Loud BANG then... - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Tailwind · 11-09-2018, 04:16 PM

As the title says, I was running errands today and approaching an intersection, slowing then starting to speed up, a horrendous BANG then no traction. Engine revs up, clutch pedal feels normal, gear shift feels normal. No funny noises or anything.
Towed to shop, one of the mechanics thinks clutch cable, but I don't think so. My retired Porsche mechanic buddy (30 years experience) thinks an axle snapped. I'll know Monday.

I just picked it up yesterday after they replaced the engine mounts.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

The Radium King · 11-09-2018, 04:36 PM

i suggest you don't want a mechanic that thinks it's a clutch cable. there is no clutch cable.

particlewave · 11-09-2018, 04:42 PM

I would suspect an axle. As stated above, the clutch is hydraulic, so no cable.

dghii · 11-09-2018, 04:48 PM

+2 for axle.

husker boxster · 11-09-2018, 05:27 PM

Shot in the dark - shifter cable popped off the trans.

ekam · 11-10-2018, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by husker boxster

Shot in the dark - shifter cable popped off the trans.

A snapped shift cable wouldn't make a BANG...?

Tailwind · 11-10-2018, 04:51 AM

It's been a very long time since I worked on Porsches. I will need to look at some service lit. My buddy said something about one shaft is driven and it drives the other. idk.

The guy who made the cable comment is just one of the monkeys, no disrespect intended.

Dave, the owner knows his stuff, as do his the other mechanics. He has a 5 star shop and has 100K invested in in diagnostic and mentioned $12K/yr subscription (this must be PIWIS). I trust him.

I took the car to him evaluate with the intent of doing IMSB, but he said he did not recommend it, that the car sounded fine and was in great shape. They did replace the engine mounts and the plugs and one tube was leaking.

I'll know Monday.

Thanks for your feedback.

btw can someone explain how i can list my cars in the message box?
thx

MWS · 11-10-2018, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tailwind

btw can someone explain how i can list my cars in the message box?
thx

In the user CP you can set a signature...

356Guy · 11-11-2018, 05:59 AM

Something could have gone wrong during the engine mount change. Don't they have to drop the engine a few inches? The other possibility is the clutch disc.

Qckslvr · 11-11-2018, 06:53 AM

I agree on the Axle. I used to drag race air cooled VWs. CV joints love to pop, especially when the boots fall apart from age, blow all their grease out, then start collecting dust and dirt in them.

A good indicator to a CV going out is a clicking or clunking sound while going into corners, or taking off from a dead stop.

Geof3 · 11-11-2018, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 356Guy

Something could have gone wrong during the engine mount change. Don't they have to drop the engine a few inches? The other possibility is the clutch disc.

Doubtful. The engine has to move a tiny bit, unless someone has no idea what they are doing. It’s a straight forward job.

Regarding the IMS, if you are taking out the tranny for some reason do it, as well as the clutch, and RMS. The primary labor is simply accessing these things. I think the IMS thing is real, but hyped for sure. But, if I were ever needing to have the tranny removed, it would get done.

I vote axle as well. Not sure what was meant by “one axle drives another etc” odd...

BTW, if an axle it’s very easy to diagnose. Like get it up in the air and look...

maytag · 11-11-2018, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geof3

I vote axle as well. Not sure what was meant by “one axle drives another etc” odd...

I suspect what he was talking about was the open differential. For those who may not understand that, in an open differential, if one wheel is in the air, it will Spin and spin and spin and the other wheel will not turn.
Likewise, if one axle is broken, the shaft will Spin and spin and spin and no power will be applied to the other wheel. In other words, breaking one axle is as good as breaking both axles! :-) haha

Given the bang, and then the lack of any other noises afterwards, I would also vote for the axle. There are things that could go on in the clutch, or in the transmission itself, which could cause the symptoms you are experiencing, but you would most certainly hear things rattling around now.

And as has also already been said, you should be able to diagnose that very quickly, just by peering underneath the car.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

Gilles · 11-11-2018, 01:41 PM

+ one more vote for an axle/cv joint that failed..

Tailwind · 11-11-2018, 03:20 PM

Thanks for the comments guys. I'll hear from them tomorrow. I agree with maytag and Gilles, but hope it's not too major.
The previous owner recently had the clutch and pilot bearing replaced.

356Guy · 11-11-2018, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geof3

Doubtful...

We are all just speculating, aren't we? I hear improperly torqued axle bolts can be problematic.

911monty · 11-11-2018, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tailwind

Thanks for the comments guys. I'll hear from them tomorrow. I agree with maytag and Gilles, but hope it's not too major.
The previous owner recently had the clutch and pilot bearing replaced.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 356Guy

We are all just speculating, aren't we? I hear improperly torqued axle bolts can be problematic.

+1 Axle bolts.

Geof3 · 11-11-2018, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 356Guy

We are all just speculating, aren't we? I hear improperly torqued axle bolts can be problematic.

Doubtful it’s the motor mount...

Geof3 · 11-11-2018, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maytag

I suspect what he was talking about was the open differential. For those who may not understand that, in an open differential, if one wheel is in the air, it will Spin and spin and spin and the other wheel will not turn.
Likewise, if one axle is broken, the shaft will Spin and spin and spin and no power will be applied to the other wheel. In other words, breaking one axle is as good as breaking both axles! :-) haha

Given the bang, and then the lack of any other noises afterwards, I would also vote for the axle. There are things that could go on in the clutch, or in the transmission itself, which could cause the symptoms you are experiencing, but you would most certainly hear things rattling around now.

And as has also already been said, you should be able to diagnose that very quickly, just by peering underneath the car.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

Yeah, he could have been talking about the diff... just an odd description if so. But I suppose in “lay” terms it would make sense to describe it like that.

Tailwind · 11-12-2018, 04:28 AM

356guy, 911monty - Axle bolts a possibility, as the previous shop r/r trans to do clutch, but what went bang is the question. Thanks again for comments.

78F350 · 11-12-2018, 08:44 AM

Check out this old post:
Lost all gears in my 2001 Boxster today...Help!