I think my engine just took a #$%!!

Originally Posted by smiledrs

Ok, I got home and hooked up a diagnostic reader to my boxster and 3 codes came up.


P0301 Misfire, Cylinder 1, Damaging to Catalytic Converter

P0341 Camshaft Position Sensor 1 - Signal Implausible, Short to Ground, Short to B+

P1531 Camshaft Adjustment, Bank 1

Anyone have any history with either. Going to have it towed tomorrow while I'm off.

Hi Smiledrs, I think you will get more info and "play" if you start your own thread/topic.

[Adam]

Update:

Ok, I got the car home yesterday and the thing drives and runs like a top now. Whatever gremlin that was in it has left....hopefully for good. This one had the techs over at the dealership scratching their heads. They said they have never come accross a situation quite like mine before.

[smiledrs]

Update on my boxster: add me to another low mileage, early model boxster engine failure. Porsche dealer wants $15k for new engine with parts and labor. Called Porsche NA and they said "they have NO goodwill for any porsche out of warranty." Told me to write letter to Corporate. No way I'm paying $15k for new engine. Thanks for everyone's help.

[Brucelee]

Ouch. If it is the dreaded IMS failure, I would do a Google to see if any smart lawyer has stated a class action on this defect.

Any lawyers here want to try this? We will devote a thread if the lawyer steps up!

[RandallNeighbour]

Smile, for less than $15k, you can have a good condition used 3.4 or 3.6 put in your boxster. Take this as an opportunity to make the car wicked fast and you just might get all your money back when you sell it. A 3.4 modded boxster just sold on ebay for $35k and it was an old one too!

[smiledrs]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Smile, for less than $15k, you can have a good condition used 3.4 or 3.6 put in your boxster. Take this as an opportunity to make the car wicked fast and you just might get all your money back when you sell it. A 3.4 modded boxster just sold on ebay for $35k and it was an old one too!

Thanks Randall. I was posting on fumes yesterday after dealing with Porsche NA. I definetly need to figure out something. Would you know anyone in Houston that might be able to do that if I decide to upgrade the engine?

[RandallNeighbour]

If I were you today, I'd be calling Sam Shalala at Pro Teckniks.

http://www.protechnik.com/

Sam does all sorts of engine swaps and has a fabrication shop as well. This man is well respected in the local PCA group and he installed and dyno'd my boxster when I had Che's muffler and headers installed.

I would not be surprised if he could also get you a rebuilt 3.4 at an attractive price... however, if I were you (once again) I'd buy the tranny, engine, ECU and wiring harness and have it shipped directly to him to install. Then you don't have to pay another markup on the parts.

PartsHeaven, LA Dismantlers, and Oklahoma Foriegn would all be good sources for these items.

Also, do a thread search here because this engine swap has been talked about over and over and over (which never bothered me because I'm so interested in doing it).

Lastly, I would search out the users on this forum who have done it and ask them three things:

1) Who did their swap if they didn't do it themselves? For an extra $800, you can ship your car to wherever and then drive it home.

2) Complete parts list.

3) What they paid and if it was truly worth it.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by smiledrs

Thanks Randall. I was posting on fumes yesterday after dealing with Porsche NA. I definetly need to figure out something. Would you know anyone in Houston that might be able to do that if I decide to upgrade the engine?

Contact the Porsche Club of America too. Let PNA know that you intend to inform others cough...potential Porsche buyers, of your misfortune.
Not sure how rare engine failures in low mileage/late model 996/986's are, but my personal opinion is that a car company making profits like no other car builder in the world could show some goodwill. I could understand that position if we were dealing with a higher mileage car but even Hyundai or whatever is toying with the idea of 10+ year and lifetime warranties...and those cars are cheap.