Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Performance and Technical Chat

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-18-2009, 03:30 PM   #1
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DFW, TX
Posts: 206
Garage
Can the coil packs fail from too much moisture

When installing the WEVO SS Engine mount, we took the opportunity to really clean around the engine (using simple green, brushes and lots of water). We scrubbed the heck out of it. However I cannot imagine that the engine / drivetrain runs that rough with the WEVO SS mount installed. Maybe one of the coil packs failed or shorted out? The motor sounds and runs very rough....like it is missing a cylinder or something. At idle, it seems fine, but as you run through the rev range, it has different vibration and sound characteristics. Strange.......

So my question, has anyone experienced a coil pack failure because they got the coil pack too wet? Would you get a CEL light if the car was running on less than 6 cyl? Perplexing.....

__________________
rob76turbo
Current Porsches: 2002 Boxster S (Speed yellow)
Past Porsches: 1972 914, 1987 944S, 1976 930, 1986 951, 1999 986, 1992 968, 2001 986 S, 2006 Cayman S, 1986 951 track car, 2001 986 S, 2005 Cayenne

Last edited by rob76turbo; 08-18-2009 at 06:53 PM. Reason: fix typo
rob76turbo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2009, 07:54 PM   #2
Registered User
 
ohioboxster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Akron
Posts: 793
I'm going to say yes. A friend of mine and I just replaced the coolant tank on my 911. Coolant leaked on my coils from the cracked tank. CEL said P0301, which is cylinder one. We inspected the coils and found some cracks. I reset the CEL, we ate, pulled the rubber boot, let the coils dry out and it runs fine. The coil will still need replaced.

You should be getting a CEL if your having a misfire.
__________________
2002 TT

Last edited by ohioboxster; 08-18-2009 at 07:56 PM.
ohioboxster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2009, 09:57 PM   #3
Engine Surgeon
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Cleveland GA USA
Posts: 2,425
Most coil packs with more than 30K miles on them have cracks... These cracks can allow moisture to intrude into the workings of the coil and compromise it..

If coil packs have more than 30K on them, replace them as a failure is imminent.
Jake Raby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2009, 11:33 PM   #4
Registered User
 
ohioboxster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Akron
Posts: 793
Sounds right on the money, my 911 has 33,900 miles.
__________________
2002 TT
ohioboxster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2009, 09:01 PM   #5
Registered User
 
Brad Roberts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Alta Loma, CA
Posts: 1,334
Tidbit of info:

DRY out the connectors if you clean the engine. ALSO.. make damn sure you hear the "click" that occurs when you are connecting the coils. Sooo soo many times I have had people ask me to look at a running issue after they changed the plugs. They have to CLICK. Make sure your environment is fairly quiet so you can hear each one "click".

FYI: every time I clean an engine.. I have to blow out the coil pack connectors. It takes very little to cause a misfire at the coils.


B
__________________
Engine Builds, Transmission Builds, Engine Conversions, Suspension Installs, Suspension Tuning, Driver Coaching, Data Acquisition, Video, SCCA/PCA/POC/NASA/GRAND AM/ALMS.
We have worked with amateur and professional drivers for over 26 years. In house machinist, In house fabrication. Our cars, our parts, our engines, our transmission's run nationwide at events every weekend. We work side by side with industry names developing parts.
Brad Roberts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2009, 05:01 PM   #6
Registered User
 
edevlin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Virginia
Posts: 916
"If coil packs have more than 30K on them, replace them as a failure is imminent."

Yikes, have most folks with higher mileage boxsters (60K+) replaced their coil packs? Mine are the original (89K on the car) and my car is running rough at idle. I cleaned the MAF, cleaned the throttle body, added Jectron to the gas, put in new plugs, still rough at idle. Durametric says there are no error codes, any ideas about going for the coil packs next?

Ed

__________________
My Car Webpage

2000 2.7L Boxster 102K; TTP intake, headers, high-flow cats; Dansk high-flow muffler; Autothority ECU chip; TechnoTorque 2; Bilstein coilovers; Racing Dynamics strut brace; stress-bar suspension kit; Aasco lightweight flywheel, B&M short shiftkit; 18" wheels; spare tire delete; OEM GT3 seats; JL audio speakers and subwoofer; Alpine PDX-5/PDX-2 amps; Kenwood DNX8120 CD/DVD/Nav; litronics, deambered
edevlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2009, 07:09 PM   #7
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DFW, TX
Posts: 206
Garage
How about motor mount?
__________________
rob76turbo
Current Porsches: 2002 Boxster S (Speed yellow)
Past Porsches: 1972 914, 1987 944S, 1976 930, 1986 951, 1999 986, 1992 968, 2001 986 S, 2006 Cayman S, 1986 951 track car, 2001 986 S, 2005 Cayenne
rob76turbo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2009, 07:15 PM   #8
Engine Surgeon
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Cleveland GA USA
Posts: 2,425
By 60K engine mounts are dead, at least 1/2 of the lifters are collapsed, vario- cam chain tensioner pads are delaminated, coil packs are cracked and the water pump bearings are history.

A TRUE 60K service needs to include all these items being replaced.. Thats what I do at 60K, most cars need it before 50K.
Jake Raby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2009, 08:24 PM   #9
Registered User
 
Brad Roberts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Alta Loma, CA
Posts: 1,334
"how about the engine mount?"


I'm sending him a CaymanS mount


B
__________________
Engine Builds, Transmission Builds, Engine Conversions, Suspension Installs, Suspension Tuning, Driver Coaching, Data Acquisition, Video, SCCA/PCA/POC/NASA/GRAND AM/ALMS.
We have worked with amateur and professional drivers for over 26 years. In house machinist, In house fabrication. Our cars, our parts, our engines, our transmission's run nationwide at events every weekend. We work side by side with industry names developing parts.
Brad Roberts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2009, 02:31 AM   #10
Registered User
 
edevlin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Virginia
Posts: 916
"By 60K engine mounts are dead, at least 1/2 of the lifters are collapsed, vario- cam chain tensioner pads are delaminated, coil packs are cracked and the water pump bearings are history."

I'll order coil packs and o-rings (in case I have leaks in tubes) and stick them in next week. I hope that fixes the rough idle and that its not the MAF sensor, which I also suspect. BTW, is there any liability with running the car with dead engine mounts?

Ed

__________________
My Car Webpage

2000 2.7L Boxster 102K; TTP intake, headers, high-flow cats; Dansk high-flow muffler; Autothority ECU chip; TechnoTorque 2; Bilstein coilovers; Racing Dynamics strut brace; stress-bar suspension kit; Aasco lightweight flywheel, B&M short shiftkit; 18" wheels; spare tire delete; OEM GT3 seats; JL audio speakers and subwoofer; Alpine PDX-5/PDX-2 amps; Kenwood DNX8120 CD/DVD/Nav; litronics, deambered
edevlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2009, 03:53 AM   #11
Engine Surgeon
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Cleveland GA USA
Posts: 2,425
Quote:
Originally Posted by edevlin
"By 60K engine mounts are dead, at least 1/2 of the lifters are collapsed, vario- cam chain tensioner pads are delaminated, coil packs are cracked and the water pump bearings are history."

I'll order coil packs and o-rings (in case I have leaks in tubes) and stick them in next week. I hope that fixes the rough idle and that its not the MAF sensor, which I also suspect. BTW, is there any liability with running the car with dead engine mounts?

Ed

A dead engine mount places stress on the other components that are connected to the engine and tranny.. And it makes for a nasty transition on and off the clutch with a nasty bump between shifts.

The rough idle can also be a cracked intake manifold or vacuum hose. I see more and more cracked intakes.
Jake Raby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2009, 08:18 AM   #12
Registered User
 
edevlin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Virginia
Posts: 916
"If coil packs have more than 30K on them, replace them as a failure is imminent."

I replaced mine along with plugs, fuel filter and AOS this weekend and I was impressed by their condition, it was bad. I think only one of the six coilpacks that did not have cracks and large cracks on them in several places. Funny thing was the car was running pretty good except for rough idle (probably vacuum leak).

So, I have a question about how smart our ECU's are. Do the ECU's need to readjust to the addition of new plugs and coilpacks. My old plugs were only a year old, but the coilpacks were the original (90K). The car is running fine now, but seems like it is not quite as quick (quite subjective) as it was before swapping out parts this weekend. That is why I am wondering if the ECU is adapting. BTW, if its not clear already, I know just enough about this stuff to be dangerous....


Ed

__________________
My Car Webpage

2000 2.7L Boxster 102K; TTP intake, headers, high-flow cats; Dansk high-flow muffler; Autothority ECU chip; TechnoTorque 2; Bilstein coilovers; Racing Dynamics strut brace; stress-bar suspension kit; Aasco lightweight flywheel, B&M short shiftkit; 18" wheels; spare tire delete; OEM GT3 seats; JL audio speakers and subwoofer; Alpine PDX-5/PDX-2 amps; Kenwood DNX8120 CD/DVD/Nav; litronics, deambered
edevlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-2009, 05:29 PM   #13
Bob Hindson Racing
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Wouldn't say that replacing coil packs past 30K is necessary as "failure is eminent," as we've seen plenty of cars with 60k-80k on original coil packs doing just fine, but if the plastic casing is cracked, then yes, failure will come sooner than later. It's less an absolute mileage item and more a time sensitive item which is heavily influenced by the environment the item is in.

  Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:11 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page