Match confirmed! It looks like a chunk of metal? is missing off the end also?

Someone should graciously acknowledge that Jake gave a correct diagnosis -bull's eye in fact ?

It's long due, right...? :cheers:

??? Was there any doubt?

It's me again.

If it is a 2003/2004 (2004/2005 US model year with the glas rear windows) car with Variocam – these engines don't have these solenoids. They have "Flügelzellenversteller".

http://www.prova.de/archiv/2001/00-a...a/P02_0031.jpg

Regards, Markus

Hello Marcus; According to his ad it's a 2002.

http://986forum.com/forums/boxsters-sale-wanted/62844-2002-boxster-sale-47k-miles-5-speed-5-000-dollars-chain-tensioner-codes.html

You've just solved the confusion and saved Markus's unblemished technical reputation .The year 02/04 seems to be the confusion.

thinking out loud:

- source of green bits in oil now identified. I mean, jake identified it years ago, I just posted my pics because I couldn't find any other visual proof on the internet (ie, images of a destructively-opened, failed actuator).
- green bits seem to be a pretty common thing to find in oil, which means these actuators are a relatively common failure item.
- so, what causes deterioration of the o-ring in the actuator?
- thinking of brake calipers, as pads wear the pistons travel further and can pull the boots off. I wonder if tensioner pad wear causes the actuator to extend beyond design limits and load the o-ring in a destructive manner?
- if so, then the common knowledge that waiting for the cel (9 degrees deviation) is too long (mine failed when deviation was at 7).
- any info on what people's deviation was at when they experienced this failure - might prove informative to gather such data?
- or, perhaps failure is tied to chain slap? ie, chain slap on start-up hammers both the pads and the actuators?
- or a combination of both mechanisms? preventative maintenance would be to avoid chain slap at all costs - updated tensioners, updated oil piston, heavier cold weight oil?

- also, these things are $1000 each, and unserviceable. a good opportunity for aftermarket support? either raby-up a technique to service them, or perhaps fabricate an inexpensive alternative, perhaps using cores from failed adjusters?