3.2 Jumped time on one bank

[edwardneff94]

I have a 2002 Boxster S with the 3.2 engine. My question is this, what would cause the timing to be off from one side to the other side. My Father was driving the car down the road when all of a sudden the car lost power. When he pulled over and stopped the car it would not restart. I ended up buying the car from him after getting word from Cory at Planet 9 Eleven that the car had jumped time. I pulled the engine out of the car to get a better look at the engine and figure out what course of action would need to take place. When I checked the timing (no tools just used the way I found on here by lining up the notches in the cams) I noticed one bank was right on and the other side was off by just over 1/8 of a turn. I looked and both the exhaust and intake cams are both off by almost the same amount. What would cause this and what should my next step be? I would rather fix this engine then get another one if I can so I have more money for upgrades such as the IMS and RMS. Thank you all for all your help and time.

[Jake Raby]

Post some pics of where the notches are in both banks. Lock the crank at TDC when taking the photos. This is a somewhat common issue and has several contributing factors, some simple, some huge.
Worst case you can ship it this way and we can find why the timing moved. Don't just reset the timing, the issue is screaming that an underlying problem exists and it will find you if you don't find it first.

[edwardneff94]

Pass side

Pass side

Driver side

Driver side
Let me know what you think it might be. If i have to send the engine off to have the work done i will send it to you, I have heard nothing but great things about your work.

[feelyx]

Originally Posted by edwardneff94

I have a 2002 Boxster S with the 3.2 engine. My question is this, what would cause the timing to be off from one side to the other side. My Father was driving the car down the road when all of a sudden the car lost power. When he pulled over and stopped the car it would not restart. I ended up buying the car from him after getting word from Cory at Planet 9 Eleven that the car had jumped time. I pulled the engine out of the car to get a better look at the engine and figure out what course of action would need to take place. When I checked the timing (no tools just used the way I found on here by lining up the notches in the cams) I noticed one bank was right on and the other side was off by just over 1/8 of a turn. I looked and both the exhaust and intake cams are both off by almost the same amount. What would cause this and what should my next step be? I would rather fix this engine then get another one if I can so I have more money for upgrades such as the IMS and RMS. Thank you all for all your help and time.

Would you know what the outside temperture was at the time it died? Did your father note if it was running hotter than normal?

[edwardneff94]

Originally Posted by feelyx

Would you know what the outside temperture was at the time it died? Did your father note if it was running hotter than normal?

It did this in November and he lives in St. Louis so i dont think it would have be a really high outside air temp. I asked him about the car temp and he stated it was running fine, no problems, Temp was normal, everything was great then just without warning it lost power.

[Jake Raby]

In these pics is the crank locked at TDC? This is critical to understanding what has occurred.

With this much deviation you could already have bent valves. The first step will be to perform a series of tests to see what collateral damage exists as it may be too late to even care about the underlying condition and primary failure.

[edwardneff94]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

In these pics is the crank locked at TDC? This is critical to understanding what has occurred.

With this much deviation you could already have bent valves. The first step will be to perform a series of tests to see what collateral damage exists as it may be too late to even care about the underlying condition and primary failure.

I did have the crank locked at TDC. Like I stated in my first post i would really like to fix this engine if i can so that way i can spend the money on making a better engine. If i just go get a used engine i might have the same problem later down the road. Let me know what you think i should do and thank you for all your time and help.

[san rensho]

Have you taken off the filter and sump plate to look for metal? If so, what did you find?

[edwardneff94]

Originally Posted by san rensho

Have you taken off the filter and sump plate to look for metal? If so, what did you find?

No just pulled the engine the other day.

[Jake Raby]

If that was at TDC, I'd expect collateral damages based on the position that the cams are in.

[edwardneff94]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

If that was at TDC, I'd expect collateral damages based on the position that the cams are in.

What do you think my next step would be? Do i need to pull the head and check the valves? Do you feel the engine can be saved? If I drove it out to you what kinda cost would i be looking at? Thank you again for your time and help

[Jager]

Do all the cams move when you turn the crank?

[edwardneff94]

Originally Posted by Jager

Do all the cams move when you turn the crank?

Jager, I have worked on cars for years, rebuild Ford and Chevy engines, rebuild my old 944 engine, and never once thought to check and see if that side was turning just put it at TDC and looked at the notches. NO! the one bank that is off does not turn.. Great question thank you for your help.

[feelyx]

Originally Posted by edwardneff94

Jager, I have worked on cars for years, rebuild Ford and Chevy engines, rebuild my old 944 engine, and never once thought to check and see if that side was turning just put it at TDC and looked at the notches. NO! the one bank that is off does not turn.. Great question thank you for your help.

You could pop the scavenge pump off on that side and have a look see....

[edwardneff94]

Is there hope? LOL

[Jake Raby]

You have broken a timing chain..Pull that cam cover and I'll walk you through diagnosis.

[edwardneff94]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

You have broken a timing chain..Pull that cam cover and I'll walk you through diagnosis.

Jake thank you for the reply, I will get the cam cover off tonight and post pics. Thank you everyone for your help.

[edwardneff94]

When I pulled the cam cover off the chain fell right out.

[edwardneff94]

Close up of chain.

Pic of cams.

Pic of cams.

Chain

Chain.

[Jager]

This is turning-out to be a fun thread! I hope you don’t have any valve damage. I’m curious to see what Jake asks you to do as he walks you through this. Keep the pictures coming!