Car won't start after replacing variocam actuators

[Bsimpson]

Ocean blue metallic 2000 porsche 996 Cabriolet. 155000 miles.   

I was getting 1325 and 1341 cel.  So variocam for both sides... so I took things apart to find out that mechanic the previous owner had replace the actuators put them on the wrong banks.    I followed the instructions in the manual and varafied the timing before I put everything back together.

While I had the engine out I replaced the camshaft position sensors, did some clutch work. 

 I put the engine back in the car and it would turn over but won't start.  So I got on here and read a million pages..  First I replaced the crank position sensor.  Still cranks but wont start. Tach does not move more than maybe a 8th of a inch at first while cranking.  Put a fuel pressure gauge on the rail and its producing 55 psi.  My simple code reader showed pending codes of 1397 and 343.  So I pulled the engine back out and went through all the wiring on the harness.   Checked all the sensor wires for continuity.   Changed the coils because I noticed some small cracks and replaced the spark plugs.   The old ones had gas on them so its getting fuel.  Also replaced the knock sensors and the coolant temp sensor and the troublesome Y cable on the starter and voltage regulator on the alternator since I had the engine out again.  I even tried putting the old cam position sensors back on just in case new ones were bad.  Put the engine back in last night.   Still cranks but won't start. It backfired once during crank.  Put a code reader on and it shows pending codes for 1397 and 343.. cam position sensor codes .   I have a durametric coming in the mail tomorrow but I'm just looking for advice on what to try.  .   I'm not a mechanic just a guy who loves cars and tries to learn and do everything myself.  Car was running and driving before i started all this.  The previous owner had the ims replaced right before I purchased the car and they replaced the variocam actuators while they were in there because the pads were shot.  Unfortunately the work was done in Texas, where I purchased the car and I live in Missouri.  

[deilenberger]

You mentioned the car was running and driving before you started working on it..  and that begs a few questions:

 

1. How long have you owned it? 
2. How many miles?
3. Has it always had an engine warning light on since you've owned it?
4. How do you know the actuators were on the wrong banks? 
5. Do the actuators have different PN's?
6. Can you point me to an on-line diagram that shows the "actuators" - since none of the on-line parts diagrams seem to refer to anything like that.

 

 

Edited March 12, 2020 by deilenberger