engine died while driving, won't turn over.
 

Been a while since I've been on here since this boxster was being good. But all of a sudden while driving and coming to a stop my engine just dies and won't even make a sound to turn over. Start makes A Tick sound and that's it. So while being honked at saw a puddle under my car, couldn't tell if it was oil or not. But tried to start her several times and all I got was a tick like my engine seized.... any ideas? Car hot pushed to a taco bell til I can get to it.

I assume the cars battery is in good condition and simply not dead? Does the starter try to engage? Try and identify what the puddle is before trying to start it, if it is oil then could be IMS bearing cap backed out? Make any funny noises when it died?

That's an expensive description. Doesn't sound good.

Sounds like a dead engine

No funny noises just dead. When I did get to taco bell I did get under and found oil on what I think is the bell housing or back of the engine. Oh before it died while I was spirited driving I start to notice it would take a second our two to make some torque. Like turbo laggish.

Was it smoking?

I would have said a bad CPS sensor, but a puddle of oil indicates RMS or IMS failure to me. What year is your 986? How many miles on it? Did you notice any oil drip beforehand?

If it wasn't oil, it is probably something less serious. Honestly, it is impossible to diagnosis something like this online, have the car towed by flatbed to a good mechanic. Good luck! :cheers:

2002 2.7l base. Never burnt oil and just turned 178,000. Going to tow it home so I can look at it better. If not flatbed it to an indie

Was the puddle from your car? What fluid was it?

Couldn't tell exactly. It was in the middle of a turning and so I couldn't go back to see.

I'm no expert, and really hope that I'm wrong, but I've read a lot about this issue over the years, and it sounds like a textbook description of an IMS failure. :(
They can go without warning, without noise, and over half the people I've heard about that had the failure had it when they were stopped or coming to a stop.
178,000 is pretty mature for any car, but especially one of these.

Best of luck on this. I hope it turns out to be something trivial.

• All three of my engine failures happened without any strange noises
• Two of the three failures the engine would not turn over after they stopped running
• Two of the three failures had a reduction in power for about 10-20 seconds before the engine stopped running
• Two of the three failures had a puddle of oil under the car
• None of the failures were due to IMS bearing failure (two failures caused by lifters and one by crank bearing)
• There are ~30 ways that a Boxster engine can fail
• 178,000 miles is a lot of miles

Like Retroman, I hope that I'm completely wrong, but you can see where I'm going with this....

Sounds about right. Either way I regret buying this car since I bought it. Do Imma Part With It
And buy another S like I intended. But it was nice knowing how a base felt to drive. Sigh. Anyone know a good price to sell for?

If the motor is bricked, expect 2500-3000

you regret buying the car, or was that a typo?

Yeah this particular boxster. Had it for 9 months and regret it. Mostly because it was a base, five speed, and not as nice as my former 01 S. I "settled" because I wanted a boxster and in the meantime save for a 911 or 981. But I'll part with this one a buy another, but a boxster S Instead.

Edit. This was my third boxster and the first that had engine failure.

Be sure to confirm that the engine is toast. Symptoms can be deceiving.

Update. With luck the engine started when I went to go get it. And while I drove it back it sounded like a f ' ed up washing machine with the engine cover off.. so... time to sell.

Edit: I'm checking to see exactly where the sound coming from and it seems that there's two sounds. One sounds like something is grinding on the passanger side near where the engine meets the transmission. Then the ticking/knocking sound is also coming from the same area but in the cylinder head. I think cylinder 3 I'm guessing.

yeah sounds like the bolts backed out on the IMS cover and/or the bearing failed jumped time etc... either way it sounds like you know what to do...

For what it's worth if you are a handy person a motor swap is not that hard in these cars so you may be able to get a cheap motor and throw it in to make it a running car again, but with 178K on the clock may not be worth it...

Best way to get the most out of it is to part it, like someone mentioned otherwise it is worth about $2k.

As much as I would love to motor swap. This isn't the car to do so. I would be better off selling and getting another S. Like I had prior.

You drove it home...what about the fluid under the car? Did you check fluid levels? A bad alternator makes a crap load of noise (but doesn't explain fluid loss),

It had oil and coolant enough to make it home. But halfway there it started to rattle like a tin can every other second. Drove it literally one mile to my house. I inspected the noise and only rough guessing. Either it's ims related or something wrong with the cylinder head

Sounds like he is more intent on confirming the engine IS Toast! :eek:

Good luck to whomever buys this if you try to sell it as is.....

Can't believe you will get very much for it in current condition. But some gearhead might step up and take the chance.

Sold it already for 4K. Was a gear head wanted to use it as a gt car

Boxsters are rare in my area, but known for their handling and can take almost any 911 motor

You did good. I hope however in the sake of good porsche spirit you were upfront with him about what he was getting into. The drive home with the imploding motor and all....

He put it on a trailer. Said it was hard to find one in good condition despite the engine. Going to replace the motor himself he said. But I'll be boxstreless til March when I get income tax

Ticking sound, then Engine died
 

Bad day...for me..... the other day... I noticed a small ticking sound for a few seconds while accelerating on the highway on ramp...only lasted a few seconds and disappeared...never happened before. Then today.... drove down the road...and the ticking came back... then suddenly got louder then there was a scraping noise.... So I turned into a parking lot immediately....I noticed that the frequency of the ticking Increases with the RPMs...( i.e.... it is engine / transmission related not wheel rotation related )... as soon as I got in the lot the engine died....( I should point out that my alternator is very week... and I have to charge the battery once or twice a week while I wait for the Mechanic to take it in for a rebuild. ) Nayway...when I tried to restart the car.. it would only half turn over then halt...wait a few seconds...half turn over then halt... much like a dead battery. I had the car towed back home on a flatbed...and just went out and put the battery charger on it... the battery is very low 55% charge.. BUT... as much as I am hoping... I do not ti k this is related to the alternator or battery... really hoping I am wrong here with fingers and toes crossed..... I have read a few posts with similar descriptions.... i.e. Ticking sound...got louder... Followed by scrapping sound ...all from the rear.... then the engine conking out an not restarting.... but none of those posts..came back to say what the actual problem was in the end?... Any help on diagnosing this is greatly appreciated.... just replaced the Clutch and RMS last year ( only because the mechanic had the tranny out do do the clutch )...

CAR IS... 99 Boxter 5 Speed base Model with 90,000 miles... well cared for and no issues other than clutch replacement... stored winters indoors...and runs very well.

Please help... tis is like having a sick child...lol

Thanks In Advance

Paul

I'd say based on what you've described you either have IMS failure or you have some other catastrophic failure. You're gonna need to do a bit more diagnosis before we can give you any other guesses. I'd flatbed it to a mechanic asap. If you tried to restart it you likely only made it worse of that's what happened here.

Thats The fear
 

... Hoping for the best but planning for the worst.... so... if it is an IMS failure I will replace the engine.... the car is a 1999 Base Standard.... what is the newest model year engine I can get for the car.... hopefully a year with the IMS issue some what lessened. Any Idea or recommendations on what engine can / or should I put in the car?... ideas on where to get one in Canada?

Thanks

Paul

Could very well just be your alternator. Search for BigJake's post....

Gotta say my car kept running when my belt went though.

The dealer said the alternator issue is specific to 2000 if anyone's on the lookout lol.

Maybe...but the way he's stating his engine seized is making me think otherwise. Even if the alternator completely seized up it wouldn't cause the engine engine to stop.