mrrogers

You are probably right. It is a shame that Porsche did not get the clearances right in the Cayenne V8 engine. They are attractive cars for many reasons, but the cylinder scoring is a problem in northern climates. Best regards,

My independent Porsche garage is quoting me $6,000 to repair the engine. That includes removing engine, tearing down, installing eight new sleeves in the eight cylinders, one set of rings for one new piston, reassembly, and re-install engine in car. Based on that quote, I believe that the dealer's $14,500 asking price is too high. Would it be a good deal at $8,000? Best regards,

Thank you for your advice. I am looking at used engines as an option to putting a sleeve in the current engine. It seems that there are two different 2008 4.8 engines without turbo per www.car-part.com. In the VIN number, the fifth digit is either B or D. Do you know what the difference is? The car I am looking at has the B engine. Is it possible to install a D engine in a car originally equipped with the B engine? Best regards,

I stumbled across a 2008 S with 61K miles and a scored # 8 cylinder in the 4.8 engine. Two different Porsche dealers boroscoped the engine and confirm that it is only the # 8 cylinder that is scored. The dealer is asking $14,500 for it, and Kelley Blue Book Fair Trade In is $19,428. I have asked my local Porsche independent shop for a quote to remove the engine, bore out the number #8 cylinder, press in a new sleeve, and reassemble the car. Assuming that the quote is reasonable, would this be a good engine after the rework, or has the cold starts in the Minnesota winters and the 20,000 mile oil change intervals caused permanent damage? Should I get a new coolant distributor installed while the engine is out?

What codes, and what type of diagnostic tool was used to retrieve them? Thank you for your prompt and detailed reply. I just sent the seller an email asking what the codes are. He claims that he uses the Durametric tool. My seller just had surgery, so my reply is slow. Codes are 0130 and 5525. Seller claims that 0130 is mass air flow which he claims to have replaced twice. 5525 he claims is improper data from DME. Any idea as to what is wrong and how much it might cost to repair? OK, I am going to stick my neck out here because I obviously have not seen the car, and say "Walk away". P5525 is troublesome; it is not "improper data from the DME" but rather a data communications fault with the DME, which can cause the car to throw ABS, PSM and other codes. While there have been cases where P5525 was caused by leaking intercooler hoses, in the worst case scenario, a P5525 can result in having to replace the DME, which is anything but cheap. I am concerned about the DME being "reprogrammed" without knowing by whom and to what it was reflashed. I would also like to know if the DME has ever be reflashed to an aftermarket program, some of which cause long term problems with these cars. Porsche's are complicated, Porsche Turbo's are very complicated. You could be buying in to a real can of worms here, and I'm sure there are other Turbo's for sale out there which would pass a PPI with flying colors. JFP, Thank you for your prompt and detailed reply. I value your opinion. Being a mechanical guy, I have always been intimidated by these types of problems. The turbos do not have the IMS bearing problems, but it appears that they have their own unique problems. The search for my forth Porsche continues. If Porsche would ever build a galvanived steel 356 with ABS and four airbags, I would be one happy customer. Best regards,

What codes, and what type of diagnostic tool was used to retrieve them? Thank you for your prompt and detailed reply. I just sent the seller an email asking what the codes are. He claims that he uses the Durametric tool. My seller just had surgery, so my reply is slow. Codes are 0130 and 5525. Seller claims that 0130 is mass air flow which he claims to have replaced twice. 5525 he claims is improper data from DME. Any idea as to what is wrong and how much it might cost to repair?

What codes, and what type of diagnostic tool was used to retrieve them? Thank you for your prompt and detailed reply. I just sent the seller an email asking what the codes are. He claims that he uses the Durametric tool.

I found a 2004 Twin Turbo convertible for sale with 57.500 miles. VIN is wp0cb29994s675585. The PSM and ABS came on, and the car is in the limp home mode. The owner has replaced the coils, plugs, throttle pedal sensor, electric throttle on the motor, MAF, and turbo boost valve. The ECU has been checked and reprogrammed. The Durametric codes were MAF and No connection from ECU to DME for the PSM and ABS lights. I wonder what is wrong, and how much it might cost to fix it? Best regards,

JFP, Thank you. I guess I need to check the 2005 Boxster S 3.2 to see which IMS bearing it has. Best regards,

Thank you JFP, Concerning the IMS bearing, I believe that the 2006 Cayman S 3.4 has the style where the engine must be opened up in order to change to the LN Engineering IMS bearing. I believe that the 2005 Boxster S 3.2 has the bearing that can be replaced without opening up the engine. Do you agree? Best regards,

As I posted yesterday, I have found a 2006 Cayman S 3.4 with two bad cylinders (2 & 5 are pitted). I located a 2005 Boxster S 3.2 engine. I believe that both engines are VarioCam Plus. Could I use the Boxster engine in the Cayman? Would I need to change the ECU? Best regards,

JFP, Thank you for your prompt and detailed reply. I guess I need to get it through my head that a Cayman will always be limited production, and it takes a lot longer to find what you need.

I found a 2006 Cayman S 3.4 with two bad cylinders (2 & 5). These engines seem to be in short supply. I asked my Porsche dealer for the price of the crate engine. He said that there are no crate engines, but he would try to find a short block. I found a 2010 Boxster S 3.4 engine. Would it be possible to install this engine in a 2006 Cayman? Best regards,

The 2002 one owner clean CarFax 38,000 mile triple black 911 six speed manual convertible with the failed IMS bearing sold for $12,500. The engine skipped time and was locked up solid. Car needed a brake job and new tires. I was not the buyer. The new owner has located a used engine.

Jason, Thank you for your detailed reply. You are right about the money. It is hard to make the numbers work on these cars. It is amazing to me that a one owner, clean CarFax 2002 911 with 38,000 miles and a failed IMS bearing cannot be saved. They used to say that you buy a Ferrari to get the engine, and the rest of the car is free. Perhaps some Porsches are approaching this territory. Best regards.

I spoke with Specialized German Recycling in Rancho-Cordova, CA today. They are bidding on a 2002 911 at a salvage auction, and expect to have the car including the 3.6 engine next week. Price for the engine is $8,500. The car is supposed to have less than 50,000 miles on it. Has anyone had any dealings with Specialized German Recycling? The reason I ask is that Jake Raby has an article on his website called , "Buyer Beware: Used "Low Mileage" engine nightmare. Mr. Raby talks about dismantlers piecing engines together and passing them off as engines pulled from low mileage wrecks.

JFP, Thank you for your prompt and detailed reply. I will check out his link.

I have found a 2002 911 3.6 with 38,000 miles and a failed IMS bearing. It is a one owner car with a clean CarFax traded in on a new Audi. Per the earlier posts above, it is a VariocamPlus engine, so it should be replaced with another VariocamPlus engine. 3.6 engines are almost impossible to find at www.car-part.com or eBay. If I locate a Boxster/Cayman VariocamPlus engine, could I strip it down to the long block and bolt the intake, exhaust, and accessories from the 911 3.6 engine on to it so I would not have any wiring problems? Will the 2002 911 ECU be okay?

Thank you for your reply. By the time a person buys an ECU and wiring harness, this is not an easy option. It is just hard to make the numbers ($$$) work on these cars once the IMS bearing goes and the engine locks up.

I have found a 2003 911 six speed with 11,000 miles and a failed IMS bearing. The engine does not turn over. It appears that the 3.6 engine is in short supply on eBay and www.car-part.com. This car has the 320 hp version and not the x51 option. Is it possible to bolt the 2003 accessories on to another long block (Boxster 2.5, 2.7, 3.2, or 911 3.4) to get this car back on the road? With only 11,000 miles, it is a shame that it is parked. I do not need to go 177 mph so a smaller engine is okay.

I came across a 2002 911 4S tiptronic that has not been started in two years. Mileage is 56K. The scanner says that the car is in 2nd gear, but there are no codes stored. The owner has replaced the shifter assembly, the transmission control module, and the transmission valve body. When he hot wires the starter, the engine turns over. Does this sound like another bad ignition switch? Did the transponder key get lazy in two years? Would a new ignition switch and a re-programmed key fix the problem?

I have found a 1986 928S with a broken timing belt. Does anyone know if it is an interference engine? I thought that the 1978 through 1984 two valve engines were not interference engines, and that the 1985 and newer four valve engines are interference engines, but I am not sure. If the engine still turns over is it safe to say that it is not an interference engine? Best regards, Joe

Does anyone have a PDF file of the excellent Jim Pasha article, "M96: Past, Present, and Future" from the December 2008 Excellence magazine? I have the magazine, but I would like to send a PDF to a friend.

Attached please find a link to a video of a 2005 Cayenne S with 73,295 miles and an engine knock. Any ideas as to what has happened to this engine?

Loren, Thanks for your prompt and detailed reply! Best regards, Joe