes, but I can't handle catastrophic failures.
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Your error in logic is assuming that Porsche gives a crap about their customers. I have never seen evidience of such when it comes to warranty coverage. So the answer to the bolded statement above has been provided, time and time again. |
The car is out of warranty. Posche has no obligation to the current car owner.
Please be aware too that if Porsche does extend a "good will" effort to help an owner with a specific problem, whether the car is in warranly or out of warranty, those arrangements are considered confidential between Porsche and the owner. A document is signed as proof. So I would say that Porsche may (or does) help the customer in some (many) situations, and we are not privied to that information. Something to think about. |
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Yes, I am aware that the car is "out of warranty." I was responding to the bolded statement. There is plenty of "anecdotal" data on this forum and others that I suggest makes it very clear how Porsche feels about its obligation to its customers. Can you say RMS and IMS? Design issues that go on for years seem to tell us all we need to know? At least that is my interpretation. Perhaps they are just slow or in denial. That is also possible. My personal experience and long and candid discussions with the local Porsche service folks lead me to my conclusions. Having said that, I can't prove anything. The company has all the data and they ain't talking. :D PS- My neighbor still talks about her 2004 Boxster grenading on her with 12K on the clock. She can't figure it out and neigther can I. Dealer told me the reason he could fix it in a week is the large number of spare engines shipped to the US for just such an event. |
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