05-10-2012, 12:49 PM
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#1
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WV Boxster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WV
Posts: 251
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My first engine problem
This morning and then again this afternoon, I started car and it felt rough idle, almost quitting. This is first time I have noticed as much as a wimper. I am not a mechanic but can turn a wrench and change/ clean parts.
Where do I start?
Note after I took off car runs fine. Took about two or so seconds under way to straighten up. From reading maybe the MAF. I have a 2000 base with 60,000 and a upgraded IMS, new plugs, new heater hoses all in last 6,000 miles.
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05-10-2012, 02:07 PM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
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If you have a durametric, check for codes, also check for a vacumm leak.
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Current car
2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black
Previous cars
1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
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05-10-2012, 02:12 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In the garage...
Posts: 1,724
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Start by seeing if any codes are pending in OBDII. If it's running that bad some should be pending even though no CEL.
Otherwise, it's pretty much anyone's guess and you could spend a lot of time and $ chasing unnecessary parts...
Could be MAF (which you can try cleaning or disconnecting/running in safe mode), might be a coil pack (6k should have shaken any bad install out before now but look at them to see if any might be cracked), maybe AOS starting to fail but usually it'll just go w/ lots of smoke (pull off j-tube at TB and look for any oil pooling), vacuum leak big enough would trigger CEL before rough running would be noticed.
Good luck
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05-10-2012, 02:55 PM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: canada
Posts: 445
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I've had the same issue for a while now and nothing shows on the ODBII. Vacuum leak test at the local mechanic is on the list of things to do but they run $300-$350 and no guarantees that'll tell me what's going on. I hate these types of issues.:ah:
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05-10-2012, 03:15 PM
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#5
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WV Boxster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WV
Posts: 251
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Can a vacuum leak only effect cold start up. No smoke at all and on MAF what are the systems that I should watch for. Just took her out and ran perfect on start up and had a Chevy Truck roll some smoke trying to race me, took care of him in a second or two. It was funny to watch him slip into his seat.
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05-10-2012, 03:57 PM
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#6
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Certified Boxster Addict
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 7,669
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A vacuum leak might be worse on startup but should continue to affect the engine after warm up.
I hate to say this, but unless you want to start replacing several $200+ parts one at a time, the best thing to do is to wait and see if it gets worse and then you might be able to isolate the exact cause.
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1999 996 C2 - sold - bought back - sold for more
1997 Spec Boxster BSR #254
1979 911 SC
POC Licensed DE/TT Instructor
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05-10-2012, 04:44 PM
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#7
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WV Boxster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WV
Posts: 251
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Well it has to wait for a short time. We had our 6year old pom fall of the bed. She had back surgery and now is three hours away having physical therapy. Plus we are headed on a trip to Hawaii then a week in San Francisco. So I am busy and cash flow short until July any way. Just don't want to damage it any more. I can drive the new Ram that we bought last week end but gas is expensive it that thing.
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05-10-2012, 05:03 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burg Boxster
Start by seeing if any codes are pending in OBDII. If it's running that bad some should be pending even though no CEL.
Otherwise, it's pretty much anyone's guess and you could spend a lot of time and $ chasing unnecessary parts...
Could be MAF (which you can try cleaning or disconnecting/running in safe mode), might be a coil pack (6k should have shaken any bad install out before now but look at them to see if any might be cracked), maybe AOS starting to fail but usually it'll just go w/ lots of smoke (pull off j-tube at TB and look for any oil pooling), vacuum leak big enough would trigger CEL before rough running would be noticed.
Good luck ![Smilie](http://www.986forum.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
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Take off the oil filler cap and tell me your car doesn't run rough.
__________________
Current car
2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black
Previous cars
1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
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05-10-2012, 05:20 PM
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#9
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WV Boxster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WV
Posts: 251
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I will try that tomorrow. I have done that before and it was similar but not as rough. So I see your going with a possible vacuum leak but why would it get better in a few seconds.
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05-10-2012, 05:45 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wvboxst3r
I will try that tomorrow. I have done that before and it was similar but not as rough. So I see your going with a possible vacuum leak but why would it get better in a few seconds.
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Good point. I'm assuming you have an e-throttle, but if you have a mechanical throttle,try cleaning the idle control valve.
I guess I would start with the easy stuff. Clean the throttle body, MAF and then if that doesn't help, try troubleshooting the MAF, but as someone else said, don't just spend $300 for a new MAF unless you are pretty sure thats the problem.
__________________
Current car
2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black
Previous cars
1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
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05-10-2012, 06:12 PM
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#11
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WV Boxster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WV
Posts: 251
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How do I know if I have an e-throttle or not.
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If your not LIVIN now, then when?
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05-10-2012, 06:52 PM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wvboxst3r
How do I know if I have an e-throttle or not.
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If you have a throttle cable, its not e-gas.
__________________
Current car
2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black
Previous cars
1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
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05-10-2012, 08:23 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NorCal
Posts: 153
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Many auto part places will read your codes for free, that's probably a good place to start.
What year and mileage is your car? I had some rough idle symptoms recently and it was two coil packs that went bad. Easy fix!
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'03 986S
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05-10-2012, 11:49 PM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Olympia, Wa
Posts: 370
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if it was a coil pack or ignition you would get a flashing CEL immediately
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05-11-2012, 04:42 AM
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#15
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WV Boxster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WV
Posts: 251
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Just a thought, could bad gas cause this. When I was in Columbus with the dog is filled up at United Dairy Farmers store and the smell from the tank and car was very strong and funny. My wife even ask if had spilled some on me. We could smell it from inside car going down the road. I figured one tank of cheap gas being ran out at 70mph that day would not hurt me. Was I wrong. Going to fill up this morning at normal station and put in super premium $4.29 a gallon.
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If your not LIVIN now, then when?
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05-11-2012, 08:33 AM
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wvboxst3r
Just a thought, could bad gas cause this. When I was in Columbus with the dog is filled up at United Dairy Farmers store and the smell from the tank and car was very strong and funny. My wife even ask if had spilled some on me. We could smell it from inside car going down the road. I figured one tank of cheap gas being ran out at 70mph that day would not hurt me. Was I wrong. Going to fill up this morning at normal station and put in super premium $4.29 a gallon. ![EEK!](http://www.986forum.com/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif)
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If you smell gas, then a gas leak could be the cause of the rough running. A leak could prevent fuel pressure from building up quickly enough.
__________________
Current car
2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black
Previous cars
1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
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05-11-2012, 06:55 PM
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#17
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WV Boxster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WV
Posts: 251
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Update- This morning it was bad and had the flashing CEL but nothing the rest of the day. Filled up at normal station with high test within minutes of start up. CEL has not come back on and car is running fine. Will take out in AM and see if it was bad gas - fingers crossed.
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If your not LIVIN now, then when?
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05-11-2012, 09:37 PM
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NorCal
Posts: 153
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Why not just get the codes read? Then you won't have to guess...
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'03 986S
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05-12-2012, 03:48 AM
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#19
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WV Boxster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WV
Posts: 251
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vitaminC
Why not just get the codes read? Then you won't have to guess...
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Right now it is a timing issue. The local dealer is two weeks out and the only indy that I know is on vacation. I am going to local auto parts to see if they can read codes, not sure without cel on will there be codes?
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05-12-2012, 07:22 AM
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#20
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sanford NC
Posts: 2,566
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Buying a code reader is not the most expensive thing you'll ever do for the P-car. And I always found it helpful on other cars, neighbors cars, etc.
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