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YOUR RESEARCHThe rattle - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
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Use cheap-*ss sheet metal screws
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Porsche used cheap-*ss sheet metal screws to hold the alloy heat shielding together.
The rattle - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
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Leading evidence: 'Use cheap-*ss sheet metal screws' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Use cheap-*ss sheet metal screws' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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The rattle - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
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Hello. 1st posting. 2002 Boxster with 36k. Persistent engine rattle centered around the passenger rear side, loudest at the wheel well and vent. Noticeable at idle even after full day's drive. Clears once in gear and >2k. Otherwise, the car runs perfectly, no complaints, but annoyed (and a little concerned) with this rattle.
Dealership thought faulty water pump and replaced that, helped for a few weeks now just the same.
I see a lot of old postings about this kind of thing. Any concensus?
Thanks, rj71
Sorry to say, I don't know. No changes to the original parts, though, so if that's standard for the 2002 Boxster then that's what I have. Does that fit the description? Weird thing though -- popped up one day a year or so ago, been there ever since.
If it is there in neutral and goes away when you press in the clutch and is not present when you are in gear then it would point to a clutch/flywheel related issue.
To my knowledge, if you have a straight stock car then you would not have a single mass flywheel.
The reason I ask is that they clack and rattle at idle due to the light mass being subject to the instantaneous acceleration of the motor within the overall rotation of the crankshaft. A dual mass or heavy flywheel smooth these moments of acceleration out and therefore do not clack the gears in the gearbox.
I know exactly what you are talking about. My 2003 Boxster sounds the same. Everyone I have asked about it says it's normal or they don't hear anything... but I think it sounds like a crappy 1980s Ford Taurus with a rusted muffler. Let me know if you figure it out
Probably heat shielding and may indicate a motor mount getting sloppy.
Porsche used cheap-*ss sheet metal screws to hold the alloy heat shielding together. After time, especially if they've ever been loosened and re-tightened, the holes in the alloy shields expand and the sheet metal screws can no longer hold it tight.
The fix is to get small gauge SS machine screws with a nut and lock washer. You
could
try larger sheet metal screws, but you'd be right back in the same boat in 6 mos. to a year.
Cheers!
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