Engine Noise - Garage Recomendation Please

[Happy Jim]

Hi All,

Any good Boxster specialists in the area of Finchampstead? (RG40)

My wifes 1999 2.5 Boxster (64K Miles) has thrown a wobbly....

Yesterday my wife phoned me saying the car made a godawful racket and wouldn't start, then 5 mins later started as normal and all was "normal/quiet".

I had a look at it last night, engine covers off started it up and all was fine, left it running for about 5 mins and nothing untoward so decided I would take it to work the next day!

This morning I jumped in, started it up and set off for work, about 2 miles away from home and the godawful noise sprang to life, really metallic loose/rattly noise, it sounds ancilliary to the engine (but definitly engine area), not internal big/small end knock type of noise, kindof like someone throwing a handfull of nuts at a fan and them clattering all over the engine - I pulled in and the engine cut out. Gave it a couple of mins whilst I had a look around it - started it back up and all was quiet and normal again.

I drove it to my local garage (general local type) and they had a quick poke around with the engine covers off - nothing obvious and it didn't make the noise.

There was a VERY strong smell of burnt clutch/brake lining but the clutch is absolutly fine, brakes were cold. When he blipped the throtttle (from the throttle body) there was a small puff of smoke from the passenger side bank of the engine (just vicinity of, couldn't see where it actually came from).

So, it looks like there is a real problem as it has now happened on 2 days, and I could do with it fixing!!

Anybody care to have an internet based diagnostic guess? I'm kindof hoping that it's something relativly trivial and well known like an AC clutch going tits?? (and yes I am worried about the IMS/RMS thing).

But I guess the real question is.....Which Specialist Garage please?

Many thanks

Jim

[thegoose]

Have you tried the Wiki list of Porsche specialists? I thin it's at the top of the Porsche General forum (life was so much easier for us all before they split the forums ).

Good luck getting it sorted.

[Happy Jim]

Good nudge, went and found the list and looks like either Fastlane in Ascot or Northway in Reading...

any thoughts on either anyone?

Rgds

Jim

[CampingGaz]

+1 for Ray & his team @ Northway...well worth the short trip ..

I've had various 'noises' investigated over the years and have always managed to get resolved, plus being used for normal servicing needs :-)

Edited by CampingGaz on Wednesday 9th April 16:04

[RiccardoG]

Another +1 for Ray Northway. Good guys, always willing to help and they are very down to earth in terms of their pricing etc.

[Happy Jim]

+1 for Northway :-)

Popped in on my way home from work (in tin top not with the Boxster obviously) and spoke to one of the guys there.
Although they were clearly manically busy we had a good chat about what it might be, he gave me a list of things to check and how to check them......Found It :-)



and a bit closer...



So, a knackered "thing" on the front of the AirCon compressor.

I take it that if I pull the fuse/relay/whatever from the AirCon circuit then this will be OK to drive now until Northway have time to replace it for me?

Any thoughts?

Cheers

Jim

[AC Motors]

It looks like the compressor may have seized and burnt the clutch out, I think you will need to remove he belt.

[ro55a]

If you fit the smaller/shorter v belt, the one for a non AC car, then you will bypass the AC pulley and can drive the car until AC compressor fixed.

[Happy Jim]

ro55a said:

If you fit the smaller/shorter v belt, the one for a non AC car, then you will bypass the AC pulley and can drive the car until AC compressor fixed.

Didn't think of that! good idea, many thanks.

Jim

[RiccardoG]

Totally irrelevant to your issue, but what colour is that Boxster? Just curious as the metal bits showing in the pics seem to be a colour I don't recognise. I'd guess Arena red (dark red / burgundy), if anything?

Another curiosity, did this happen because she suddenly switched the a/c on for the first time in a while?

[Happy Jim]

HI,

Yep, Arena Red, but the area around there is very "overspray" rather than sprayed at (as it comes from the factory).

Re the use of the A/C, yes again, had the conversation about "what did you do differently" and the answer was of course "used the A/C, never do that normally" - so fubared through underuse.

As the pulley freewheels I've just removed the relay (Number 4 in the boot) to stop the clutch kicking in.

Given that she's never used the A/C I think I'll probably leave it like that for the time being otherwise it will just happen again!

Jim

Edited by Happy Jim on Thursday 10th April 16:05

[RiccardoG]

Thanks for that. Mostly asking as I'm after a 2.5 but, as they're quite old now, I am slightly concerned that they will have many expensive issues cropping up, so its good to know in this case it was due to the component not being used. (A/c compressors are lubricated by the cooling gas and if not used will do just that).

Arena red very rare!

[Happy Jim]

Nice little cars, and touch wood has been good as gold for the past 2 years (barring this episode).

[graemel]

Funnily enough I just saw my first arena red boxter, parked up just around the corner from where I live. Unusual colour for said vehicle.

[RiccardoG]

Thanks for posting the pic, must say I quite like it!