5 grand service quote

[csanford]

I just bought a 2000 boxster s and put a cold air intake on the car. Almost immediately after that the began to stutter big time. I took the car back to the shop and everything checked out o.k., so they did some diagnostic work. The check engine light had started coming on and threw out codes for misfireing in 3 different cylinders. The car recently had the 30k service done but the shop replaced the spark plugs and reset the computer. I didn't know the spark p[lugs had JUST been replaced right before I bought the car but the shop told me they were probably original. After the computer was reset one of the codes still was present, a misfire in cylinder 3. The shop told me they tested the coils next, compression test was performed and still the code was present. I lost confidence in this independent import shop when they told me they then tried to get online with a Porsche tech service and then called the local Porsche dealer, I guess I figured they were at their capacity with my car so I took it to another local Porsche dealer. The Porsche tech went over my car thoroughly checking many of the same things the import place did and now thinks it may be a valve spring that has broken. That doesn't sound that bad..... I thought! The dealer wants $5,000 to pull the enginge and rebuild it. Can someone please help me!!!!!!!!!!! Someone please tell me it may be an oxygen sensor or throttle body probelm! Chris in Columbs Ohio

[jjanari]

Providing more details may help us:

What were the actual codes that you or these 2 different mechanics pull?

Which cylinders are misfiring?

Did the last mechanic explain how a broken valve spring would cause a misfire in 3 cylinders? I am certainly no mechanic, but I would think that a broken valve spring in one cylinder would result in misfire in just that cylinder.

Something doesn't seem to be adding up.

Although the cold air intake change prior to misfire may be coincidental, did you replace the stock airbox?

Did the last mechanic mention performing a leak down test before "pulling" the engine?

hopefully, someone with more knowledge/insight will chim in...

[txhokie4life]

Pull and replace engine is 20-25 hours, valve spring, and valve job, plus new head gasket

should be < 1k.

At a moderate indy -- that should be $3k max

wish you were closer to Austin we'd be happy to help!

m

Providing more details may help us:

What were the actual codes that you or these 2 different mechanics pull?

Which cylinders are misfiring?

Did the last mechanic explain how a broken valve spring would cause a misfire in 3 cylinders? I am certainly no mechanic, but I would think that a broken valve spring in one cylinder would result in misfire in just that cylinder.

Something doesn't seem to be adding up.

Although the cold air intake change prior to misfire may be coincidental, did you replace the stock airbox?

Did the last mechanic mention performing a leak down test before "pulling" the engine?

hopefully, someone with more knowledge/insight will chim in...

[jjanari]

txhokie,

Those prices seem a lot more realistic.

out of curiousity, assuming it's a broken valve spring, how is a broken spring typically diagnosed?

[pk2]

As jjamari implied, I'd be suspicous of your cold air intake. There is been plenty of sparing going on here on the subject. Half the world beleives they can gum-up the works.

As far as the valve spring, I don't see how you would have any compression with a broken one.

PK

[seafeye]

As jjamari implied, I'd be suspicous of your cold air intake. There is been plenty of sparing going on here on the subject. Half the world beleives they can gum-up the works.

As far as the valve spring, I don't see how you would have any compression with a broken one.

PK

I'm sure the dealerships want to make sure they get the problem that is why they are telling you to do a full teardown.

Can you get the durametric cable and run your own tests?

I 2nd that you would have very low compression in the cylinder if you had a broken valve spring. You might even be able to change it without taking the motor out of the car.

Can you test the coils? Move them side to side and see if the problem goes to the other end? Take a chalk pensil and write 1 thru 6 on the coils then start to move them to the opposite side. Note difference.

How is your idle? Could your cold air intake affect the MAF? Did you try clean the throttle body and maf?

[atta]

I second trying to move the coil packs. How is your idle? Since you have installed a CAI I would also look close at the entire air intake. Air leaks in the intake can cause misfire codes. Go over all the tubes, clamps, etc - clean them out and check for leaks.

http://www.pedrosgarage.com/Site%203/Clean...y%20%20%20.html

A.

[Stefan]

Try unplugging your MAF and see if the problem goes away. If so, it's likely that the CAI destroyed your MAF. I recommend putting the stock intake back in.

[Jake Raby]

I can change valve springs in the car, without pulling the head as long as the engine hasn't seen a bent valve from the broken spring...

5K to do this job is an incredible cost, indicative that they probably haven't ever done the job before and don't know what it requires..

You can test for a broken spring easily with a leak down and compression test... A trained ear should also be able to hear it or at minimum it should be audible with a stethoscope..

Coil packs do fail around 28-38K most of the time....

[csanford]

Providing more details may help us:

What were the actual codes that you or these 2 different mechanics pull?

Which cylinders are misfiring?

Did the last mechanic explain how a broken valve spring would cause a misfire in 3 cylinders? I am certainly no mechanic, but I would think that a broken valve spring in one cylinder would result in misfire in just that cylinder.

Something doesn't seem to be adding up.

Although the cold air intake change prior to misfire may be coincidental, did you replace the stock airbox?

Did the last mechanic mention performing a leak down test before "pulling" the engine?

hopefully, someone with more knowledge/insight will chim in...

[jvcuenca]

I just bought a 2000 boxster s and put a cold air intake on the car. Almost immediately after that the began to stutter big time. I took the car back to the shop and everything checked out o.k., so they did some diagnostic work. The check engine light had started coming on and threw out codes for misfireing in 3 different cylinders. The car recently had the 30k service done but the shop replaced the spark plugs and reset the computer. I didn't know the spark p[lugs had JUST been replaced right before I bought the car but the shop told me they were probably original. After the computer was reset one of the codes still was present, a misfire in cylinder 3. The shop told me they tested the coils next, compression test was performed and still the code was present. I lost confidence in this independent import shop when they told me they then tried to get online with a Porsche tech service and then called the local Porsche dealer, I guess I figured they were at their capacity with my car so I took it to another local Porsche dealer. The Porsche tech went over my car thoroughly checking many of the same things the import place did and now thinks it may be a valve spring that has broken. That doesn't sound that bad..... I thought! The dealer wants $5,000 to pull the enginge and rebuild it. Can someone please help me!!!!!!!!!!! Someone please tell me it may be an oxygen sensor or throttle body probelm! Chris in Columbs Ohio

what kind of intake did you put in your car?

[csanford]

Pull and replace engine is 20-25 hours, valve spring, and valve job, plus new head gasket

should be < 1k.

At a moderate indy -- that should be $3k max

wish you were closer to Austin we'd be happy to help!

m

Providing more details may help us:

What were the actual codes that you or these 2 different mechanics pull?

Which cylinders are misfiring?

Did the last mechanic explain how a broken valve spring would cause a misfire in 3 cylinders? I am certainly no mechanic, but I would think that a broken valve spring in one cylinder would result in misfire in just that cylinder.

Something doesn't seem to be adding up.

Although the cold air intake change prior to misfire may be coincidental, did you replace the stock airbox?

Did the last mechanic mention performing a leak down test before "pulling" the engine?

hopefully, someone with more knowledge/insight will chim in...

[csanford]

I put an evolution motor sport intake in the car but currently the stock intake is in the car. I took the car to a Porsche dealer and they wanted to do a complete rebuild for around 5k. I picked up the car and took it to another Porsche dealer in town to see what they thought. They swapped spark plugs, injectors, coils and now the want to see if there is a crabon problem in the motor, so they are trying to de-carbonize the car. The error codes were 060, 062 063 and 064. The paperwork from the first place is in the car so I don't know if I have the correct codes, but from memory those are the codes they gave me. I had twin girls 8 weeks ago so it has been tough to respond to your questions though I VERY much everyones replies!! This is a terrific way to troubleshoot and I hope, with your help to get it resolved. I spoke to the previous owner who said he had no mechanical problems with the car and confirmed that with the agency who performed the 30k service in April. I don't beleive the previous owner had any problems before I bought the car from him but my dream of owning a Porsche is quickly becoming a nightmare. I am afraid I may be looking at a complete rebuild or buying a new motor completley!!!! If I have to buy a new motor, can anyone recommend a website to save me some money. Like I said before, I only put @ 300 miles on the car before the problem started. I don't see how changing the air intake could have caused a valve spring to bust, but I would love to hear confirmation from some serious Porsche motorheads telling me that my luck just stinks. Thank you to everyone who have responded. Chris Sanford 614-332-4752

[Jake Raby]

You should not need a new engine.. You just need someone to work with your car that actually has some desire to repair what you have rather than replace it..

That comes from a guy that has an engine replacement program designed to help people like you, in your position...

Valve springs can break.. Engines are mechanical and ANYTHING thats mechanical can break at any time and NO it does not have to make sense or have any reasoning...

That spring can br replaced in your car if the valve isn't damaged, at worst case you'd have to pull the engine and pull the head. No big deal for anyone with some sense and a tool box.