986 S engine problems

986 S engine problems

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EthanSmale

Original Poster:

17,546 posts

186 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
Hi all,

I have a 986 Boxster S (2003 facelift) with around 102k miles on the clock. Last service was July 2020 and it had the full service at a reputable specialist. Oil, plugs, filters, aux belt etc.

In May I took it for an MOT and it failed on a few things, one of them was emissions. I hadn't noticed any running issues until then. Months earlier it had had an occasional stutter around 2000rpm but it cleared up and I forgot about it.

I used it for a few days until the MOT expired and it had started running oddly. On start up the revs would flare and then drop very low. Usually it would just catch itself around 4000rpm and then idle normally, sometimes it would die immediately.

At 5000rpm it would stutter heavily and if it was in 4th gear or above it would just sit at 5000 bucking and stinking of unburnt petrol.

I parked it on the drive to sort out the MOT problems and ordered ignition coils (genuine OEM).

I finished fitting everything today and took it for a test drive. No change to its behaviour.

As I say, plugs are around 5k miles and one year old. Coils are brand new. Any other ideas? I can book it into my nearest specialist tomorrow for diagnosis but if anyone has some simple ideas that are easy to check, I'm all ears!

Semmelweiss

1,755 posts

203 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
MAF. Disconnect it and see if it makes any difference?
Air Oil Separator - when they "go" you get all sorts of issues. White smoke, won't rev, stalling, screeching noise.

EthanSmale

Original Poster:

17,546 posts

186 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
quotequote all
Thanks- disconnected the MAF and all was fine. Wish I hadn't wasted money and an afternoon on coils but at least they're done now!

Ordered a MAF. All's well that ends well smile

Semmelweiss

1,755 posts

203 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
quotequote all
Good result for little money then.

Changing the coils was a good idea in any event. I've changed out all of mine as a matter of course in the past.

EthanSmale

Original Poster:

17,546 posts

186 months

Friday 25th June 2021
quotequote all
Semmelweiss said:
Good result for little money then.

Changing the coils was a good idea in any event. I've changed out all of mine as a matter of course in the past.
You are correct of course - no harm in having a new set of coils and plugs on it.

It just annoyed me because whenever a friend comes to me with symptoms like that, I tell them to check the MAF first. Yet I didn't take my own simple advice!