Help! Recent new owner 2002 boxster

[LotusS4]

Hello,

New owner of a 2002 boxster with 95k. I was driving the car for days with no problems. Ran good, no CEL or other issues. Couple days ago the CEL came on and it was a minor evap code. Did not get a chance to look further into it yet.

The only issue I was having but could not figure out was when I started the car COLD, it would make a loud repetitive tap noise only for about 2 seconds and go away. If I shut it off and restarted it, it would not happen. The easiest way to explain the noise would be it a cooling fan blade hit against a plastic shroud. But only for a 2 seconds and go away.

Ok, Now the real problem. Drove the car to a friends yesterday, got there with no problems. Came out and went to start the car and it made the most horrible noises and stalled right out. I tried once more to start it and it was shaking like crazy.

I plugged a scanner into it and now have multiple pending codes, P0300, P0304, P0305, P0306 and one other ignition system fault code that I forgot. Its like its only running on one side of the engine.

Been searching for a while and coming up with a few ideas but trying to figure which way to go.

1. O2 sensor as one owner reported with the same problem but no one ever said having an engine that would not even run.

2. MAF but I tend to think my misfires would be one all cylinders.

3. Variocam solenoid, This one I do not understand how it works so I do not know if it would cause this extreme of a problem.

Now, I am also thinking that maybe it was a problem with one of the valve cam tensioners. Only because I have heard cam tensioners make a banging noise at startup until the oil pressure built up pressure in the tensioner.

Either way, something failed and it was not while driving, I shut it off running good and it just would not run right again.

Any thoughts would be great, Please help......

John

[wvicary]

I think you might have a problem with the intermediate shaft which operates the timing chains. Hopefully I'm wrong but get it towed to a dealer or good indy.

[pk2]

I hope wvivary's diagnosis is wrong to.. Common sense would predict that sort of failure would occur while under load but...

The clatter alone at cold start is fairly common. Your lifters have drained and just need to get pumped up. Could be part of something bigger to, though.

Good luck

PK

[scarface37]

I hope wvivary's diagnosis is wrong to.. Common sense would predict that sort of failure would occur while under load but...

The clatter alone at cold start is fairly common. Your lifters have drained and just need to get pumped up. Could be part of something bigger to, though.

Good luck

PK

Hi

The easiest thing to do is drain the oil, check inside the plastic oil filter housing and you could also check the sump pan. Any signs of metallic debris could suggest the I/M shaft bearinf is on the way out.

Good luck

[LotusS4]

Update, Ok , I went out to try and have a friend listen to the car and this time it started up, very little racket this time, and started to idle, after a few seconds it started flashing the check engine light and sputtered and stalled. I restarted it, brought the idle up to 3000 and it was running so so, still felt a little miss, while keeping at 3000, the light started flashing and even though I kept the accelerator at the set point it dropped rpms slowly at stalled.

Thankfully no big racket, I started it again and it was making some noise but my buddy who was looking under the car said the motor was misfiring so bad and jumping around so much it was probably just something hitting against another item under the car.

Any thoughts, the other code is a P1397 also.

Thanks

John

[LotusS4]

Update, Ok , I went out to try and have a friend listen to the car and this time it started up, very little racket this time, and started to idle, after a few seconds it started flashing the check engine light and sputtered and stalled. I restarted it, brought the idle up to 3000 and it was running so so, still felt a little miss, while keeping at 3000, the light started flashing and even though I kept the accelerator at the set point it dropped rpms slowly at stalled.

Thankfully no big racket, I started it again and it was making some noise but my buddy who was looking under the car said the motor was misfiring so bad and jumping around so much it was probably just something hitting against another item under the car.

Any thoughts, the other code is a P1397 also.

Thanks

John

hmm, ok upon searching this site I see P1397 is a camshaft position sensor for bank 2 (4,5 and6), Could this sensor being back misfire all cylinders in this bank?

Where is the sensor and how hard is it to change?

Thanks

John

[LotusS4]

update:

ok, Still have a nightmare. Troubleshooted P1397 CMP2 sensor per diagnostic charts

1. Checked connector on sensor for +5V across term 1 and 3. This is the reference feed from the DME. It checked out ok, also checked for short to ground on both wires with DME and CPS2 disconnected. Checked ok

2. Checked the wire on term #2 which is the signal wire for continunity to the DME.(connector III pin 17). Checked ok

3. replaced the CPS with a new one.

:-) still the same problem! throws P1397 pretty soon after starting and then misfires on 4 5 and 6. The car just about idles for a few seconds and stalls. no repsonse to giving it a little gas.

The only other new code since wokring on it is a P0107 which is a MAP sensor but I think that is probably because of how crappy the car is trying to idle.

Any thoughts would be really helpful.. I am just not sure where to go next?

Thanks

John

[Topless]

I see two possibilities so far:

1. Camshaft sensor is bad, confusing the DME and causing misfire.

2. Camshaft in bank 2 has actually slipped out of position and a grenade is going off inside your motor. The sensor is simply reporting the problem.

A flashing CEL means do not restart the car. Drain the oil through a screen and check for bomb fragments. If the oil is completely clean you may still be able to save her.

Edited July 26, 2008 by Topless

[juniinc]

agreed with topless #2

[LotusS4]

agreed with topless #2

ok, I will drain the oil tomorrow and check. The wierd thing is the car does start sometimes seems to sound ok at 2000 rpm and then just drops off until it stalls.

How hard is it to check the camshaft position for that bank ( 4,5 and 6)?

Thanks

John