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YOUR RESEARCHHow screwed am I? *pics included* Need advice
Leading reported evidence
Check cam deviation values
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Leading evidence: 'Check cam deviation values' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check cam deviation values' (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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Suggestion
I did a whole bunch of diagnostics and troubleshooting (to no avail), because I didn�t think it was possible that my coils were bad� I finally broke down and replaced the coils� guess what?
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I did a whole bunch of diagnostics and troubleshooting (to no avail), because I didn�t think it was possible that my coils were bad� I finally broke down and replaced the coils� guess what?
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Suggestion
^^^Mine didn�t even get wet� Perfect weather, the car was running great, did about a 60 mile drive, was on my way home when suddenly it started running terribly - shaking, stuttering etc.
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Well, after three months of worry free 986 ownership and me shutting down all the negative comments from people that said the car was unreliable, seems like they were proven right. Zero issues whatsoever until today, while sitting at a light, I get a check engine light, drive straight back home for about a mile, mind you no noises, smoke or anything like that. And this is what happens when I scan it. Seems like there will be no easy way of diagnosing this without tearing apart the engine. To top it off, if it is only the timing actuator, I can�t seem to find it online anywhere. Could this be IMS suddenly going bad causing timing to jump?
When was the last time you changed out the coils and plugs? Looks like mostly misfire issues, and not really a big deal. Change out all the coils and plugs first.
Not so fast with tearing the engine apart part. I'd definitely check plugs and coils. That could be what's causing misfires and a good maintenance item to do anyway if they haven't been done. Not sure where you're located but finding someone with a Durametric would help. The timing chain out of position code has me concerned. I'd check your cam deviation values. Could be the guides are very worn and need replacement. If you drain out oil, look for small black bits of plastic, which could be parts of the guides floating around that could help pin point this. Cut your filter open and look there. Dropping the sump cover is no worst idea too. Good luck!
Btw, seems like you have a 986 Boxter with the 2.5L engine. This is a 996 gen forum so perhaps folks over in the other section could provide additional help.
You've posted this in the 996 (Carrera) forum. You'd probably get a better response in the 986 (Boxster) forum. If it was my car, assuming its somewhere safe like your driveway or garage, I would pull all the spark plugs and gingerly rotate the engine by hand and see where the timing marks on the front pulley and the cams line up. If you encounter any resistance rotating the engine, stop immediately as a valve may be contacting a piston.. Once you know if you are out of time, and how far you are out of time, you can formulate a plan to resolve the issue. Might be the Variocam actuator, or cam chain guide or chain tensioner for that bank. If it was the IMS bearing or a slipped IMS sprocket, you would have error codes for both banks. Best of luck.
Actually you’ll probably get more advice here.
Theres a lot more traffic here than the 986 forum.
A 986 M96 is very similar to a 996.1.
I’d check coils & plugs first.
Checking injectors might be next.
I agree, I don�t want to start throwing parts at it so will likely get it towed to Ken at Rennsmith in NJ. While I don�t mind replacing plugs and coils, the sudden onset of symptoms leads me to believe an actuator is more likely. I wish it was just plugs and coils, but that wouldn�t explain the timing being off
U have a nice snap on scanner, it will data log and graph all kinds if stuff. Learn how to use it. Look at your short and long term fuel, map sensor voltages, o2 sensors amd variocam functions. Misfires r not a big deal but must be diagnosed because they can cause more expensive problems. Spend a few bucks at a good indy if u r not a decent wrench and if this scares u just sell it as a roller.
I would guess 2-4hr of diagnostics should point an indy in the correct direction. Blindly throwing parts at it is like throwing away money, hopefully your indy can id the problem quickly.
I�ve come to realize we have been led to believe these engines are fragile. From my limited experience with my 996, 986S and bud�s 986 base, it seems that problems that initially seem big can usually be fix by a good indie for approximately 1k if just a road car with occasional enthusiastic driving. A bad MAF, fouled plugs, cracked coil packs, etc�. Bottom line, don�t get too upset until a good indie gives you reason to be. Good luck with it, probably be something not to bad.
I doubt plugs and coils will fix the issue. Only do that if they need to be done and you cannot find out the actual cause. What actual codes are you showing? It�s hard to see in the pics.
Cylinders 1,2, & 3 misfires� when were the coils last replaced? I had a whole set go bad in about 15k miles (from brand new)� See what I�m getting at? I did a whole bunch of diagnostics and troubleshooting (to no avail), because I didn�t think it was possible that my coils were bad� I finally broke down and replaced the coils� guess what? Uh huh� there are worse things to spend $ on!
Cylinders 1,2, & 3 misfires� when were the coils last replaced? I had a whole set go bad in about 15k miles (from brand new)� See what I�m getting at? I did a whole bunch of diagnostics and troubleshooting (to no avail), because I didn�t think it was possible that my coils were bad� I finally broke down and replaced the coils� guess what? Uh huh� there are worse things to spend $ on!
Was it wet/rainy or did you drive thru a large puddle or pressure wash under the car?
as the coils age the plastic cracks, moisture or water gets in and causes misfires
I doubt multiple coil packs would fail simultaneously but if they all got wet at the same time it would explain it
^^^Mine didn�t even get wet� Perfect weather, the car was running great, did about a 60 mile drive, was on my way home when suddenly it started running terribly - shaking, stuttering etc. really bad - like it was going to blow up! What I did figure out early on was that it ran fine when it was cool. As it heated up the misfires started. It took me close to two months of diagnostic trial and error (mostly error) before I broke down and ordered new coils.
I can't see your fault codes due to the glare on the scanner, but if you have P1325 or P1341 it is probably one of your vario-cam actuators that have stuck.
And you will have little green bits of rubber in your oil Sump/filter..If you find this it will need a new actuator, the actuator alone is about $1K...
Agreed. Coils go more often than you expect. There hasn't been a time that I had misfire codes over 20 years that it wasn't coil related. Sure it can be something else so test whatever you can before spending the money. But I have 58k miles on my car and have had to change them on average every 15k miles. FWIW.
No but perhaps he asked for them. We don't have all of the pieces of the puzzle. My mechanic often sends me videos of my car with photos of his computer and trouble codes not because he thinks or believes I understand them but because he wants to show me there is a real problem with my car. I'm just saying there's no reason to lay into this guy or criticize him when he's simply here asking us for help. He has photos of a nice scanner, he never said it was his. He admitted he is not handy so this leads me to believe it is not his scanner. That is all.
I'd love to have that scanner. Heck, I'd love to discover an abandoned Snap-On truck full of tools with a sign that says, "Take all you want!"
Ok, I'll wake up from my dream now.
