IMS Replacement Gone Bad - at my dealer!

[kk2002s]

This is a situation that has to just make you scratch your head and wonder how this could go so bad in a Porsche shop.
It's like a Mafia hit: As soon as the timing was off after the replacement work, it was just a mater of turning the key to complete the hit.

It's easy to sit back and tell you how we might deal with this but you actually have to deal with it
I just hope the dealer continues to step up to and brings this to a resolution your happy with. The dealer isn't going to be happy and they will probably never do another 986 IMSB replacement again

Maybe one of those 718's just sitting around gather dust in their showroom will complete the deal

Best of... on this

[Jake Raby]

This is why you won't find a single dealership listed as Certified Installers of the IMS Retrofit products. Dealers are the last places that started doing these retrofits, and two years after we started selling the products, many dealers still maintained that the bearing was impossible to remove and replace.

This is way out there, and there's no telling what they actually did to create this mess. The most common issue is not checking timing first (HELLO thats part of our pre- evaluation process) and since the timing was out, it easily jumped during the procedure. They probably don;t even have the proper LN tools to lock the cams, and they are trying to use the factory tools, which increases difficulty. They may not have pulled the tensioners either.

All that said, why didn't they notice the cam timing was out before the engine was started? Its clear that they didn't, because it bent valves when it started up after the procedure.

Did the tech not check his work after completion? If he would have rolled the engine over to check cam timing, you'd not be where you are right now, and he wouldn't be looking like a fool.

Negligent techs piss me off. Please PM me the name of this dealer, and the tech. Its imperative that their accounts, and the database be updated with this bit of information, because I guarantee that if he screwed yours up, that he's done the same to others. Those might try to be turned in as warranty jobs to LN, so this is a big deal.

That said, I'd not trust anything that he did, and you better hope that he isn't the one repairing the damage/ reassembling the engine! I certainly hope that someone checked his IMS work before it went back together.

Hate to hear that this happened to you. All the "PCA members say this guy is good" talk doesn't go too far with me. Plain and simple that shop needs a QA tech thats checking cam timing before the engine is completed. Here at least 3 pair of eyes look at everything before it goes back together, and even if I am doing a job, my own employee checks MY work...(and I trained him). Thats the difference; when you treat cars like they have wings, instead of tires.

[thstone]

Bent valves indicate that serious damage was done - especially if the engine was operated long enough for someone to say that "it was making a sound they didn't like".

You know that the tech ran it for awhile before he told the shop manager. Then they ran it for awhile trying to figure out what the problem was. Then the engine was probably run more as they verified that it was out of time.

I wouldn't accept anything less than a replacement engine. This isn't s stripped spark plug thread in a head that is a simple, fairly reliable, and well understood mechanical fix. You're looking at most of an engine rebuild. How are you going to explain an engine rebuild due to dealer caused damage when you try to re-sell the car? As soon as a buyer hears "re-built damaged engine", they will take $$$$'s off the asking price.

[Timco]

Any chance of a sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet loaner??

[kjc2050]

Originally Posted by Timco

Any chance of a sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet loaner??

Small consolation, but they gave me a Cayenne S e-hybrid when I dropped the car off (two weeks ago). Looks as though I'll be driving it for a while.

[kjc2050]

OK, I feel much better: had a conference call with the Service Manager and the Shop Foreman. They've committed to a total rebuild from top to bottom, inspecting and replacing everything that needs to be done. 2 year warranty. They seem sincere in wanting to make me whole on this. I'll get everything in writing. Estimating three to four weeks.

[Smallblock454]

Hello kjc2050,

that sounds good to me. Fingers crossed.

Regards, Markus

[Timco]

Fantastic. Awful circumstances, but I'd take a free total rebuild.

3.6 while they're in there???

[kjc2050]

Originally Posted by Timco

3.6 while they're in there???

Don't get greedy, now.

[rexcramer]

Great news and you get to drive the Cayenne in the mean time. Adult beverages for everybody.

[kjc2050]

The problem had nothing to do with the IMS-B installation, per se. We had also agreed to install new chain guides, as I'd been seeing both brown plastic bits and green rubbery stuff in my oil filter. The camshaft deviation was rising steadily for Bank 1, as well. The tech made a mistake with regard to (not) rotating the crank at some point in the process. (Sorry, I do a lot of work on my car, but this stuff is beyond me, so if this is vague, it's me, not them.)

[kjc2050]

Car is back home, running absolutely perfectly. Shop foreman tore the engine down completely, replaced every part that was affected OR could have possibly been affected, including main bearings, timing chains, chain guides and ramps, etc etc etc. Here is my 30K dual row bearing:



A few other pics:










Although it took a long time (~50 days), I couldn't be happier with how the dealer handled this situation and the thoroughness with which they approached dealing with the issues. The Shop Foreman was tremendous: when I went to pick up the car we met for about a half hour, along with the CS Manager, and he walked me through exactly what had happened, and everything they did as a result. It was clear he felt horrible about what happened: I managed people for decades, and my BS meter never went off; his angst was sincere.

Next step? Drive and enjoy it, and bring it back in about 600 miles for a thorough check and oil change. Oh - the IMS bearing looked fine (for what that's worth), and turns smoothly. It goes back to LN/IMS Solution tomorrow.

[jdlmodelt]

I wouldn't accept anything short of a complete rebuild. and the fact that these guys don't sound like they know what they are doing, i would insist on an engine replacement direct from Porsche.

[AndyA6]

My friend got for his 2003 base an LN IMS bearing, new clutch and other things, took 2 days and no problems. I guess it depends on the mechanic. BTW at the local dealer.

Happy to hear your dealer made it right.

[Timco]

Glad it came out well and you're good with it.