Engine died - Need some help

[2TrunkSteve]

My 1997 Boxster with 52k miles died. I was driving along and the car started hiccuping. By the time I got to my office it started hiccuping bad and the CEL came on and the engine died. I towed it home. I have a code reader and this is what it said.

P0300 Misfire Dmg to Cat
P0301 Misfire Cyl 1 - Cat Damage
P0304 Misfire Cyl 4 - Cat Damage
P1313 Misfire Cyl 1 - Emissions Related
P1316 Misfire Cyl 4 - Emissions Related
P1319 Misfire - Emissions Related

I changed the spark plugs and the coils. The plugs in cylinders 1 and 4 were darker than the other 4. I also put in a brand new MAF. The engine turns over and sounds like it wants to start, but it just won't catch. I pulled a spark plug and it appears to be getting fuel to the cylinder. This weekend I plan on removing the oil filter and cutting it open to inspect that just in case this is a dreaded bigger problem.

Any other ideas? It appears the engine is not getting ignition. What could be causing this?

[WhipE350]

Steve, any luck? Really above my head, but do you think you are even getting a spark i.e. does it kick over at all? When you said hiccuping the first thing I thought of was a coil, but usually they don't fail in mass numbers. Lots of chatter on these forums but it when quiet when you posted ...probably waiting to see what you find in your filter. Hopefully it is a simple electrical issue. Are you seeing any more codes? Good luck man.

[Schumi]

If everything mechanical is OK, sounds like a failing crank position sensor, which is really rare and odd, but would definitely be it.

[Wayne 962]

That sounds odd. Try unplugging the MAF and see if that improves the situation. It does sound like some type of an ignition problem, but as Whip said, it's unusual to have a whole bunch of them fail. And if they do fail, they generate codes too.

I'm thinking there might be a bigger problem, unfortunately. If there is a loss of compression in the cylinders, then you will get these codes without the coil failure codes. What is happening is that the coils are firing, but there's no compression, so they just spark with no firing. I would run a compression check, see my article here: Pelican Technical Article: Time to Rebuild? - Part I

Let us know what happens so that we can continue the diagnosis!

-Wayne

[2TrunkSteve]

I am still needing some help. Here's what been done since it quit.

New MAF, Plugs and coils - I wanted to eliminate this potential issue. Here's a photo of the plugs that came out - Note the dark colored plugs on the left side - these are closest to the front of the motor. I believe cyl 1 and cyl 4.



Next I pulled the oil filter and found nothing but oil. There are no visible traces of metal or any other contaminents.



I have replaced the Crank Position Sensor, which was very dirty. Here that photo.



Please help because I'm stuck and can't figure it out. Thanks!!!

[2TrunkSteve]

I am also start to look ahead and with 52k miles I'm thinking it may be clutch time soon. Of course I was planning to do the LN upgrade at that same time. It got me to thinking that maybe it is already leaking and that is causing the other problems (the Crank Position Sensor was coated in grime. Here's an overall photo of the underside.



Let me know your thoughts and thanks for all your suggestions!

[Wayne 962]

That crank position sensor may have been your problem - the car will not run properly without it. I would fire it up and see if it comes back okay. Still doesn't solve your odd alarm problem though...

-Wayne

[2TrunkSteve]

Thanks Wayne. I have already replaced the sensor and attempted to start it. I was really hoping that would do it. It turns over like normal when I try to start it, but the motor just won't catch. Now I'm starting to run out of ideas. I am thinking it's ignition.

I have the older 5 chain engine, could a chain somehow have slipped and be causing this?

The odd thing is it started acting up while I was driving and got progressively worse over the next mile. By the time I arrived to work (within 2 minutes or so) it wouldn't rev above 3k and had poor power.