Rookie to this site needs help! - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

CJ_Boxster · 10-09-2008, 04:27 PM

if the idle has been or started to get dippy before it died then its likely the MAF sensor gone bad, a good way to test it is to disconnect the connector to it and try starting it again, if it starts then MAF is bad. Also you can let the engine cool down for 3 hours and try again and it should start back up... has something todo with the bad MAF giving off a incorrect intake air-temp or air velocity reading once the engine and the bay has warmed up

cjweiss · 10-09-2008, 04:48 PM

Idle had been fine. In fact, car ran perfect. Driving at about 40 and just shut off. Car has sat about 5 hours now. Still does not re-start...so would you say rule out the MAS? (I hope I replied using the correct format) Thanks CJ

rick3000 · 10-09-2008, 04:55 PM

Was it leaking oil, and/or did you hear what sounded like a coin rattling around in the engine?
If yes, it could be IMS or RMS, but hopefully it is something simpler, and less expensive. If it just shut off for no reason, with no warning, I wonder if your key battery died and activated the immobilizer? If could be a lot of different things, more detail would help.

Adam · 10-09-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick3000

Was it leaking oil, and/or did you hear what sounded like a coin rattling around in the engine?
If yes, it could be IMS or RMS, but hopefully it is something simpler, and less expensive. .

Why would a RMS leak cause the engine to die and not start?

rick3000 · 10-09-2008, 05:18 PM

If the RMS seal was leaking prior to the car dying, then it is possible that an RMS failure occurred where all the oil drains out of the engine and destroys it. Then when you try to restart the car later, the electric start would work, but the engine would not start.

Lil bastard · 10-09-2008, 05:34 PM

....ims???

rick3000 · 10-09-2008, 05:37 PM

IMS = Intermediate Shaft Failure

It is very likely that neither a RMS or IMS failure has occurred, but whenever I hear someone say their engine died, these are the first two causes I think of. I think the best course of action, is to take it to your mechanic and have him figure out what has happened.

Jaxonalden · 10-09-2008, 06:20 PM

Cjweiss,

You should be able to troubleshoot this down to the system. I'd love to draw this out in a trouble tree but this should work;

First, does it turn over? Yes, do you have spark? Yes, do you have fuel? Yes, do you have compression? If you have all of those the car should start.

No to the first using the starter, push it and stick it in gear and see if the engine will turn over that way...if not, its locked up and its time to cry. No to the second on all cylinders, possible ECU failure (its not telling the plugs when to fire). No to the third, check your fuel pump for power (not running?, fuse). Good?, check your fuel filter. No to the fourth, possible skipped timing but doubtful.

BTW, what part of the land of cow **************** and beer farts are you in? I'm from 100 miles north of Green Bay and a die hard Packer fan and shareholder.

rick3000 · 10-09-2008, 07:18 PM

This isn't my area of expertise, but let's recap so we can be clear:
The car died, with no prior warning, oil leak, or noise. The starter sounds but the car won't turn over. It seemed like the ignition/fuel lost pressure. So basically it just stopped working, without any noise.

It definately does not sound like RMS or IMS which is great.
It sound to me more like an electrical problem. Fuse? Maybe a vacuum leak (you said it lost pressure?)