The latest IMS loss. A true classic failure - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Jake Raby · 03-30-2011, 05:09 AM

We've had a great streak of saving engines that have had IMS issues, but it ended yesterday with a car that was shipped into us from South Florida. We had hoped to save this one, but it had no hope due to collateral damage and a debris filled oil system.

Just north of 70K miles and driven by a Female, always well maintained.. But look at that throttle plate, this is why we state that driving cars too easy isn't beneficial to the surface speed of the bearing and reduces it's life.

She is looking at the purchase of one of our CPO engines, we should have her back on the road in two weeks or so..

lifeisgood · 03-30-2011, 05:20 AM

Can you give us the year of the car? Is it Tip/manual?

Jake Raby · 03-30-2011, 06:01 AM

-01S
-6 Speed
-78K on the clock

Cost to overcome the hurdle- 12.5K

jmatta · 03-30-2011, 07:12 AM

That one looks pretty ripped up...surely there must have been bad noises and rattling sounds warning the owner of impending doom?

I don't see a pic of the throttle plate, but assume it must have been quite filthy.

chamilun · 03-30-2011, 07:54 AM

Jake,
did anything ever come of your theory that tiptronics are less likely to blow up than the manuals?

many thanks,

Jake Raby · 03-30-2011, 10:19 AM

She said there was just two ticks as she decelerated and then one boom and the engine stalled. It did this while being pulled into her parking space at work..
She didn't hear anything else.

Thats what they all say.

harryrcb · 03-30-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chamilun

Jake,
did anything ever come of your theory that tiptronics are less likely to blow up than the manuals?

many thanks,

I know you asked Jake but just to interject I just got an 04 S Tripronic with approx 32k that the IMS broke not as bad as Jakes caught it earlier it is rebuildable, I hope.

Jake Raby · 03-30-2011, 12:39 PM

The reason fewer tips were failing is because fewer tips were made.. Lets just say its an issue for every year, every model and if you haven't swapped the bearing out yet don't cry when it happens.

None are immune. None.

clickman · 03-30-2011, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

She said there was just two ticks as she decelerated and then one boom and the engine stalled. It did this while being pulled into her parking space at work..
She didn't hear anything else.

Thats what they all say.

And here I thought Tick Tick BOOM was referring to the clock ticking!

thstone · 03-30-2011, 03:31 PM

Picture "Miller2" appears to show what looks like a lot of long term oil and grease buildup below the bearing area on the bottom and sides of the engine. Correct?

If so, do you think that this bearing had been leaking for quite awhile before the catastrophe?

If so, is there a lesson learned on checking out any oil leak immediately even if everything sounds/runs ok?

Sorry for all of the supposition, but its hard to make any firm determinations from just a few photos.

Jake Raby · 03-30-2011, 06:27 PM

This one had the oil weep symptom for sure.. But never enough to create a "drip".

Check every oil leak immediately. Assume the worst and hope for the best and ACT, don't be lazy.

Rui725 · 03-30-2011, 06:46 PM

What was the oil change history on this car? Every 5000 miles or 6 months, or the ludicrous Porsche recommended 15,000 miles?

Jake Raby · 03-30-2011, 07:02 PM

I honestly have no idea on this one. All I know is that she'll now be changing it every 5K and using Flat Six Oil and nothing else..

schoir · 03-31-2011, 05:30 AM

To my untrained eye, it sure looks like the oil and grime buildup should have been visible without pulling the transmission, and it does not look like it just started leaking a few days ago.

Regards, Maurice.

Flavor 987S · 03-31-2011, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

Lets just say its an issue for every year, every model and if you haven't swapped the bearing out yet don't cry when it happens.

None are immune. None.

Always doom & gloom from Jake Raby. Must be good for business.

Is this why you have been banned from other Porsche enthusiast web sites??

mikefocke · 03-31-2011, 06:34 AM

and get calls for help when there are problems and aren't generally in the business of seeing good news cars you begin to think that way.

Jake was asked to leave one forum because some of the moderators (not all) felt his posts were too close to advertising. Yes they were sometimes. And yes it is depressing to hear about problems. But think of the benefit we receive and how much more we know because of his postings. You never learn anything by shutting out a news source even if you don't like to hear what they are telling you.

Jake, please continue posting. Please back your statements up with as many pictures and statistics and facts as you can. Many of us come here to learn. And the experienced ones who do post help the rest of us.

Thanks.

seningen · 03-31-2011, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikefocke

and get calls for help when there are problems and aren't generally in the business of seeing good news cars you begin to think that way.

Jake was asked to leave one forum because some of the moderators (not all) felt his posts were too close to advertising. Yes they were sometimes. And yes it is depressing to hear about problems. But think of the benefit we receive and how much more we know because of his postings. You never learn anything by shutting out a news source even if you don't like to hear what they are telling you.

Jake, please continue posting. Please back your statements up with as many pictures and statistics and facts as you can. Many of us come here to learn. And the experienced ones who do post help the rest of us.

Thanks.

In this case -- you get a zillion times the information for the price you paid for it.

If you choose to not be informed -- don't read any of Jake's posts.

If you believe you have contradictory information -- then please inform us!

His statements might be a little strong -- but I'm sure the lady in Florida
would like to have been informed before she has to shell out at least as
much as the car is worth -- just to get it back on the road.

I'd rather be informed of the possibilities and then make the
choice my self, then be completely ignorant.

Mike

Pat · 03-31-2011, 10:53 AM

IMO Jake's posts are some of the most valuable here. There are a handful of board members I really enjoy reading and he is one of them.

chamilun · 03-31-2011, 11:18 AM

but heres the thing: these stories (meaning the same car & instance) are posted (by not always the same person) on every single boxster sight, with the exception of maybe Pedros site.

As a previous owner of a v8 BMW e34 where the Nikasil issue scared just about everyone (which was great because it really kept prices down), its hard to tell the significance of the various issues on these cars. A lot of engines were replaced by BMW over the years.

If Jake is right, and "no one is immune. no one", then we should all be taking are cars in and having the bearing upgraded. I certainly plan on doing so when the opportunity is there. Im not so certain the oil change frequency changes anything though.

spongebob · 03-31-2011, 11:27 AM

First of all, Jake is doing a fantastic job discovering all issues with our engines and I do hope that he continues to inform us about all design drawbacks inside the Boxster engines.
Having spent half of my life inside engine rooms I find it very hard to believe that it is only "tick tick then boom" judging from what the bearing looks like. If you pay some attention and interest listening to your engine it must be able to detect before the final breakdown. Maybe a stethoscope should be standard equipment in a Boxtser. To you who have suffered from the IMS failure,and claims that you have some skills in judging an engines condition, am I totally wrong here?