My engine died... not from an IMS failure

[Topless]

Figure 2-3 hours labor to get a good look at the problem. Pull the plugs and scope the suspected cylinders. Then drop the oil filter and inspect for grenade frag. If a cyl has failed or the filter is loaded with shiny bits, the motor is now a boat anchor IMO. I would not rebuild a grenaded m96. A clean motor from a dismantler offers a lot better option and higher success rate for my $$.

If everything looks good and clean except the misfire in cyl #4, a valve spring is very likely. This is certainly worth a repair attempt for reasonable $$.

[Pdwight]

THis has been going on for over a week or so....I would have the filter out, the oil out, the plugs out....drop the pan and put my eyeballs on the internals to see what is what....or more importantly what is not

[healthservices]

Well if the whole one side has lost compression, I would think that a cam jumped gear, lost timing, or because of that, bent valves. And because of that once it is determined that the valves are bent. the head will have to come off at the very least to correct. Am I wrong?

[Swhitcomb]

Originally Posted by healthservices

Well if the whole one side has lost compression, I would think that a cam jumped gear, lost timing, or because of that, bent valves. And because of that once it is determined that the valves are bent. the head will have to come off at the very least to correct. Am I wrong?

This exact thing is what happened to my car last July. Cost me 15.2k.

[Pdwight]

If your engine were on the verge of doing this could you detect it using a durametric to see cam deviations ?

[Swhitcomb]

From what I understand, yes. I'm not 100% sure though. If I were to buy a Boxster again I'd check the car out a lot more thoroughly then I did when I bought mine. I've learned a lot in the year and 3 months I've owned mine. I also found a really good Indy shop with an owner and mechanic I really like and respect. In the end, it was cheaper and quicker to just swap my engine out for a rebuilt unit. The Indy shop that did my engine swap buys them from a re-builder in CA. It comes with "nickies", updated head bolts, and a few other minor improvements. He installed an LN IMS bearing, and a new clutch and flywheel. The rebuilt engine was pretty much turn key, and included new or rebuilt everything from starter to alternator. The throttle body is the only part that was swapped over. The car runs and drives amazing and the engine came with a 3 year 36k warranty, as well as a one year warranty on the install and all the work the shop did. When he sent the core back to the rebuilder I got $2000 back. I was lucky. $2500 is the most you can get back, and the shop said most people get nothing. They also have stood behind that warranty. Just last week I had a power steering leak at the return line to the reservoir and it lost power steering. Had it towed in, and they fixed it in a day and didn't charge a dime.

Anyway, I spent more then the car is worth to fix it, but I financed it, and it made no sense to me to just give up on it. So I fixed it. When I bought it I planned on keeping it for a long time, so it was an investment in being able to keep it for years to come. I still own the Karmann Ghia my Dad bought in 1980 and was his daily driver until 99, I plan on doing the same. Hopefully.