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THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHAnother 996 IMS failure
Leading reported evidence
Replace day
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I did not mis-shift, and the car was inspected and the oil was changed the day before.
Leading evidence: 'Replace day' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check by a specialist or the engine' (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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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Porsche changed the design of this shaft no less than
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I've had it happen as well, engine replaced under original manufacturer's warranty.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Current plans are to have the engine replaced with a straight drop-in crate motor.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I predict the 3.4 crate motor will be better than new...When Porsche rebuilds an engine I hear they go to extra effort to be sure all is ok.....my 2 cents....For the record my 3.4 engine with 56,000 miles has had zero problems.....and I run the ______ out of it.....day in...day out!
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I predict the 3.4 crate motor will be better than new...When Porsche rebuilds an engine I hear they go to extra effort to be sure all is ok.....my 2 cents....For the record my 3.4 engine with 56,000 miles has had zero problems.....and I run the ______ out of it.....day in...day out!
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32 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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So i blew the motor in my new 996. I did not mis-shift, and the car was inspected and the oil was changed the day before.
The consensus seems to be that that it was an IMS failure.
I took a gamble on a cheap, early model, low-mileage 996 and lost. I'm glad I didn't purchase an aftermarket warranty, as the 30-day grace period wouldn't have been over yet, and then I would have been out the money for the warranty and an engine!
psperl,
sorry to hear about this. Happened to me nearly the same way on the track about 10 months back.
BTW: I am shopping for a engineless 996 to begin a race car project should you decide to move on.
Best of luck..
-Paul
I hate to hear it. There's someone that posted earlier this week looking to buy a 996 w/a blown motor.
Or get another motor and have an early model 996 with VERY low miles.
I'm not making light of your plight. IMHO, you've still got a Porsche, and that's still worth something. There's many threads on blown motors. It may help you decide what option is best for you.
Best of luck!!!
This is a funny situation. Normally, everyone would of said, "ride out the storm", "it will be ok in the end". Not this time, Paul is on a mission.
Seriously, I feel as if the air-cooled guys (oh wait, I am one now) are trying to bring down the 996.
But if this is a legit post, I am really sorry to hear. I couldn't imagine the loss, it sure hurts the pocket book.
Not that IMS failure is racing related. I've had it happen as well, engine replaced under original manufacturer's warranty. Dealer's explanation for the failure was "it happens".
What exactly happens when the shaft fails? I'm curious what/where it breaks and what it does to the motor.
Anyone have pics of the internals to show the aftermath?
That pic of the blown IMS is really educational. All day I've been thinking, what the heck is an IMS anyway? Now I know. Thanks. Anyone know exactly what causes it to crinkle like that?
Current plans are to have the engine replaced with a straight drop-in crate motor. Thankfully these motors aren't super expensive as far as exotic motors go. Some part of me wants to put a 3.6 or 3.8 in, but another part of me doesn't want to pay for the extra cost involved, as this wasn't a planned for expense.
psperl,
I hear ya about the "pain". FWIW I went the 3.6 route instead of the 3.4. 3.8 can be done but needs even a bit more integration done to make it work. No real complaints on my end. If I didn't tell you about it you would think it is a peppier 3.4.
May I ask you about the magnitude of the extra cost of the 3.6 upgrade? My real worry is that the 3.4L motor could blow again if there is a fundamental flaw in it that has not been corrected. Does anyone have any reason to suspect that these replacement 3.4 motors have been "fixed"?
For me the 3.6 cost about the same $ as going the 3.4
The tradeoff was a low mileage 3.6 w/ 9K miles and only a 6mth warranty vs a 3.4 crate w/ 2years.
Car had to be transported to a shop in Altanta that has done these swaps before and lived there for about 3 months all said and done. (it shouldn't take that long normally but the shop moved to a bigger location in the middle).
This is an oft-asked question. Search is your friend on this, but beware, not everything is factual. The safe assumption is that where possible, Porsche has made some changes to improve the longevity of the 3.4l motor, but the basic design remains the same.
Autofarm's site show's their fixes to the IMS and I'm certain Porsche has something similar. Just my 2 cents.
I predict the 3.4 crate motor will be better than new...When Porsche rebuilds an engine I hear they go to extra effort to be sure all is ok.....my 2 cents....For the record my 3.4 engine with 56,000 miles has had zero problems.....and I run the ______ out of it.....day in...day out!
There was a thread on Renntech recently about a guy attempting to drop a 3.6 in his 3.4 car and he had nightmare after nightmare in attempting to make it function. As others have said, it can be a fair amount of work.
Yeah I remember that one... I tried to strike up a dialogue with that user since I had a shop doing my conversion at the same exact time. Funny thing is the guy would never divulge who was doing the work.. In the end I concluded based on his super detailed "how do I" questions that it was a botched DIY attempt.
From the looks of the crinkle deformation, it looks as though the tube (and I'm surprised at the thin wall) was "crushed" --like stepping on a coke can standing straight up.
Also, the stud at end of the IMS did not shear.
Curious if the IMS bearing gave out, resulting in excessive play in the IMS, which would bend and deflect many times, eventually fatiguing in the middle and then crinkling??
Lastly, from
http://www.autofarm.co.uk/engines/wa...led/shaft_tech
I gather that since 02 there have been improvements to IMS, does that seem to be the case? (Autofarm never addresses what fails and causes the catastrophic engine failure)
You need to read this Autofarm (Total 911) article which covers the IMS issue in more detail:
http://www.autofarm.co.uk/pdf/Total911_July06.pdf
Specifically:
All 996 engines have an intermediate shaft that runs
the length of the underside of the block and is chain-
driven from the crankshaft. This, in turn, drives the twin
camshafts on each bank of cylinders. At the end of this is
a sprocket which turns on a bearing. The sprocket is
retained by a small stud that can break, causing the
bearing to fail. At first, this manifests itself as a noisy
rattle, which turns into a death rattle as the cam chains
come off, leading to further internal damage.
Porsche changed the design of this shaft no less than
four times during the life of the 996; partly to solve the
bearing failure issue, and partly to reduce an annoying
rattle on start-up. Later types, therefore, have a larger
bearing and a different sprocket designed to mate with a
special toothed chain, whereas the earlier ones drove a
conventional double chain. Because of this, it is not
possible to fit the later type intermediate shaft to an early
engine without also using a later-type crankshaft.
So, the original poster never showed any evidence that this was an IMS failure, it just "seems to be".
I'm going to consider this 996 IMS Myth Busted #2.
Sorry to hear this, and that it wasn't covered by your warranty. However a lot of jurisdictions have "lemon laws" that should get you a full refund if it dies within 30 days so so. Did you buy from an individual or a dealer??
What do you mean by...
''the consensus seams to be an IMS''.........
Did you have the engine check by a specialist or the engine.
IToo easy to say...''ho i had a problem with my engine yesterday and i PROBABLY bust my engine so i will right it up in Rennlist just to get some condolences from rennlist friends...
Please show up some pics and more explanation...otherwise it is too easy and i do not believe you at all like many other rennlister...
Bye Bye
Did someone lower the age limit on forum membership?
I come back after 3 years, and find a couple of kids throwing their toys out of the stroller - because they can't read the expiry date on a post...
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
