Could it be MAF sensor?

[Steve Brookes]

ORIGINAL: jeegnesh

Missed that yes bank 1 camshaft sensor was changed.

Looking at the history of invoices I don't see any coil packs mentioned. Should they?

The procedure above what does it do?

I take it when earth is disconnected the lights would no longer be on in the dash?

Many of us with older cars will have had new coil packs. They only last a finite period of time. They eventually crack, break down and let water in i.e. misfires are even worse in damp weather. Misfires are problems with the ignition system and this is most often caused by failing coil packs. Spark plugs rarely cause a misfire and will last for ages so changing them is unlikely to fix misfires.

The above procedure is a mini reset. The DME will then take fresh readings of all its inputs - MAF, O2 sensors and throttle position. Yes all the dash lights will go off when you disconnect the negative lead however the reason you need the key in the position that the dash lights are on before disconnecting, is to stop the alarm activating when you disconnect.

 

[jeegnesh]

These misfires would you be able to notice them? Because I can't notice any misfire, it seems they are slight.

I had already given the car back, I will get them to try the reset.

 

[jeegnesh]

The latest in the tale. They said the throttle body was dirty so cleaned out, the lamda sensor also dirty so gave them a clean (not sure that was possible), the passenger side cat cleaned out and alot of shit came out, and the reset procedure carried out. Taken for a 10 mile road test and no errors back as yet and the idle is stable.

They are getting me to take it home tomorrow and drive it about for a few days then go back and plug it into the computer, as far as I know they are not charging for this clean out either.

So be back in a few days, fingers crossed again, the other hand this time.

 

[GOOFY]

Jeegnesh

Good to hear you're making progress in the right direction with this - I'm sure the end is in sight. Can't wait for the weather to turn to give the car a good blast. So far driven it in the snow, found out its not as scary as I imagined especially with Traction control. Then drove it up a very muddy hill (offroad) the other day. It surprised everyone with its traction. A BMW was unable to make it up the hill and even a Passat was stranded for a while. So just waiting for the sun for it to do what it does best !

 

[jeegnesh]

Not to be. Done about 50 miles since picking it up and symtoms:

1. Idle's low quite often
2. Turns off while rolling to a stop (only happened once)
3. Hot start issues, have to keep trying to start it, but it does start eventually.

So planning to take it back and my guess its going to show the same set of errors. Cylinder misfires, Oxygen sensor.

My question is should I just go ahead and get bank 2 camshaft sensor (as bank 1 sensor has been replaced already), and both the oxygen sensors?

 

[Steve Brookes]

Mate, I would seriously consider going elsewhere to get your problems diagnosed and fixed. From what I can see the indy you are using has been of very little help to you. You have got better help from this board than you have from your Indy. I have no idea who they are but the whole idea of a Porsche specialist is that they know how to fix all the problems that crop up on these cars.

I for one won't advise you to go and get the O2 sensors changed as the next step because they are very expensive. Therefore you need to know that they will solve the problem before you spend more cash. A good indy should be able to guarantee you that changing something is going to fix the problem. Your current indy seems to be changing stuff in hope rather than using their knowledge. If in doubt about where to go, go to your local OPC - they will be more expensive but are guaranteed to fix your problems.

 

[al@broadway]

I wholeheartedly agree, not only does your indy appear to be working on a process of elimination which in itself is costly but I have also found to my cost that some indys do not have the necessary diagnostics to pinpoint the problem.

 

[jeegnesh]

Steve/Al you got me, so normally I have been going to a very reputable Porsche Indy but they are quite some distance from me and it becomes hard getting there and picking up. My mate had recommended a good mate of his and he has worked on some high end cars, but is no specialist which is obviously showing. So looks like I might need to head back to the Indy and really get this sorted once and for all.

Actually I found this place which is no hassle for me to get too Jaz Porsche (http://www.jazweb.co.uk/) spoke to the chap there and he sounded like he knew what he was talking about and as you mentioned Steve would only charge if they fixed the issue, not this elimination process. Gonna go down there for them to read the error next week.

 

[Rodney Naghar]

Jaz are very good, I've been there several times, and I've heard only good things said about them, good luck!

 

[GOOFY]

Jeegnesh, you really need to consider taking it to OPC or Porsche specialist before (a) you end up replacing everything (b) you damage the engine. Things like the lambda sensors will show on the Porsche Diagnostic as I found out. The cam solenoids also can be identified from OPC diagnostic as I have had mine checked by very helpful OPC technician who cycled them on and off while the engine was running. Good luck.

 

[jeegnesh]

I hear you loud and clear, going to Jaz on Tuesday to start the diagnosis over again.

 

[jeegnesh]

Latest - Went to Jaz, said there was too many errors to make sense of it, done a reset, good news even before I left the check engine light was on so took a re-read of the errors. So booked in this Thurdays for 3 new coil packs. And as you guys pointed out I will only be charged for the parts if this fixes the problem, makes me feel better that. Well fingers crossed, AGAIN.

 

[Steve Brookes]

Sounds like you're making good progress now Jeegnesh....another pair of fingers crossed for you.

 

[jeegnesh]

OK so parts keep adding up, I now have:-

AOS unit plus breather pipes
Spark Plugs
6 Coil packs
2 Camshaft Sensors

After all this the car does feel alot better, power is there, delivery is smoother (need to drive it more to confirm this fully) BUT the idle can still be shaky and I have had the instance where it cut out on me and then took time to restart. My gut feeling is when I put it on the diag next time its going to show the O2 sensors which was one of the items that was on the error list from day one.

Damn this is getting real expensiveeeeeeeeeeee.

 

[911sse]

Having been through all of this myself last year, I replaced all of these parts and I am still going with others this year.

My question would be, what fuel are you using?

It's no plecebo effect with my car, it just does run better on any of the 'super' unleaded options - mainly shell V-max.

 

[jeegnesh]

I have always run with Shell V-Power

What issues are you having now?

 

[911sse]

The car is now as perfect as an 9yr old 70k Boxster will be.

It runs better now that it's ever done in my 6 years of ownership

 

[jeegnesh]

You mentioned "I am still going with others this year." SO I assumed you still had some kind of issue.

Funnily enough I am on 72k but its 13 years old, to be fair though it runs and looks amazing, this is just a niggle and then it should be back to full glory. OH except the screaming starter motor, more of an annoyance then a problem.

 

[jeegnesh]

Anyone have any details on the lambda sensor (oxygen sensors), there one before the cat and one after, I believe made by Bosch, wanted to checkout if I did need them do I need to pay the full Porsche price or can I buy them from elsewhere?

 

[GOOFY]

Earlier models such as MY99 had only one sensor after the cat. I replaced mine from Eurocarparts over two years ago and seems to be working fine. Not too difficult to replace but need to be careful with the connectors.

Good luck