Tiptronic blown with other problems

[smooth]

Hi folks.
My first post as a new Boxster owner. Bought knowing about the tranny issue. 2001 3.2S. 72,000 mi. Tiptronic worked for 5-10 mins. then lost drive. Whinning while working then quiet with no drive. Anyway it's pulled out for a rebuild. Can anyone recommend places for Tip parts. I can rebuild myself (30 yrs. rebuilding transmissions). While pulling trans we drained the cooling system and there's a small amount of engine oil in the coolant (ut-oh), s*** or something like that. I'm hoping it's oil cooler seals or cooler itself at worse. Please not a cylinder head! I will pull the cooler soon for pressure test. The engine ran very smooth but I haven't driven the car because of the tranny. It supposedly has a IMS bearing replacement and a bone dry RMS. A little chain rattle on start up but the car has been sitting for a year or so at the garage I purchased from. I'll post more after more testing things.

[jwgn777]

I hope your lucky. The oil coolers on these vehicles could leak.

[smooth]

Well it's not the cooler but I find out it's a base model cooler and not an S? I talked to the mechanic that last serviced it (1 1/2 yrs. ago) and he said it had no overheating problem, he thinks somebody may have put oil in the coolant filler! I'll try a leak-down test to see what shows up. The saga continues.

[ghtaboma]

There's a six-speed trans for sale for $600 on Craig's list, Phoenix.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by smooth

Well it's not the cooler but I find out it's a base model cooler and not an S? I talked to the mechanic that last serviced it (1 1/2 yrs. ago) and he said it had no overheating problem, he thinks somebody may have put oil in the coolant filler! I'll try a leak-down test to see what shows up. The saga continues.

You sure it is really an S motor? Would not be the first S car I've encountered with a base engine in it.................

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by ghtaboma

There's a six-speed trans for sale for $600 on Craig's list, Phoenix.

Would be cheaper to sell the car and buy a manual car than to convert it over.......

[smooth]

How could I tell the difference between the base model and an S?

[JFP in PA]

Engine serial numbers on the side of the case near the sump rail.

[ghtaboma]

A quick way is to look for red calipers on the "S".

[smooth]

Okay, I got a serial #: M96/2167102697. Please someone tell me it's a 3.2 S motor.

Did a leak down on the 4-6 bank and 5-10% on a cold motor and no noises in the cooling system, just leaking past the rings. Now on to the 1-3 bank and hope for the same.

[mikefocke]

M96.21 is an S 3.2.

[smooth]

Thanks Mike, that's good news. Well leak down tests look good, 5% and no leaks into the cooling system. I have metal in the filter and the sump but the IMS bearing feels and looks perfect? I think whoever did the bearing didn't clean the engine well and the filter picked most of the metal up. The last mechanic thought the bearing was replaced within 10,000 mi. but I'm going to change it anyway as it has the original type bolt. I guess the good news is it's run this long with no problem. What else could cause metal chunks in the engine?