No Go

[Ag_Boxster]

I have a '98 Boxster with original Tiptronic tranny that I mated a 3.2L S motor. I worried from the beginning that the Tip may not be up to the addition power but many people assured me that it would handle the power. I've enjoyed the car for almost a year now and haven't had any serious problems with the car. Ok, there was that small item concerning going 78 in a 55, but other than that...... anyway. I spent a recent evening enjoying having the top down and the freedom of driving the back roads of North Carolina without any signs of problems. On several times I shifted aggressively and revved the engine to the mid 6000 range, including several from a stop.

I stopped at my ATM and shut down the car, again no problems, no smoke, no hot smell, nothing out of the ordinary. Upon restarting to head home I pulled out of the drive in 1st and revved to 6800 and shifted to 2nd without lifting and revved again and hit 3rd at which point I felt a slight flatting of the power curve and lifted, shifted to 4th then quickly to 5th and cruised for about half mile or so and then down shifted to 4th for a right hand curve just before my left hand turn after the apex and felt the normal engine breaking and then downshifted to 3rd and turned left. As I completed the turn I depressed the gas pedal and the engine revved freely and did not engage any gear. I shifted to neutral and coasted for 10 seconds or so and then pulled the shifter to D and gently applied light throttle but again it would not engage so I pulled out the road and the transmission oil smoke billowed on both sides.

The oil loss came from the bell housing and I am wondering if the source of the problem might be in input shaft seal or can someone offer some other possibility and what king of expense am I looking at to repair this. Second question, should I upgrade to the S Tiptronic 6 speed or should the repaired Tip do the job?

Thanks for any and all suggestions

[RFM]

Oil loss in the bell housing area in combination with no traction/gear shift and a smoking ATF fluid, probably caused by a overheated transmission by a shortage of oil (oil loss), indicates in first place a major oil leak with probably serious consequences for the complete transmission. A dismantling and closer inspection of the trans. is recommended. Tiptronic S is in first place control box related (Boxster ZF Tiptronic S 6 speed ?????).