986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners (http://986forum.com/forums/)
-   Performance and Technical Chat (http://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/)
-   -   Ims bearing failure? (http://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/63394-ims-bearing-failure.html)

keeley 10-02-2016 12:14 PM

Ims bearing failure?
 
Is there a warning sound of impending IMS Bearing failure?

Gelbster 10-02-2016 12:29 PM

Maybe but by then it may be too late.
Meanwhile open up & inspect the filter and drop the pan. Use a magnet on any ferrous particles. Post photos. Tell us exactly what model you have.

10/10ths 10-02-2016 12:53 PM

Sure...
 
...it's like the double click sound the WWII depth charges made, one second before they blew up your U-Boat.

Sort of a "click-click BOOM" type of deal.

It's like the last episode of the Sopranos...You never hear the shot that kills you.

thstone 10-02-2016 01:07 PM

So, the answer is no, there are no warning sounds. By the time the engine sounds bad (typically it sounds like nuts and bolts rattling around in a coffee can), its past the warning point and the engine is already self-destructing.

Once it sounds bad and the damage has begun, metal particles have already circulated into every friction surface in the engine and started to cause significant damage. The only next step is to tear it down.

Now, the percentage of IMSB failures is very low so you need to keep the risk in perspective, but once the engine sounds bad, its done.

flaps10 10-02-2016 02:24 PM

My car ran perfect
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/...psca42642e.jpg

keeley 10-02-2016 02:35 PM

IMS BEARING failure
 
When I drove the car to the mechanic today....it sounded more like a loose heat shield...but did not make the noise the whole time....is it possible that a BEARING is failing on a pulley or a failure of the water pump?

BoxsterSteve 10-02-2016 02:40 PM

You could have one of many things happening.
A loose exhaust heat shield is easy to find, tap away at the pipes from underneath with a rubber mallet.
You could have a bad water pump, as you mentioned, or a crapping out idler pulley.
You'll have to pull off the serpentine belt to check.
Good luck with your search.

rexcramer 10-02-2016 03:31 PM

If you really think it is or might be your IMS bearing. STOP DRIVING IT NOW, until you can confirm it one way or the other. Required qualifier attached; IMHO.

keeley 10-02-2016 04:08 PM

Car is at the mechanic....will know tomorrow

jcslocum 10-02-2016 06:26 PM

Water pump, tensioner bearing and other things up front. Let's hope it is one of them and not the IMS.

perspectivism 10-02-2016 07:49 PM

Hey guys, how do I know if my boxster ims is fixed? No one in my country has heard of ims failure apparently.

Sent from my Mi 4i using Tapatalk

JFP in PA 10-03-2016 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perspectivism (Post 511886)
Hey guys, how do I know if my boxster ims is fixed? No one in my country has heard of ims failure apparently.

Sent from my Mi 4i using Tapatalk

Without service records that corroborate that fact, there is no other way.

perspectivism 10-03-2016 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFP in PA (Post 511898)
Without service records that corroborate that fact, there is no other way.

Hi,


If let's say I ask the mechanic to strip open and take a look at the ims? Possible to identify one that has potential to fail from one that is 'cured'?

Sent from my Mi 4i using Tapatalk

keeley 10-03-2016 02:42 AM

IMS Bearing Failure
 
I understood that "cured" is not the correct term...this bearing is an ongoing maintenance issue.

JFP in PA 10-03-2016 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perspectivism (Post 511900)
Hi,


If let's say I ask the mechanic to strip open and take a look at the ims? Possible to identify one that has potential to fail from one that is 'cured'?

Sent from my Mi 4i using Tapatalk

You would be talking about $2K in labor to "take a look" and even them may not be able to tell what is there without extracting it first.

JFP in PA 10-03-2016 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keeley (Post 511902)
I understood that "cured" is not the correct term...this bearing is an ongoing maintenance issue.

While "cured" is a relative term, ceramic hybrid bearings can run for 75K miles, and the IMS Solution is a permanent fix.

fanguy 10-03-2016 04:10 AM

This shop does
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by perspectivism (Post 511886)
Hey guys, how do I know if my boxster ims is fixed? No one in my country has heard of ims failure apparently.

Sent from my Mi 4i using Tapatalk

This shop has been trained by Jake Raby of flat 6,
Certified Installers – IMS Solution

http://www.flatsixonline.com/
Gregory Soh
Flatsix Pte Ltd
176 Sin Ming Drive
#02-16 Sin Ming Autocare
Singapore 575721
Tel: 65521170
Fax: 64557370

perspectivism 10-03-2016 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFP in PA (Post 511904)
While "cured" is a relative term, ceramic hybrid bearings can run for 75K miles, and the IMS Solution is a permanent fix.

Could you kindly explain which ones of the ims solutions is considered a permanent fix?

Sent from my Mi 4i using Tapatalk

tlc356 10-03-2016 05:52 AM

I can't answer that question (which ones of the ims solutions is considered a permanent fix?) but I would be more concerned if the car has very few miles and has gone very long periods of time when it was not driven.
Think about the extensive testing Porsche does, and yet the one thing they could not do (in the time frame) was to test an engine that sat for years without use. It is my personal opinion and guess that a high percent of failures is from cars that go long periods without being driven, but I have no numbers so please no flames. It is only my humble opinion.

kk2002s 10-03-2016 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keeley (Post 511860)
When I drove the car to the mechanic today....it sounded more like a loose heat shield...but did not make the noise the whole time....is it possible that a BEARING is failing on a pulley or a failure of the water pump?

So this whole fear cloud that hangs over these cars related to the IMSB recently took me by the short hairs.
Drove a couple hundred miles the day before, no issues, no noises. Started it the next day and bad bearing noise - Wholly S!$% it's happening to me!!!
Hold on, hold on, Calm down, get a grip. Listened and it was coming from the front of engine. Took the front engine cover off and very apparent it was in the drive belt system. Removed the belt and all quite. Finally narrowed it down to the Tensioner pulley bearing
So take a breath. Fortunately there are so many other parts that can fail on these cars that you don't have to jump straight to the IMSB

BrakeExpert 10-03-2016 07:15 AM

I had a water pump go bad. Oddly it didn't leak but the pulley got so warn it twisted, and the spinning part (the pulley) was gouging into the aluminum body of the pump, making a very interesting growling, grinding and sometimes high pitched sound. Just in case anyone was thinking about noise, checking the belt isn't too hard and should take ya 20 minutes even for a novice, and those are things that can be checked visually.

JFP in PA 10-03-2016 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perspectivism (Post 511918)
Could you kindly explain which ones of the ims solutions is considered a permanent fix?

Sent from my Mi 4i using Tapatalk

The LN Engineering IMS Solution is the only permanent replacement for the factory IMS bearing. It is a solid bearing that is fed pressurized oil from the spin on filter adaptor, it has no moving parts, and should outlast your engine.

You can read more an the LN Engineering website, where they have information on all of their IMS retrofit products.

Smallblock454 10-03-2016 08:33 AM

It's always the IMSB. The car has no other components - just has an IMSB. If something sounds like it fails it must be the IMSB. If nothing fails something is wrong with your car - or with your IMSB.

And why buy only 1 new IMSB - ask for 10, maybe you get one for free. If you have other cars, buy them an IMSB.

Don't buy cheap stuff. Do never think about what an IMSB is or how it works. Just buy 10 - better 100. IMSBs are cool birthday presents for your friends and family. So they know you're a cool Porshi driver, didn't you know that?

And how about oil? Your engine and IMSB needs the right oil. Change our oil minimum monthly. Only use special oil filters. Change oil only in full moon nights. Ask for the right oil. Only oil with ZDDP will safe your engine. Maybe it ruins your catalytic converters. Cat what? These things you can change in you parking lot that will cost you only 4k new. You don't have a parking lot? Pussy.

Ah, by the way. The guys that sell you the right IMSB will also sell you the right oil. You can get everything from them. Just ask, they'll sell.

Have fun…

keeley 10-03-2016 08:51 AM

IMS Bearing Failure
 
Well...I was lucky....noise was not IMS bearing failure (although it is getting replace) but a faulty water pump and both pulleys were noisy. There we other defects but easy to remedy.....

fanguy 10-03-2016 02:29 PM

Called L&N & Flat6 today
 
Have a 2003 Boxster S 19,228 miles for 3 weeks. Local Porsche inde on PPI pulled pan nothing, cut open filter no metal some green rubber bits said no worries wouldn't do anything at this time. He also put in a Mag plug. Yesterday went out on a 200-mile drive. The thought of pop goes the weasel is running around in the background.

So today I called two shops one from L&N & the other from Flat6 approved/Cert installers list in different states. All I told them I have a 2003 Boxster S 19,228 miles for 3 weeks and had concerns about IMS failure and what would be there recommendations’ Their 1st ?’s were how many miles did I think I would drive a year and city, Hwy or both. Said 500 to 800 a month & both. Both said Change oil every 5k if doing less in a year and it would make you feel better 6 months. Cut open filter & inspect plug each oil change. The first time any mental in filter or Mag plug pull pan and give them a call. Mostly likely if 1 or 2 little pieces would have you clean, fill and drive recheck 1.5 to 2k and call back. The green stuff nothing to worry about. Now go enjoy your car. When the clutch is ready to be replaced have it done then, and also AOS.

So 3 shop had the chance to make K’s and all independently said the something. I very comfortable following their advice.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:08 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2025 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website