Impending IMS failure?
 

'04 2.7L manual w/ 68,900 miles, have had it for about 2.5 weeks (picked it up with 67,375). I did have Kennedy Motorsports in Daytona Beach do a PPI before I got it, and they said it came back great and the compression on all cylinders was in good shape.

On cold starts, I get a faint rattling sound for about 10 seconds before it goes away (and the idle drops). It sort of sounds like it's coming from the exhaust, generally lasts longer if the engine and ambient temperature is colder. I don't really notice it once the car is warmed up to operating temperature.

After reading through 101 Projects last night, I'm growing concerned that the IMS bearing is on its way south. Can anyone offer some insight into the sounds? It's not so much of a "glunk glunk" as it is a rattle that's only temporary. Seems to run fine and pull hard.

I'm going to have Brumos check it out this afternoon to get their diagnosis of the sound and see if the timing has any variations. I had planned on doing the IMS retrofit anyway (just to be safe), but hadn't planned on doing it just yet.

Any ideas if I'm going to be hosed or okay? Thanks for the help, guys.

Uh oh, you could be hearing the dreaded "death rattle." Send your car to Jake ASAP.

BANG!!! (j/k)

I don't think anyone who's suffered from IMS failure heard any type of "death rattle" before the event occured. I've read many of the threads and don't recall anyone saying there was some sort of sound before it happened. They generally were driving along just fine and then their engine quietly stops and won't restart.

I think 986's have a panel near the exhaust that works loose and nestles up to the exhaust. Then when your car is warming up and the exhaust is shaking a bit, the panel rattles. Good chance this is what you're hearing. Brumos would be able to diagnos this issue but they can't tell you anything about the shape of your IMS without tearing into your engine.

It's good that you're having the IMS upgrade done, but relax and enjoy your Box until then.

Some, but very few, M96’s do make peculiar sounds when the IMS is on the way out, but more often the only sound you hear is dollars leaving your wallet.

Pull your oil, filter and the sump cover; if you find granular debris that exhibits a metallic sheen or can be picked up by a magnet, it is definitely the IMS on the way out…………

Yeah, Huskers explantion is much more probable and likely btw. ;) If I was a new member searching this board I'd be inclined to think that 99.9% of all Boxster problems are IMS related. IMS hysteria is rampant. It makes such an easy scapegoat. :rolleyes:

wait??
 

Adam, I thought it was the dreaded "white smoke of death"???

lol :D

Yeah, if you have the death smoke and rattle at the same time then she's a lost cause and you might as well just put the old girl down and take her down to the scrapyard. lol....yeah don't mind me I'm just feeling kinda awnry today. :D

Who you gonna listen to
 

JFP from Pa sees hundreds of Porsches a year (he runs a repair shop).

I've been following his postings for years, I see his success rate. I see how he generally is in agreement with other folks known to be knowledgeable (as opposed to those who just post).

So I think I know whose advice I'd value...

Yeah, all kidding aside Jeff and Jake are the two biggest authorities on the M96 engine on this board. I'd listen to them.

Could be simple...rattle coming from the cats. Usually a IMS failure rattle does not go away. :cheers:

Sounds like you have dirty chain tensioners.. or dirty lifters... The death rattle doesn't last long.. If you hear it more than once or twice before the scattering begins, you are lucky..

This one was taken apart today.. as I type this the second IMS failed engine is being extracted from the car... It'll be apart tomorrow..

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3678620_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7776288_n.jpg

Seen my balls lately??
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3656864_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4801912_n.jpg

The New Year has started with a Tick.. Tick.. BOOM! Each day this week we have removed at least one engine and completely disassembled it after a catastrophic failure!

Diagnostics is the process of elimination. If the OP is concerned that he has an IMS issue, the only way to know, and to put it out of his mind if it isn’t, is to look. Case in point, here’s what another poster in a different thread found in his filter…..

http://986forum.com/forums/attachmen...id=13539&stc=1

Others have had "the fear", checked, and found nothing. Price to check it out: Minimal. Ability to sleep at night: Priceless................. This is the kind of PPI information that can make or break a sale.