50 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH996 M96 3.6L Blown Engine
Reported or suspected cause
ims bearing
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
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0
Suspected cause
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Reported cause · Original poster
He also told me that, from the debris in the oil pan, it looks like it was the IMS bearing that failed.
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Suggestion · Original poster
Anyhow, my indy guy told me today he is getting ready to put the replacement engine in my car, after exchanging some of the bits and checking everything out (new seals, etc., check IMSB - has the larger bearing).
Leading evidence: 'ims bearing' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'ims bearing' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check imsb - has the larger bearing)' (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 · Original poster
Thought it couldn't be the IMS because I had the LNE upgrade bearing installed 2 years ago.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Lots of metal in the oil but not the dreaded IMS failure (had IMS upgrade by LN Engineering installed 2 years ago).
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
How can you have 2 Porsche engines that are "slightly used" that come with the Porsche 2 year warranty.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
My mechanic has 2 Porsche crate engines at his shop (slightly used) so I made a deal for an exchange.
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Check imsb - has the larger bearing)
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Reported fixes
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Unsuccessful attempts
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Discussions that contain suggestions
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Suggestion · Original poster
Anyhow, my indy guy told me today he is getting ready to put the replacement engine in my car, after exchanging some of the bits and checking everything out (new seals, etc., check IMSB - has the larger bearing).
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.
50 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Had to have my 2004 996 C2 towed to the shop after it stopped running - diagnosis is blown engine. Lots of metal in the oil but not the dreaded IMS failure (had IMS upgrade by LN Engineering installed 2 years ago). Haven't had the engine taken apart so not sure exactly what failed. Car has only about 65,000 km on it and was well maintained. Both street and occasional track driving.
Anyone know for a good used engine? (in Canada preferably)
Any guesses as to the value for the car as is? It is in great condition other than the (worthless) engine.
Sorry to hear that and please keep us posted of what caused the failure if you find out.
Your car is probably worth $US10k as a roller in US due to low mileage. You may want to contact Jake Raby and see if he will buy your engine if you decide to part it out. I've seen on ebay non running engines for $US 2-3k.
For the value of the car as is where is check in Excellence and Panorama for ads of businesses that deal with salvaged Porsches.
I know of one: Oklahoma Foreign in Oklahoma City, OK; but there have to be others, probably closer to you. (I have to note though distance (over 1500 miles) didn't apparently present a problem when some years ago I approached OF about buying my wrecked Cayman S.) Anyhow, come Monday give these businesses a call and see what they'll offer you for the car.
If you decide to resurrect the car with a replacement engine, a used replacement engine, one of these businesses also might be able to supply you -- your mechanic -- with a suitable used engine.
In general, there have been several comments about cold weather and its potential impact on these blown engines. Can you tell us if your car was kept outside and/or if it had lots of cold starts? Thanks
Thanks for the feedback so far.
The car has been keep in heated underground parking except for this past winter when it was parked overnight in an unheated garage (still in underground parking daytime). I used it pretty much every day but the past winter here has been quite mild, temperatures generally not below freezing most of the time.
My thinking right now is to sell it as a roller and move on to a GT3, unless I can pick up a good used engine. The rebuilt engine replacement costs seem to run close to the same price as a decent used 996.
Regardless it was still a rebuild. If you're assuming Triple Black's rebuild will be more effort because of metal circulating through it, it is just that at this point, an assumption.
A repaired engine is worth about 1/2 the cost of decent 996.2.
This is the cheapest solution. Though going with a GT3 would be a nice upgrade, just need to fix the coolant fittings popping out issue. Though 997 GT3's are not really that well priced and 6's are fairly expensive as well and harder to find.
Best time to get one was back in '09/'10 timeframe when they were at their lowest due to the effects of the recession. I remember seeing quite a few for the low 40's believe it or not. Should've taken out additional loan and jumped on it back then. Oh well.... I'll have to wait and hope to see if the P1 drops below a million dollars...
Did this car appear briefly on craigslist as a 10k roller last week? It was only up for a couple of hours and I assumed it sold quickly. I'm wondering if one of the local shops picked it up as I'm in the market for a used transmission.
Terrible first post I know, hopefully OP was able to get full asking for the car and is on his way to GT3 ownership.
Yes, I did offer it briefly on CL but took the ad down because I was unsure about keeping the car or not. Got lots of interest and a couple of offers in a very short period of time, which makes me think I may have under estimated its value. It may be advertised again at some point but for now I'm just storing it in my garage and taking some time to explore the options.
I thought it must be the one. It looked extremely clean in the pics I saw. Glad you didn't sell and hope you're able to get it re-powered and back on the road.
Well, I decided not to sell it after all. My mechanic has 2 Porsche crate engines at his shop (slightly used) so I made a deal for an exchange. Hope to have it back on the road next week with a 2 year engine warranty (but have to stay away from the track - that is gonna hurt :-( )
it just went up in value, I'd be thinking of putting it on the market once it's back up and running and moving to either a model with a mezger engine or a 997.2
Interesting. How can you have 2 Porsche engines that are "slightly used" that come with the Porsche 2 year warranty. Sounds a bit fishy. Do you trust your mechanic? Hope it all works out.
My thoughts exactly! Already looking for a 996 GT3, but they are hard to find here in Canada. If the search for the GT3 doesn't work out then maybe the 997.2. Even thinking about a Cayman R. The search has begun
I do trust him. It's not a Porsche warranty, it's his own warranty. He's been my mechanic for a few years now and he knows these engines extremely well.
So, been looking around for a 996 GT3 but it seems that they are very rare (and this is reflected in the asking price for the only 2 that I have seen for sale). On the other hand, I have seen many 996 and 997 turbos for sale, which also has the mezger engine, and I started to wonder if this might be a good option for me. The car will be my DD but my main reason for having it is for DE days (about 10-12 per season). Any advise, opinions? I am also considering the 997.2 or possibly a Cayman R. Staying away from anything with the IMSB.
I have a 996tt, with same tires keeps up to 997.2 gt3's in the corners and blows them away on the straights. Suspension, rotor, brake pad, tune and exhaust mods are needed. The 996 can also run GT2 tire/wheel with even a bit wider sizes up front if you covert to rwd which also drops weight. The 997 turbo can't convert to rwd and it really does weight a lot more then the manual stats while the stock 996 is just under 3400 with full tank of gas and can easily be closer to 3300 with track seats and lighter wheels and more if your convert to rwd.
I should get the diagnosis soon. Thought it couldn't be the IMS because I had the LNE upgrade bearing installed 2 years ago. I have since learned that it can still fail. Will keep you posted when I find out for sure.
Yea, I didn't think it would be that easy.
Anyhow, my indy guy told me today he is getting ready to put the replacement engine in my car, after exchanging some of the bits and checking everything out (new seals, etc., check IMSB - has the larger bearing). He also told me that, from the debris in the oil pan, it looks like it was the IMS bearing that failed. He won't know for certain until he starts the rebuild.
Suspected IMSB failure. Engine removed and stripped.
Replacement engine. 997 block almost ready for installation. Still needs transmission mounted.
Just waiting.
Thanks for the update. Is the shop going to tear down the failed engine and diagnose it further? I'm curious to see what they find about the LN bearing and the cause of failure.
It is going to be rebuilt, so I will find out eventually. Will post when I find out for sure.
For now I just want to get back in the drivers seat. Still hoping for this week!
x2
I'd be curious to see if the markings on your LN bearing matches DrMems who also recently had a LN bearing issue. More specifically, was wondering if you could take your bearing apart once you get it.
Might want to loop Jake Raby and Charles Navarro in before the tear down proceeds, if you haven't done so already. Hate to see a repeat of the dr mems thread.
Why? Who made him God, except all the fan boys out there.
He monitors anything to do with IMS and blown engines anyhow so it should be automatic for him to see this.
Well, it's not really my bearing any more - it now belongs to my indy shop. But I'm sure my mechanic will pass on the info. Just not sure how long it will be before he starts the rebuild.
Right. My mechanic has confirmed that it is the larger IMSB in a 997 block. Not sure what year.
Still planning on trading the car on a 996 GT3 or turbo tho. At the moment it seems like a turbo is much more likely given the scarcity of the GT3.
WOW! Finally back on the road! Feels sooooo good.
Haven't had much time to drive it yet, but it seems like the new engine is freer revving and it definitely sounds meaner.
My 996 now with a 997 long block
Congrats! Really appreciate the car when it is absent for awhile eh?
Looks just like my C2 except I have the 5 spoke Carrera wheels. Just got back from a cruise to nowhere just because..........
Enjoy it.
P.S. My C4S has a factory reman engine installed in 2013 so I would think it's the same block you are running now. It is a strong running motor - I love it.
