2001 Boxster Camshaft issues

[blue62]

Originally Posted by kbod

I just took the car on a drive, it still idles like absolute trash and stalls at some red lights I got the camshaft deviations, position 1 is 14.25 and position 2 is -6.19.

I don't know if this is related but ever since I got the car not only its fuel economy is absolutely horrendous, every time i put gas in it it doesn't want to start right after at the fuel station and I have to floor it while finessing it to get it to run, after its fine though.

So the not starting when you refill points to an issue with the EVAP system.
Now that I have that information I believe your lumpy idle is also related to an issue with the EVAP system.

Not sure of the exact layout but there should be a main vacuum hose to the EVAP system connected to your intake.
Find that main hose then pinch it off and see if your lumpy idle changes. you can also hook up your Durametric and watch your fuel trims and O2 signals. If you have a vacuum leak in the EVAP system you will be showing positive fuel trims and low voltage from your O2 sensors. When you pinch off the hose your fuel trims will change as well as your O2 signals. O2 voltage will start to increase and then switch normally. fuel trims will slowly come down.
If there does prove to be an issue with the EVAP system start with the purge valve and work from there.

Your Camshaft deviation is also still an issue sorry to say.
My guess is that much deviation is directly related to the poor fuel economy.
fuel trims on bank 1 are probably always at near max positive no matter the RPM range.
Just a guess on my part concerning fuel economy.

[kbod]

Originally Posted by blue62

So the not starting when you refill points to an issue with the EVAP system.
Now that I have that information I believe your lumpy idle is also related to an issue with the EVAP system.

Not sure of the exact layout but there should be a main vacuum hose to the EVAP system connected to your intake.
Find that main hose then pinch it off and see if your lumpy idle changes. you can also hook up your Durametric and watch your fuel trims and O2 signals. If you have a vacuum leak in the EVAP system you will be showing positive fuel trims and low voltage from your O2 sensors. When you pinch off the hose your fuel trims will change as well as your O2 signals. O2 voltage will start to increase and then switch normally. fuel trims will slowly come down.
If there does prove to be an issue with the EVAP system start with the purge valve and work from there.

Your Camshaft deviation is also still an issue sorry to say.
My guess is that much deviation is directly related to the poor fuel economy.
fuel trims on bank 1 are probably always at near max positive no matter the RPM range.
Just a guess on my part concerning fuel economy.

welp. I tried to put a clamp on the evap hose and I tried clamping numerous hoses and the car didn't care. Runs lumpy and barely struggles to stay running, If i disconnected a vacuum line it just stalls. smells extremely rich upon startup, For the camshaft deviation ill probably just fiddle a teeny bit with the timing, not that hard. but for the lumpy terrible idle I have no idea whats causing it or how to fix it. is my camshaft deviation enough to cause this? I don't know. I assume the car not starting after putting fuel is its own isolated issue with the evap system. I am going to purchase a smoke kit to overall see if there are any big vacuum leaks that are causing this. I checked the codes, cylinder 1 2 and 3 missfire along with the p1341... how weird....

[blue62]

Originally Posted by kbod

welp. I tried to put a clamp on the evap hose and I tried clamping numerous hoses and the car didn't care. Runs lumpy and barely struggles to stay running, If i disconnected a vacuum line it just stalls. smells extremely rich upon startup, For the camshaft deviation ill probably just fiddle a teeny bit with the timing, not that hard. but for the lumpy terrible idle I have no idea whats causing it or how to fix it. is my camshaft deviation enough to cause this? I don't know. I assume the car not starting after putting fuel is its own isolated issue with the evap system. I am going to purchase a smoke kit to overall see if there are any big vacuum leaks that are causing this. I checked the codes, cylinder 1 2 and 3 missfire along with the p1341... how weird....

Your lumpy idle is most likely caused by a combination of the Camshaft deviation range and an issue with the EVAP system.
The missfires are due to the Camshaft Deviation being so far out of spec.

As to the Camshaft Deviation I would try to fix that first. Seems like you are a tooth off or a link off in your set up.
Your actuators for the Variocam system seem to be working ok now as when you rev to 3000 RPM you get a change of 25 degrees of actual cam angle. So that is right on spec.
So it is a timing issue, not an actuator issue.
I would Concentrate on getting the Camshaft deviation correct on bank 1. because you have The Camshaft Deviation numbers to view that tell you if it is fixed or not.
Then the other issues will be easier to find and correct.

Yes the issue with not starting after refill is caused by a problem with the EVAP system. I believe your EVAP issue is also "part" of your lumpy idle issue.

[kbod]

Originally Posted by blue62

Your lumpy idle is most likely caused by a combination of the Camshaft deviation range and an issue with the EVAP system.
The missfires are due to the Camshaft Deviation being so far out of spec.

As to the Camshaft Deviation I would try to fix that first. Seems like you are a tooth off or a link off in your set up.
Your actuators for the Variocam system seem to be working ok now as when you rev to 3000 RPM you get a change of 25 degrees of actual cam angle. So that is right on spec.
So it is a timing issue, not an actuator issue.
I would Concentrate on getting the Camshaft deviation correct on bank 1. because you have The Camshaft Deviation numbers to view that tell you if it is fixed or not.
Then the other issues will be easier to find and correct.

Yes the issue with not starting after refill is caused by a problem with the EVAP system. I believe your EVAP issue is also "part" of your lumpy idle issue.

this is going to sound stupid but I went and the ims locking tool fit really good on the notch in the cam so I dont really know how the timing could be that far off... nevertheless it clearly is, should i adjust the camshaft a little bit clockwise or counter clockwise based on my current deviations to correct it?

[blue62]

Originally Posted by kbod

this is going to sound stupid but I went and the ims locking tool fit really good on the notch in the cam so I dont really know how the timing could be that far off... nevertheless it clearly is, should i adjust the camshaft a little bit clockwise or counter clockwise based on my current deviations to correct it?

How many chain links do you have between timing marks on the two camshafts?

Go to the thread titled " Vario cam issues" on post 48 on the second page you will see a picture of the cams. If you look close you will see the timing mark on each cam and you will be able to count six links between the timing marks.

Are you positive there are six links between cam timing marks?????

A link off is all I can think to be your issue as everything else seems ok.

If your tool just locks into one cam the only way you know the other cam is right is to have the proper number of chain links between them.

[kbod]

Originally Posted by blue62

How many chain links do you have between timing marks on the two camshafts?

Go to the thread titled " Vario cam issues" on post 48 on the second page you will see a picture of the cams. If you look close you will see the timing mark on each cam and you will be able to count six links between the timing marks.

Are you positive there are six links between cam timing marks?????

A link off is all I can think to be your issue as everything else seems ok.

If your tool just locks into one cam the only way you know the other cam is right is to have the proper number of chain links between them.

I specifically remember when I took apart the camshaft tensioner, I used white nail polish on the dimple on the gear and its corresponding chain link. when i put it back together It all lined up with my paint marks. I did notice that my ims locking took does have a bit of play even when it is "locked" which is why I want to just adjust my camshaft a tad, I just don't know if i should nudge it clock wise or counter clock wise, do my deviations say what direction it is off in?

[blue62]

Originally Posted by kbod

I specifically remember when I took apart the camshaft tensioner, I used white nail polish on the dimple on the gear and its corresponding chain link. when i put it back together It all lined up with my paint marks. I did notice that my ims locking took does have a bit of play even when it is "locked" which is why I want to just adjust my camshaft a tad, I just don't know if i should nudge it clock wise or counter clock wise, do my deviations say what direction it is off in?

deviations are usually stated in positive or negative form.
So I would think advanced would be positive and retarded negative.

I just did a little reading on how the cam timing is set up on these engines.
I see where your going with the attempt to "adjust the cams, makes sense.
If your cams have the four bolt setup on the sprocket, timing could have "slipped there at some point.
You just have to figure out which direction to go.

Keep us posted on the results.