Well, I guess it is my turn!

I had an appointment this morning to get a new oil pressure sending unit and a belt put on at my Indi. Went to the garage and fired up the 1999 cab. It fired right up but immediately started a bad clacking sound. It followed with rev's as I gently pressed the gas. Shut it down and called my Indi. and was told to flatbed it in. 1 hour later he is listening to it run and predicting a bad lifter it chain tensioner. Could be worse. I have to be honest, I don't think I have the stomach for these cars anymore. I was to leave on a 8 hour trip this next weekend with my 911, but now don't trust it any more. This is my 2nd Porsche, first being a Boxster I had for 4 year with little worries. My current ride is a 99 cab with only 28,000 miles in mint condition until now. I know I'm going to hear "don't buy a low mileage porsche" but I did and now may pay the ultimate price. I have owned it since October and have put about 2,000 on it so far. I did have the IMS and RMS done right after the purchase so I doubt if it is IMS related. Stay tuned for answers. Probably will be a few days before diagnosis.

Sorry to hear this. If it makes you feel any better, doesn't just happen with p-cars. Had the same thing on our BMW 5-series. Ended up being a camshaft position sensor. Relatively easy fix and back on the road... I hope same for you.

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Hope it's nothing serious. At the end of the day I would always rather have a low mileage 911 than a high miler tired out car.

I guess this is my input: You bought the low mileage car, probably paid a premium, why? Because you like the car you're driving. You've already done the IMS/RMS, what's one more repair on a car you enjoy? If you replace the chain tensioner you'll likely have thousands upon thousands of worry free miles. Stick with it and don't make up your mind until you've had it checked and properly diagnosed.

Thanks for the thoughts Ryan. I agree I need to hear what the issue is, but always worrying about the issues with these cars is getting worse. I do truly LIKE the car but need to trust you can drive it and have a very good chance to get back home. Indi said that lifters go on the flat six engines because if they set long enough the oil inlets can get blocked and then they begin to fail. We will see.

I came from the Range Rover world so to me these cars are amazingly reliable. There's always something worse out there... and like Ryan says you like it... so continue to like it. Accept that it's never going to be Toyota reliable but it's never going to drive like a Toyota either.

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Be glad you don't have an older Ferrari or Ducatti.

The noise can be something external, either pullies or waterpump. Dont let your hopes sink, can turn out to be a cheap fix. Good luck

Bad news and I am so sorry for your demise. Hope the diagnostics proves to be favorable for you. No matter what, I would simply bite the bullet, have it repaired and drive the **** out of it so it doesn't happen again. Don't even contemplate selling it as is. Anyway show us a photo of your ride. I have a 99 cab also.

Hurdi, here are a couple of pics. I'm finding out it is what is under the skin that is as important as how it looks😥

A leaking radiator hose in the middle of your planned trip could have been just as big a pain, but the doom and gloom mood among many of the posts here become poison in the well. Something broke on a 16 year old car. So what's new? If you have enjoyed the car up until this moment, get it fixed and get back to enjoying yourself.

I know I'd be taking a BIG chance on a '99 with only 28k miles (that is only ~1,800 miles per year) but I'll give you $1,500 for it before you have to pay to have it dragged to the crusher...

Make sure they diagnose the hell out of the sound before doing anything. Shops that lack direct experience with these engines are replacing cams and lifters when thats not the issue, and the issue was a failed cylinder. They sound exactly the same. The record was a 14K bill from a dealer that didn't solve the problem, because they misdiagnosed it. I spend hours on this in classes, because its happening all over the country. Where are you located? How cold has it been there? Did you drive the car in temps below 20 degrees F? Gotta love low mileage cars, everything is great except the engine. We love them, because when they break people will pay to keep them, rather than bailing.

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Jake, I am in Louisville but moving in a couple of weeks to Greensboro, NC. I do feel I have a pretty good Porsche mechanic, but wish I were closer to you so you could take a look. I did drive it this winter with the exception of a few weeks when it got real cold. I think the coldest day I took it out was maybe around 25 or 30 degrees on start up. Did not start below 25 degrees. I hope this helps. I did not have a chance to record the engine noise because I ran it for less than a minute and shut it down. The mechanic ran it for a couple of minutes when it came off the flat bed to try and pinpoint the seriousness if possible. They were very busy so could not get to it until Monday or Tuesday. I will keep you updated. Thanks for the reply.

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Hey now, at Ducs make good looking paperweights as you try to chase down electrical gremlins

Ryan Hopefully your diagnosis is good. Best of luck. To Jake if you circle back to this: Is a compression test the only way to rule out a bad cylinder aside from a tear down?

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Been there, done that and that's why I have an Aprilia.

Good luck! I hope it is a minor repair and minor inconvenience!

Hello "fullthrottle." Good luck and I hope it's "small potatoes." On a side note, welcome to Greensboro! I'm a relatively new "Cab" driver and hope to find "Cars and Coffee" or other excuses to drive in the G'boro area this spring/summer. Get in touch if you'd like. FYI, I haven't gotten any feedback on an indy around here. I've had my service done in Chapel Hill thus far. Regards.

Yep happens to nearly every make. my wife's mini started with chain tensioner, then head gasket, waterpump t-stat, High pressure fuel pump, a dozen sensors while the dealer was easter egging. and finally a 350 dollar valve cover because integrated PCV. so 2 grand and it is finally back on the road for AWHILE I HOPE. I did most of the work. would have been more than car is worth if shop did it.

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I have had my cab since last October. 2nd Porsche. I will look you up when I get settled in. Ben to cars and coffee in greensboro before. Probably see you there in May. I will also be looking for an Indi in the area.

Indi said it was a sticking lifter on the driver side. It pumped back up after setting and the clanking went away. This is probably temporary and will have it torn down and replace all lifters when I get it to Greensboro. Will tow it there in a few weeks.

Great news!

great news!!! - did they have to take off the cam cover to get to the lifter? If so and it needs to be replaced why not just do it then?

Glad to hear it was a simple solution!

If the lifter pumped back up drive it there, probably best thing for it.

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could you make explain what would cause a lifter to "deflate" and how does a technician fix this?

Some of the oil can drip out of it, creating an air pocket that causes noise until it refills with oil, a little bit of debris can clog the inlet or hold the one way valve, that lets oil into it, open keeping it from pumping up. If it does not pump itself up when the engine is running the fix is usually to replace it. I have one that sometimes will chatter when started after the car has been sitting for a week or more. Mine will pump up pretty quickly and get quiet as the car warms up. if I drive it everyday it stays quiet or at least the same as all of the others.