A sad day for my bank account...

[Need_for_speed]

Just heard back from my indy regarding my annual check and service: camshaft deviation angles are now very close to 6 degrees on both banks.

ugh.

Around $2k to replace both camshaft wear pads.

2000 2.7L base with 69,000 miles -- probably to be expected. Looks like I'll have to give up the champagne and caviar for awhile...

[dsallean]

That's a bummer.

Having done this job myself recently, I think if I had to do it again I might pay $2k.

[algiorda]

I'm curious, what made you check your camshaft deviation in the first place? Is this really performed during annual check and service??? I never really heard of such a thing.

[Gelbster]

Takes a few seconds extra with PIWIS/Durametric if it is already hooked up. Good PM check.
Next step is a "while you are in there" list to minimize future bank balance damage?

[rick3000]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but would would be considered good and bad cam deviations. I would like to check mine next time I hook up the Durametric.

[NewArt]

Under 6 is çonsidered within spec.

[Need_for_speed]

Originally Posted by algiorda

I'm curious, what made you check your camshaft deviation in the first place? Is this really performed during annual check and service??? I never really heard of such a thing.

I asked my indie to check the values, knowing that I was probably pretty close. This is a wear item on these cars, and after around 60-65k miles, these pads just wear out. If you don't replace them, they'll eventually cause really big problems that are even more expensive to fix.

I am curious to know if replacing these pads was a part of the standard maintenance schedule. My guess is a lot of owners decided to trade the car in rather than do the job, passing the problem down to a second owner who either didn't know the problem existed, or was unwilling to spend the money, thus perpetuating the issue.

Oh well, this is a wonderful little sports car. I will never, ever get my money back out of it, unless you consider the miles of smiles when I drive it.

[Lapister]

Sorry to hear at only 69k miles? So, just out of curiosity and for future reference does anyone know if this can be done without pulling engine? Is this a job where you have to pull both bank cam covers? Will covers come off within car?

[Boxtaboy]

Are you sure this is a common wear item? MarcW on Pedrosboard has over 300k miles on his 02 2.7L that he bought new, and I've never heard of him replacing the camshaft wear pads.

EDIT: Confirmed with MarcW that he has not had to replace his Camshaft wear pads. He's got over 310K miles on his 02 Box.

[Gelbster]

Yes you can remove the cam covers with the engine in the car but it is a horrid job and you need cam holding tools and a tool for compressing the Actuator.
Unless you are very well equipped for this and have lots of time,patience ,and very skinny hands and research .I would not recommend it. Yes I have recently done it but as JFP astutely hinted when I started the job- it is like building a ship in a bottle. And you need 2 !

[jcslocum]

Originally Posted by Gelbster

Yes you can remove the cam covers with the engine in the car but it is a horrid job and you need cam holding tools and a tool for compressing the Actuator.
Unless you are very well equipped for this and have lots of time,patience ,and very skinny hands and research .I would not recommend it. Yes I have recently done it but as JFP astutely hinted when I started the job- it is like building a ship in a bottle. And you need 2 !

Was there a thread on this??

[Gelbster]

Pelican cover it but with engine out.

[clickman]

Originally Posted by Gelbster

Takes a few seconds extra with PIWIS/Durametric if it is already hooked up. Good PM check.
Next step is a "while you are in there" list to minimize future bank balance damage?

Make sure the engine has been for a really good run before checking the angles

What else needs to be done while ur in there? I was going to replace the chains

[steved0x]

Mine are around -6 (2000 Boxster S, 130K miles), I talked to some folks about getting it done, and one of them said to come see him when the CEL comes on, which I think (I may be recalling incorrectly) he said was at +-9. I check it from time to time and it has been holding steady over the 30K miles I have owned the car.

[Gelbster]

Chains - that is an engine out job unless you want to try split links?

[clickman]

the short chains come out with the actuator

[Gelbster]

Of course they do. You have no choice with the cam-to-cam chain. The issue would be the IMS to cam chain.The clue is the phrase "split link"- only applies to the longer IMS to Cam chain.Just rebuilt all this stuff.

[ymkmkrz]

I have had 3 M96 cars and never had an issue. All told close to 300k miles over all three. I had one engine rebuilt but that was for performance, as it had no issues at the time. It may be a wear item, not saying it isn't, but not sure why I haven't had the problem. I've had most of the known maintenance problems. No engine failures but I got IMS taken care of as soon as there was a fix


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[Need_for_speed]

Originally Posted by ymkmkrz

I have had 3 M96 cars and never had an issue. All told close to 300k miles over all three. I had one engine rebuilt but that was for performance, as it had no issues at the time. It may be a wear item, not saying it isn't, but not sure why I haven't had the problem. I've had most of the known maintenance problems. No engine failures but I got IMS taken care of as soon as there was a fix


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Wish I had your luck! Not sure why you haven't experienced any issues with these as well. There's actually been quite a bit posted on this forum and others about these wear pads, and not taking care of the issue gradually leads to a worsening list of problems. At some point, the cam deviations will lead to a CEL. If you continue to ignore the issue, the pads will wear completely through, and the chain starts to run directly on the timing chain tensioner ($1k each). At some point, maybe as your punching it down an on-ramp, or on the front straight on a DE day, the chain tensioner will not be able to keep up and the motor will slip timing.

My indie is a certified LN IMS installer, and he won't touch the car with a replacement IMS unless cam deviations have been corrected.

[ymkmkrz]

I will check it with durametric for sure
My indie has never mentioned it. Lord
Knows I have done
Everything else


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