7) Should I pull the trans and flywheel (I planned to anyway for the clutch and IMS upgrade) to check the IMS? If it looks good I will probably drop the engine to get access to the cams (it looks too tight to even remove the cam covers while the engine is in the car, even though people seem to do it all the time).
Any thoughts are appreciated and thanks for your time.

Nick Kriete
Birmingham, MI
248.703.9614
headdead@gmail.com (probably the best way to respond since I don't check here everyday)

5) If it's not an IMS failue, I'm thinking Variocam and/or solenoid. Bank1 or Bank2 or both? Maybe it's stuck in the retarded position on one side? It looks like a ******************** to even get at the solenoid plug(s), but I could probably unplug it. Then what? How does one diagnose a variocam problem and then decide if it's the variocam itself or the solenoid?
6) I have heard that the IMS sprocket can slip on the IMS shaft. How would one know? I assume the repair is to open the entire engine. Or does one simply retime the cam shafts?

1) If I buy a Durametric, do I need to start the car to get acutal cam angles or the deviation between intake and exhaust or are the actual values stored in the ECU and available to the Durametric without starting the engine? NOTE: I had to remove the battery to start my backup Boxster to get to work. I suppose I could start the car again if I absolutely must.
2) I know little about the idle control valve (and not a ton about the rest of the car either.)
3) Does 1341 indicate a problem on bank 1 only, or does the P304 indicate a problem common to both banks. Would there be an additional code, analagous to 1341, if bank2 had the same problem?
4) Should I pull the cam plugs, find TDC on bank1 and check the exhaust cam to see if timing slipped?

Hi Paul
I saw your suggestion to another user to PM you if he wanted to diagnose a 1341 error code on his Boxster, so I though I would impose on you as well:
I have a 2001 986s 6 speed, 90K miles. I has had a CEL on for a while, but
last week I went to start it and it had an EXTREMELY rough idle and threw a FLASHING cel. I shut it down and have not restarted it. A cheap code reader shows

P0300 randomn cyl misfire detected
P0301 cyl 1 misfired
P0304 cyl 4 misfired
P0507 idle control rpm high
P0442 evap control system leak (small)
P1341 manufacturer cntl ignition system or misfire

I need a plan to diagnose the problem.