Engine noise. Wayne R., can you help me?

[heiwaz]

Hello, I'm from Spain, and I've got a 986 s

I've red some articles at the pelican parts web, specially the noise articles, because I've got a atranger noise come from the engine. Please, can you hel me? I know you are a porsche expert.

I posted in others porsche forums, but nobody know where this noise come from. This is a stranger buzzing noise when accelerate the engine. It's no located in a special part, I hear it inside the engine, and from all the angles out of the car sound the same.

I recorded a video with this noise to give you an idea:


YouTube - boxster noise 2.avi

I cheked all the possible troubles, I started the engine without the service belt for a seconds, looking for particles inside the oil filter, open the oil sump, but nothing found.
I replaced the IMS bearing for a LN bearing kit last month, but the noise doesn't disappear.
I haven't notice any power loss or engine failure, the engine run perfect. when start to make the noise, some days that the exterior temperature was hottest the noise disappear, I don't know this is related.

I went to porsche garage and the mechanic was hearing the noise but he don't know what could be the problem. I ask him if anytime have them this problem on other porsche but tell me that is the first time.
The only solution he give me is to start verify from the simple thing and continue to dissasembly parts, but at the porsche garage this would a very expensive price for me.

I'm very grateful if you can help me. Probably you might hear this noise and have any idea what's the problem.

Sorry for my bad english.

[Wayne 962]

I can't really tell too much from the video / recording, but it sounds just like an exhaust leak to me. When you turned the car off, the sound of it turning off did not sound proper. Is that the sound that you're hearing when it's running? Sounds like a clicking / clacking.

Try this - disconnect / pull the fuel pump relay and turn over the car with the starter for about 30 seconds or so, and see if you still hear the noise? Or possibly make another recording? I think the noise of the engine / exhaust running is hiding the actual noise.

I would also run a compression check or leakdown test on the engine - it could be something inside, if so, it is likely affecting the compression...

Let me know what you find out...

-Wayne

[heiwaz]

Hello, if it would be an exahust leak where it come from? the headers or exhaust valves?

This noise sound like an electric engine (it remember me an electric rc car toy).

I will try to turn over the car with the starter and the fuell pump off, but I think I won't hear the noise, because it do it over 1500 rpm. I will record another video with best quality of sound, too. Meanwhile you can hear this other video record from different angle:

YouTube - boxster noise 1.avi

Is there any article to verify the compression and leak down?



The noise you hear at the end of the video (clack clack..) I think come from the chain tensioner. Maybe need to replace them.

Thank you very much for reply and your help

[Wheel Dynamics]

Yes, lots of engine noise coming in and out although diffucult to know exactly what noise you are hearing for I will say that plenty of times when there is a rattle noise coming from the motor you may want to consider the water pump. We hear plenty of Porsche cars pull in with the same chit chat and rattling with the water pump.

Matter of fact we had a 997 roll in yesterday with that issue, no heating but pump was spent.

[heiwaz]

Originally Posted by Wheel Dynamics

plenty of times when there is a rattle noise coming from the motor you may want to consider the water pump.

Originally Posted by heiwaz

I started the engine without the service belt for a seconds,...

...so the water pump is discarded

[Wayne 962]

I don't know, I can't really tell which noise you're referring to - it sounds kindof normal to me, except for the clacking when you shut the car off - it's not supposed to make that noise. Did this noise just start happening? Or did you get the car with it? I'm taking a wild guess that it may be related to the exhaust...

-Wayne

[harryrcb]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

I don't know, I can't really tell which noise you're referring to - it sounds kindof normal to me, except for the clacking when you shut the car off - it's not supposed to make that noise. Did this noise just start happening? Or did you get the car with it? I'm taking a wild guess that it may be related to the exhaust...

-Wayne

Wayne, I'm not sure I think he could be referring to the really loud whining (singer sewing machine) noise. (I think)

[JMatta]

I hope the engine was up to operating temp before he revs it like that...if it wasn't damaged before, it will be now. That said, I don't really hear anything due to the acoustics of the recording.

[heiwaz]

The noise I mean is like my dremel sound:

YouTube - Dremel buzzing

My car make this noise all the time in the video once I start to accelerate.

[heiwaz]

Originally Posted by JMatta

I hope the engine was up to operating temp before he revs it like that...if it wasn't damaged before, it will be now. That said, I don't really hear anything due to the acoustics of the recording.

Of course, the engine was up to operating temp, but I had rev not more than 4000rpm.

This noise I started to hear months ago more less, some days (2 or 3) don't hear the noise, specially when exterior temp was hottest, and the noise started to hear when winter arrive. Do you think it maybe any relationship between the noise and exterior temp or just a coincidence?

The noise is easily audible and no is necessary give much attention to hear it, maybe you think this is the normal sound of this engine, but I assure that months ago don't do it.

As soon as possible I record another video with better quality. thanks.

[Wayne 962]

I'm just not hearing anything on the video that sounds terribly out of place, except for when you turn the engine off.

I have a wild idea - I think that maybe some type of sound deadening or shield has come loose, and now you're starting to hear the noise when it was there all the time?

My suggestion to you is to find someone else with a Boxster nearby and compare the sounds of the two cars.

-Wayne

[Marc Bixen]

Although I can't hear it from the video, is it possible that the secondary air injection pump, passenger side of the engine bay, is staying on? This air pump runs for 1 1/2-2 minutes when you start the car then shuts down. You can test it by unplugging the pump ( NOTE: this will cause the OBDII system to register a fault). Or you can have your local dealer turn on the pump using the Porsche System 2 or Pewis tester and see if it's the same noise. Any noise coming from the P/s pump, water pump, alternator, A/C etc. would have gone away when you ran the car without the serpentine belt.

[heiwaz]

Well, I was seeing a lot of videos of boxster sounds in youtube, and more of them do it this sound like me, for example in this boxster is very apreciable:

YouTube - Porsche Boxster 986 NHP Exhaust Video

I was reading an article about the chains of the boxster engines, that was modified in newest models (2002 or 2003 I thought) to reduce noise. Probably the noise they to want to reduce is the noise I mean.
Is possible this noise come from the chains? and do it louder when more fading is the chain?



Wayne, the noise of the end of the video (clack, clack,...), do you think come from a loosen chain tensioners?

[heiwaz]

Originally Posted by Marc Bixen

Although I can't hear it from the video, is it possible that the secondary air injection pump, passenger side of the engine bay, is staying on? This air pump runs for 1 1/2-2 minutes when you start the car then shuts down. You can test it by unplugging the pump ( NOTE: this will cause the OBDII system to register a fault). Or you can have your local dealer turn on the pump using the Porsche System 2 or Pewis tester and see if it's the same noise. Any noise coming from the P/s pump, water pump, alternator, A/C etc. would have gone away when you ran the car without the serpentine belt.

No, I was cheking this noise from the air injection pump, and it's a different noise, that disappear when the air pump stopped. I ran the car without the serpentine belt, and the noise don't disappear.

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by heiwaz

Wayne, the noise of the end of the video (clack, clack,...), do you think come from a loosen chain tensioners?

It could be. It certainly doesn't sound normal / typical to me. Maybe someone else can chime in, but my two Boxsters and my two 996s don't make that noise, as far as I can tell. Then again, I don't have a video camera recording the exact sound it makes from the rear - I'm typically sitting inside the car when I turn it off.

If your chain tensioners are loose, or your IMS bearing is failing, then you may see significant camshaft deviation with the PST-2 (or Durametric tool) when you monitor the engine running. That clacking, if it is indeed caused by loose chains, would indeed probably show up with the tool.

-Wayne

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by heiwaz

No, I was cheking this noise from the air injection pump, and it's a different noise, that disappear when the air pump stopped. I ran the car without the serpentine belt, and the noise don't disappear.

The pump he's talking about is electric, and is located on the passenger side of the engine compartment. Still, I don't think it's what you're hearing. I think what you're listening to may be semi-normal, or related to the clack-clack that you hear when you shut the car off...

-Wayne

[txhokie4life]

Is it the higher pitch whirling noise?

Pulley? Did you here it while running without the serpentine belt?

If you are talking about a clacking/tapping noise.
Get a can of seafoam and put it in your oil and see it it quiets down.
you might have a lifter that is sticking.

One of my boxsters did this and it no longer makes any ticking/tapping noise. Although
I have not been driving it much since the oil change after the seafoam.

Mike

[heiwaz]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

If your chain tensioners are loose, or your IMS bearing is failing, then you may see significant camshaft deviation with the PST-2 (or Durametric tool) when you monitor the engine running.

I've got the durametric tool, but I don't know what procedure to see this. Is any tutorial or article about reading this camshaft deviaton with durametric?

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

The pump he's talking about is electric, and is located on the passenger side of the engine compartment.

Yes, I checked this pump, but it don't make the noise.

Originally Posted by txhokie4life

Is it the higher pitch whirling noise?

Pulley? Did you here it while running without the serpentine belt?

If you are talking about a clacking/tapping noise.
Get a can of seafoam and put it in your oil and see it it quiets down.
you might have a lifter that is sticking.

Yes, the higher pitch whirling noise. Seafoam is a motor treatment? Probably I try with this. Wayne, do you recomend me to try with this seafoam?



Today I've recorded 2 new videos from inside the car:

YouTube - IMGP2054


and from outside, without any wall arround:

YouTube - IMGP2055

I have to tell, that in the video sound higher than in reality

[Wayne 962]

Okay. I've got two Boxsters and two 996s and I have to say they all sound just like your video. I don't think there is anything wrong with your engine. Nothing that I can pick up. I would find someone else with a Boxster, or a shop that works on Boxsters and compare engine sounds if you're still worried. But they do all make that higher pitched whirring sound.

Solution to the problem? Install a Fabspeed exhaust! Pelican Technical Article: Installing a Performance Boxster Exhaust System - 986 / 987

-Wayne

[heiwaz]

It's a relief to know that the sound is totally normal. But I don't know why before I don't hear this sound.
I also was thinking that the best solution is to install an aftermarket exhaust and hear the autentic boxer sound