Oh Oh - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

flouese · 03-02-2018, 03:05 AM

Flashing CEL, pulled over, car towed. Initial reports from indy repair "engine seized"! Please say it isn't so. Had oil and IMS replace 10K miles ago...
Anyone looking for a roller if report is accurate???

dav9515 · 03-02-2018, 04:06 AM

Ouch! that doesn't sound good. What were the symptoms? Noises, smoke, grinding, fluids pouring out? I imagine if the engine was seized you would have experienced something of significance besides just a flashing cell.

Oldcarguy · 03-03-2018, 10:04 AM

Like many others have said, you need to do more problem determination before writing off your engine! Have your mechanic follow the advice here and in other threads. Check out the lady with the AOS problem and other similar threads.

Best wishes for a good result.

flouese · 03-02-2018, 04:20 AM

No symptoms, no noise, no warning. Slowed down to pull into a gas station to fill up, flashing CEL came on, turned the car off but made a mistake and tried to restart and all I got was a click then nothing.

Brian in Tucson · 03-02-2018, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flouese

Flashing CEL, pulled over, car towed. Initial reports from indy repair "engine seized"! Please say it isn't so. Had oil and IMS replace 10K miles ago...
Anyone looking for a roller if report is accurate???

A little out of my neighborhood for a roller.

Man, it sounds GRIM!

Tell us a little about what the situation was before it died, oil level? Before you bail, get an estimate for a replacement engine. I've done one, it is within the capability of a good shade tree mechanic. Motivation is a real consideration. Just finished mine, sort of. I've done Toyota, Ford, & Dodge engines in the past, the Porsche was a whole 'nuther country. Most difficult I've done to date, not impossible, but a lot of little puzzles.

Ah feel yer pain!

flouese · 03-02-2018, 05:53 AM

Brian: all fluid levels were fine. Car ran started fine, no issues. Nothing out of the ordinary that would have caused me any alarm. I was able to source a 2.5L w/84K for $2,900. Not sure if remove/replace is in my skill set. I've pulled the engine on my 66 912 several times, but the 986 just looks scary. With help, I could do it. My only other concern would be getting the electronics to talk to the engine. My knowledge of DC voltage stops at the on/off switch.

Brian in Tucson · 03-02-2018, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flouese

Brian: all fluid levels were fine. Car ran started fine, no issues. Nothing out of the ordinary that would have caused me any alarm. I was able to source a 2.5L w/84K for $2,900. Not sure if remove/replace is in my skill set. I've pulled the engine on my 66 912 several times, but the 986 just looks scary. With help, I could do it. My only other concern would be getting the electronics to talk to the engine. My knowledge of DC voltage stops at the on/off switch.

It sounds like it's in your skill set. I put an engine with 02, manual transmission wiring and vacuum lines in my 01 with tiptronic. Required removing the wiring from the old engine and putting it on the replacement--no fancy electronic knowledge needed, and vacuum isn't that different. I'm retired and I took my time, taking notes as you work is imperative because it pretty much must be reinstalled in the same order you took it our. Everything can be done by a 66 year old man with arthritic shoulders and neck.

My replacement engine is a used factory re-manufactured engine with an updated IMS bearing--shipped from LA to Tucson, it was about $2500 total.

I used an air jack, taller jackstands, and a cherry picker to lower the engine and trannie to an enlarged furniture dolly. I have a Hitachi 18v cordless impact that helped a lot and a set of ratcheting box end wrenches. I also have an air impact. The common socket sizes are 10, 13, & 15 mm, and whatever the axle nuts & pulley nuts are.

My "while I have it out" list include motor mount, new tubes & spark plugs, rear main seal, front main seal, water pump, underdrive pulley, & new belt. Spin on oil filter & magnetic plug. You might also consider a replacement IMS bearing which can be done from the rear outside of the engine. And I cleaned, greased, and installed new cv boots.

I am enjoying the sense of accomplishment and the pride of "I made this" ownership.

Everything you might need to know is available by search. LMK, I'd be willing to mentor if you like.:dance:

flouese · 03-02-2018, 06:37 AM

You've inspired me. I am 62, not retired (I do not have permission from my wife yet). I have all the requisite tools, less taller jack stands but I can make something tall and stable enough. My current motor has 171+k miles on it, so it probably is tired. I don't want to let go of this car, so I might give it a whirl. There is more than likely enough folks here that can bail me out via this forum if I find my self in trouble. I became one with my 912 the first time I did a complete rebuild on its motor, so why not have the same experience with this one. Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going for it. BTW where did you source your engine from?

husker boxster · 03-02-2018, 07:05 AM

Before tracking down a replacement engine, are you sure your current motor is really toast? There have been plenty of instances where the mechanic said to replace when all that was needed was an AOS. Think I'd be absolutely, positively sure before dropping a bunch of money on something you might not need.

2nd, if you do need to replace the motor, the Bentley manual has plenty of info on how to remove / replace an engine.

3rd, is there a back story to your current engine? Were there issues when you replaced your IMS, like possible metal shavings floating around? I don't have the best memory anymore, but seem to recall something like this with a member a few yrs back. Would be good info for the community.

Brian in Tucson · 03-02-2018, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flouese

You've inspired me. I am 62, not retired (I do not have permission from my wife yet). I have all the requisite tools, less taller jack stands but I can make something tall and stable enough. My current motor has 171+k miles on it, so it probably is tired. I don't want to let go of this car, so I might give it a whirl. There is more than likely enough folks here that can bail me out via this forum if I find my self in trouble. I became one with my 912 the first time I did a complete rebuild on its motor, so why not have the same experience with this one. Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going for it. BTW where did you source your engine from?

Good! I did mine completely by myself, btw, no one helped me.

Here's the source of my engine. My experience with him (so far) is that he's pretty much on the up & up. I got a used top (w/ frame) from him, too. I picked mine up at the Fedex LTL dock so it was pretty reasonable shipping.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Porsche-Boxster-986-1997-99-2-5L-Complete-Engine-Motor-70k-Leakdown-Tested-4-6/152824845989?fits=Make%3APorsche&hash=item23951216a5:g:7~cAAOSw7z1aL0H-

BTW, the air jack & the tall jackstands (6 ton) are available at Harbor Freight and are definitely worth having.

thstone · 03-02-2018, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flouese

My current motor has 171+k miles on it...

thstone · 03-02-2018, 05:54 AM

Sorry to hear this. How many miles?

alm001 · 03-02-2018, 08:03 AM

I'd pull the plugs out and try to turn it over before planning the burial.

MWS · 03-02-2018, 10:15 AM

Given the circumstances and recent IMS replacement (and cost to do so), this is possibly the worst failure story I have read; I am very sorry for your loss. Given that, please verify failure, and if is really dead, please do (or have done) a through autopsy. The cause of this failure would be of great interest to everyone in this community...not to sound grim or glib, but your loss could save another.

Best wishes and hoping for the best outcome.

Geof3 · 03-02-2018, 10:03 PM

Hard to believe an engine would completely seize dead with no warning of any kind. I'm with the others, pull plugs, check AOS. There was a woman on this or another forum had similar issues. AOS died, dumped oil and all she needed was to clean out the offending cylinder, put the plugs back in, start it up and burn off the residue. Good to go.

itsnotanova · 03-03-2018, 04:22 AM

I'm with Husker and Geof3, check the AOS and see if it dumped oil down the intake. It's free to check

Anker · 03-03-2018, 04:25 AM

When an engine seizes it makes a very characteristic noise, kind of a squeak. Did you hear that?

Geof3 · 03-03-2018, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anker

When an engine seizes it makes a very characteristic noise, kind of a squeak. Did you hear that?

Exactly, like a nasty squeal, it's pretty obvious and doesn't sound good at all. And the engine dies with a pretty good death throw. (clunk)

Geof3 · 03-03-2018, 12:19 PM

One other thing. You are going to need to make sure your mechanic is a stand up guy. It would be easy to take advantage of a situation like this. It would also be helpful if the shop worked on A LOT of Porsche cars.

Deserion · 03-03-2018, 12:29 PM

I’ll also add +1 on the AOS. When that failed on my mom’s 987, it wouldn’t crank and couldn’t even be bump started. Pulled the plugs, intake, and got a lot of oil out. After the oil was cleaned out (and changed) with a new AOS it’s been fine since.