porsche Boxster died while driving- wont turn over now...

[denaliberry]

Hello Renntech Community. Hope everyone has had a lovely day/ evening. Well... After owning 2 previous porsche's there is no doubt we all run into A LOT of issues. I have an 04 Boxster S with 117K miles on her. Well taken care of, just recently had an oil change. While driving my car on the interstate i felt a drag in the acceleration.It felt like the clutch was slipping but after driving it a little more it cleared up...  (Previously was an oil leak, I tightened the drain plug and added more oil prior to this incident and all was well) Then, while driving the car would accelerate any more, I attempted to downshift but it kept happening. The car died after I pulled off on the highway and after continuous hours of attempting and failing I called a flat bed and had her taken home. I ran tests on the relay, All is well with it. I added gas and a octane booster to attempt to clean it out. That didnt work. Checked fuses and those are all good. I suspect a fuel pump but Im not sure. Thank you!

 

- Hopefully this is all enough information to help me out 

 

- Denali

[JFP in PA]

6 hours ago, denaliberry said:

Hello Renntech Community. Hope everyone has had a lovely day/ evening. Well... After owning 2 previous porsche's there is no doubt we all run into A LOT of issues. I have an 04 Boxster S with 117K miles on her. Well taken care of, just recently had an oil change. While driving my car on the interstate i felt a drag in the acceleration.It felt like the clutch was slipping but after driving it a little more it cleared up...  (Previously was an oil leak, I tightened the drain plug and added more oil prior to this incident and all was well) Then, while driving the car would accelerate any more, I attempted to downshift but it kept happening. The car died after I pulled off on the highway and after continuous hours of attempting and failing I called a flat bed and had her taken home. I ran tests on the relay, All is well with it. I added gas and a octane booster to attempt to clean it out. That didnt work. Checked fuses and those are all good. I suspect a fuel pump but Im not sure. Thank you!

 

- Hopefully this is all enough information to help me out 

 

- Denali

 

Welcome to RennTech 

Pull the oil filter and look at it, if it is full of metal, you have major problems.

[denaliberry]

Will do..., just to give a little more info, the car has an aftermarket IMS bearing. I did not hear any noise when the car died, no grinding or anything. I’ve done work on previous fuel pumps. Fingers crossed. 

[JFP in PA]

Who's IMS bearing?

[denaliberry]

Hello everyone, just an update on the resolution to this problem. If your Boxster or any 986 vehicle has died while driving. Self diagnoses is cheapest and usually more efficient. If you heard a grinding it is most likely your IMS bearing. Thankfully for me I have a reliable aftermarket IMS Bearing. If you did not hear a sound when the car died, check fuel pump relay, fuses and wiring. 

 

-Solution. After taking the battery out of the front under the bonnet, taking the sending unit out and taking the fuel pump out. I ran some tests and turns out the fuel pump had gone out. If you had similar issues as I did, I suggest you take out your fuel pump, super simple process. 1. Take out your battery, 2. unscrew the battery pan 3. Take out all fuel hoses to the sending unit. (they may have some pressure built up and spit a little gas.) (IF THE HOSES DO NOT HAVE PRESSURE IT IS VERY LIKELY YOUR FUEL PUMP IS BAD) 4. Take out the sending unit, (Careful for wires that are connecting to the fuel pump. 5. After disconnecting the wires from the sending unit gently take out sending unit and place it somewhere dry and AWAY FROM HEAT OR FLAME AND ESPECIALLY AWAY from dirt. 6 Looking into the gas tank you'll see the fuel pump at the bottom of the tank (wear some gloves) Rotate the fuel pump counter clock wise. Once it clicks out of place slowly remove the fuel pump assembly. 

 

For testing ( First test wiring ) The connector with the yellow and black wire running into the fuel pump, Run positive power to yellow and ground the black, ( BE CAREFUL) If nothing happens take the cap off of the assembly and continue to provide power to positive and negative power to the actual pump. If nothing happens, The sucker is done for.

 

I spent 270$ for an OEM fuel pump. However, There are cheaper alternatives. I saw some with a year warranty for 40-70$  ( This whole process for me took roughly an hour or so)

 

Goodluck!

- Denali