Another one bites the dust - probable IMS issue

[seventythree]

Coreseller, the single row IMS bearing was "tight as a drum" in a good or bad way?
Also, to the original poster, don't you think you should have your 04 SE with only 20K miles diagnosed by a Porsche dealership? It might trun out to be something simple, or worst case, you can ask for good faith help from PCNA. Won't hurt to ask!

Good luck

[mts]

Our local dealership closed in January. Frankly, if the engine isn't toast I'm much more comfortable getting Jake to look at it than the dealership. Even if I got a new motor from Porsche the first thing I would do is do the IMS upgrade on it so I'm pretty much out that $$ no matter what and was planning to do that anyway. If the engine is toast perhaps that's a different story.

[Boxtaboy]

How do you know for sure it's the IMS? Could be just a failed water pump or bad lifter or something else. Instead of keeping it out of commission for so long, why not have it checked by a local indy shop?

[Perfectlap]

Seventythree,
tight as a drum is a good thing. No leaks, no play, no loose bearings, no problem.
My Indy reported the same about my dual row after 10 years of use.
I was a little worried at first because I bought the car with barely 9K miles
and after four years it probably had only had one oil change.. and then I was using Mobil at 8 to 10 month intervals for the next 50K miles because the car is only a weekend driver. I've since gotten off the 0 weights and use Castrol Syntec 5W40 every six months, Advanced Auto usually has a 5 for $25 sale.

[coreseller]

Yep, Perfect was correct, my IMS bearing was in fine condition. I truly hope for MTS's situation to be something other than the IMS. If any of you other guys are anything like me you'd probably have a coronary if a can of walnuts turned over in your trunk while driving, you'd just KNOW that the damned IMS bearing crapped out on you causing all sorts of angst and finacial pain. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Good luck MTS.... .

[mptoledo]

Interesting,sad, but interesting that another low mileage with an ims problem. I really hope its something else and real cheap. I am still wondering why the majority of the cars are lower mileage? I am sure you will, but keep us posted. and So sorry to here

Questions:
1.) Auto or stick?
2.) I think you said 3.2 am I correct that is was the "s" version?
3.) Any hints it was coming? IE. reving high, running hot, oil leaks on the floor.....?

[mts]

Originally Posted by mptoledo

Interesting,sad, but interesting that another low mileage with an ims problem. I really hope its something else and real cheap. I am still wondering why the majority of the cars are lower mileage? I am sure you will, but keep us posted. and So sorry to here

Questions:
1.) Auto or stick?
2.) I think you said 3.2 am I correct that is was the "s" version?
3.) Any hints it was coming? IE. reving high, running hot, oil leaks on the floor.....?

1) Stick
2) 3.2 "S"
3) No hints it was coming. No oil leaks, had the rear main done at under 10k miles under warranty. It's driven hard, but no track stuff, I have another car for that.

Based on all the "searching" on the forums I've done I can't seem to find any direct correlation among the failures. It's like you are either lucky or you aren't. I did find (2) other 2004 550 SE owners that had their IMS go out right at 20k miles though which is bizzare. There were only 900 of those cars that came to the US, figure what low % of owners are on these forums and 2 of these cars (possibly 3) had failures right at 20k miles........obviously not near a big enough sample to draw any conclusion, but odd none the less.

I too hope it's not the IMS, but that sound at idle "ain't good" at all. There's a local guy I trust that used to be the master tech at Porsche of Lexington before they shut down that just opened his own shop. I'll probably get him to pull the tranny to confirm it's the IMS while I wait for a slot with Jake Raby in June. However, if it is a comfirmed IMS it's probably best to let Raby do the work on it.

[mikefocke]

won't have an IMS problem. Know of several. It really seems to have little correlation with miles driven.