The latest IMS loss. A true classic failure

[spongebob]

First of all, Jake is doing a fantastic job discovering all issues with our engines and I do hope that he continues to inform us about all design drawbacks inside the Boxster engines.
Having spent half of my life inside engine rooms I find it very hard to believe that it is only "tick tick then boom" judging from what the bearing looks like. If you pay some attention and interest listening to your engine it must be able to detect before the final breakdown. Maybe a stethoscope should be standard equipment in a Boxtser. To you who have suffered from the IMS failure,and claims that you have some skills in judging an engines condition, am I totally wrong here?

[mts]

Ouch, what a mess! It's good to know Jake has a few more options now when things do fail. $12.5k is expensive, but the 2 week turn around is AWESOME and both the $12.5k and the two week turn are a lot better than what I was looking at when my IMS failed only a year ago.

[Jake Raby]

Its in a legal holding pattern at the present. The technology is already developed and we are awaiting the legal protection before sharing any details or applying the kits outside of "testing".

I'd expect 6 month. We want it before that, but thats the reality because we can't push this and get the protection it deserves.

[clickman]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

Its in a legal holding pattern at the present.

Uh oh

[Jake Raby]

No, thats not bad.. We are working onpatents and trademarks and won't release anything until the property is protected.

[mikefocke]

the last patent I got took a year and tens of thousands in lawyers fees and I did most of their work.

[Jake Raby]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

the last patent I got took a year and tens of thousands in lawyers fees and I did most of their work.

Yep, but its simply required for this technology and you'll see why when its released. I have a good group to work with on this and the cost won't be that extreme. We are expecting the provisional patent any day now and that will supply us with the required protection while we finish up the rest of the BS.

Our first run will be 1500 systems, I expect them to fly off the shelves.

[Dragonwind]

To be able to hear the bearing breaking down it will have to get loud enough to overcome the casing, exhaust noise, etc. There is so much noise going on in that area that until it is toast or 'ticking' you won't hear it. Certainly would be great if it did make a lot of noise before hand!
Chris

[seningen]

Originally Posted by Dragonwind

To be able to hear the bearing breaking down it will have to get loud enough to overcome the casing, exhaust noise, etc. There is so much noise going on in that area that until it is toast or 'ticking' you won't hear it. Certainly would be great if it did make a lot of noise before hand!
Chris

Earlier someone mentioned that it must have been heard, look at the damage.

I could be wrong -- but it doesn't take long to create carnage when you have metal on metal.

It is possible that the majority of the damage was caused when the bearings
finally let loose.

I'm hoping that there is a method to see the failure before catastrophe.
However the only way I can see that happening in a realistic fashion
is hope for an audible alert -- and frankly those engines make so much
noise that I doubt you could isolate it consistently.
One other possibility is diligent oil analysis, looking for some tell tale sign.
Again, I'm not sure its the proper canary.

Mike

[Terre Higgs]

My 2004 S Anniversary Issue Tiptronic died in Oct. of 2007. I had it for about two years and 4 months with 12,765 miles on it.
It gave me two warnings. It stopped running in the rain with heavy puddles on the interstate while in cruise. I was baffled and thought the cruise didn't like the wheel slippage. It started up and ran on for several more hours with no problem. The next morning when I started out to Petite LeMans it had a metalic clicking noise when idiling cold I just thought it was the cooler weather and went on. About 5 minutes later it died on the interstate to not start again. No Explosion and very little noise. The dealer in Atlanta said it had no compression. I figured the chain had given up or slipped off. The whole thing was covered by the warrantee. A new anniversary engine was flown in and installed. I was never told what the problem was because the dealer couldn't open the engine. It has been said that the replacement engines are bullet proof. I don't know about that but it might have an IMS bearing upgrade because it was 2007 when I got it.?
I then noticed that the new engine ran much smoother. I hadn't noticed a slight vibration before.
Now 16,000 miles more I will make more frequent oil changes. I drive it like a stick and used to down shift for lights, curves, etc and use the engine to help brake. I don't do that anymore, but have a lag problem if I let the Tip do all of the shifting.
Just recently I've noticed oil smoke sometimes when I start up. I don't know what's causing that but will have to have it checked out.
It seems to be always something. I really think Porsche has some exposure to these problems.
Terre

Originally Posted by seningen

Earlier someone mentioned that it must have been heard, look at the damage.

I could be wrong -- but it doesn't take long to create carnage when you have metal on metal.

It is possible that the majority of the damage was caused when the bearings
finally let loose.

I'm hoping that there is a method to see the failure before catastrophe.
However the only way I can see that happening in a realistic fashion
is hope for an audible alert -- and frankly those engines make so much
noise that I doubt you could isolate it consistently.
One other possibility is diligent oil analysis, looking for some tell tale sign.
Again, I'm not sure its the proper canary.

Mike

[Frodo]

A little smoke on start up isn't too unusual...maybe you just hadn't noticed it before?? Since it's still under warranty, your plan to get it checked out might be the best way to go.

BTW---Driving in cruise when it's raining isn't really a great idea, especially if there's much rain water accumulating on the highway.