7 captured repliesPartial discussion capture · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHTLC on the 986 and a concerning discovery
Leading reported evidence
Check with a borescope
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Based on those promising results, I checked with a borescope before deciding to drop the oil pan and it looked great !
Leading evidence: 'Check with a borescope' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check ims until investigated' (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.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Clean drain holes / dried damp spots in the carpet
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
- cleaned all drain holes / dried damp spots in the carpet
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
- cleaned all ground points (some rusty ones that were also causing some electrical issues like remote central locking and courtesy lights not working)
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
- Replaced all door actuators and frunk that were causing the immobiliser to blow a fuse
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
It could have been a case of cross contamination (had to scramble for bigger containers for the first oil change so not 100% sure how "clean" they were) or something that had been there for a while and/or dislodge by the engine flush.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
- cleaned all ground points (some rusty ones that were also causing some electrical issues like remote central locking and courtesy lights not working)
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
My plan was to finish with the work I can do myself (water pump + thermostat, belt, heater core) and then book Autohaus Hamilton for a IMS retrofit, AOS and inspect things like engine mounts etc ...
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
7 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Porsche Forum Australia: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T203514Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Backstory: Bought a cheap 2002 MY03 Tiptronic Boxster 986 in need of some love but running (116k kms, now 118k)
Drove the car down from Brisbane to Sydney with a coolant scare but managed to nurse the drive without too many issues.
In the last few months, I've done some work on it initially to have it registered in NSW and now to make it nice.
So far:
- Replaced all door actuators and frunk that were causing the immobiliser to blow a fuse
- cleaned all ground points (some rusty ones that were also causing some electrical issues like remote central locking and courtesy lights not working)
- cleaned all drain holes / dried damp spots in the carpet
- replaced the headlight switch and some blown bulbs
- replaced coolant cap
With all that, blue slip inspection was a success and got registered in NSW.
Next job was oil change. Considering the last oil change was 1.5 years ago with not a lot of kms since but otherwise unknown service history, I did an engine flush (Liqui Molly product), flushed the oil (only to find that there was more than needed with my 10L oil drain pan overflowing), filled with Helix Ultra 5W40 (about 8.5L), a new K&N oil filter and a new oil plug/washer.
Aside of the mess I made, I was pretty happy with myself. car was running (if anything sounding smoother), oil was not full black, more like reddish black and no glitter in the old filter, just a bit of sludge
But then upon further inspection, I found some metal shavings (tested with a magnet) ...
My understanding is that it's unlikely to be IMS but could be timing chain/tensioners, balance shaft bearings, rod or camshaft bearings or something oil pump related.
My plan was to finish with the work I can do myself (water pump + thermostat, belt, heater core) and then book Autohaus Hamilton for a IMS retrofit, AOS and inspect things like engine mounts etc ... but now wondering if it's a bit late for that or even worth it?
The car drive well so far aside of the occasional puff of white smoke on cold start but I've stopped driving it.
So I guess the question is how screwed am I? Anyone with experience on finding metal and how likely that little boxster can keep on going ?
Reply from Autohaus Hamilton summarised : mmh can't be good, no point checking IMS until investigated. Removal and full checks : $5000 and if rebuilt require $70000
Guess I'll do another oil change soon to check if it keeps shredding and sell it for parts on Pickles if it does ...
I ended up deciding to do another oil change to check the oil filter and oil pan.
I drove for a few hundred kms with a stack of rare earth magnet on the oil plug as well.
Removed the drain plug : no trace of metal
Oil drain : Nice brownish oil colour after only 1000km and Helix Ultra showing good result in pulling carbon deposit BUT no trace of metal or glitter
Oil Filter : some sludge but otherwise nice.
Based on those promising results, I checked with a borescope before deciding to drop the oil pan and it looked great ! No metal swarfs anywhere and minimal traces of varnish.
Set everything back together, fed the little monster with Penrite HPR 5 5W40 and drove around listening to everything. If anything it actually sounds smoother.
It could have been a case of cross contamination (had to scramble for bigger containers for the first oil change so not 100% sure how "clean" they were) or something that had been there for a while and/or dislodge by the engine flush.
Either way, I've decided to keep working on this little car and see how it goes.
Getting this car on the cheap vs a well sorted one was always about journey vs destination so I'll keep learning new things I guess
😅
Worst case scenario, all those learnings can be applied to the next one ...
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
