Looks like it may have happened to me!
 

I started up the 05 997 today to let her run a bit. It made an odd noise when starting (sounded like belts) and only for a min or two. I let the oil warm up and took it out for a nice stroll to keep it healthy through the winter (didn't go above 40).

About a mile and a 1/2 in it made an odd noise, sounded like a motor spinning up quickly. It seemed like the trans because when I put it into neutral the noise stopped. I rolled to a stop sign and waited a minute to see if it returned. I started to pull away when the guy behind me blew his horn. He pulled along side and said I am leaking fluid. I turned the car off and got out. It was oil but a very small leak. Then the leak grew and grew. All the oil leaked out as I waited for a tow.

So all you internet mechanics, IMS? Please tell me it could be something else and this isn't a long death march till Monday when the shop can take a look. It's not under a warranty or anything.

Btw it's at SpeedSport Tuning in Danbury.

Sorry for your troubles. Spewing oil onto the ground could be the IMS but it could be something else as well. Report back when you find out what it is.

Good luck.

That blows. Report back to the group. The good news is the the IMS/RMS should only run $1500-$1750.

Unless the bearing completely exploded and sent steel shards thru the oil galleries and main bearings in which case the bill might be considerably more.

Love those wheels Joe! thanks and regards

One of the rules of the thumb during porsche ownership: any noise
that occurs while driving, pull over asap and assess whether its drivable.
If in doubt, good because intuition is always correct. Have it towed. ;)

Sure sounds like an IMS failure.
If the oil is pouring out between the engine and transmission, don't try to start it again.
Remove the teans and inspect, I suspect the end of the shaft has fallen off.

Well I find out on Monday. I was hoping everyone would say, nah, no way that's IMS. simple gasket. Easy Peasey

Guess Not

How many miles? Please provide an update when you find out the problem.

A few of us are trying to decide whether to pay the extra $$ for a '09 or later 997.2 (9A1) or buy a GT3 to avoid these issues, or grab a deal on a 997.1...

63K. I can't speak more highly of the car. It's an amazing car. I would just spend the money for the bearing change if you are getting a .1.

I actually asked my mechanic about it. I asked if I should change it right after I bought it. He said there isn't a need, I should just swap it when I go in for the clutch. I don't fault him (especially since it still may be something else) I just wish he said, yeah man. Be safe. Swap it.

need some pics before we can reply

IMS failure. Engine is totaled. Metal in oil.

It just seems so wrong. 2005 with 63K. Porsche has known since the early days of the 996.

I have no idea what to do. Porsche wants 18K for a new motor

Sorry :mad::(

Ouch! Sorry... Call Flat Six Innovations and talk to Jake about your options.

Very sorry to hear that.

Hunt around for a wreck with a motor in it, you may be able to get an insurance/bank owned car that they are auctioning for cheap.

Regards
Dave

Oh s**t. I agree. It's a used car (even if only a little), so put in a good used motor - with a changed IMS.

Sorry to hear about the engine. There is no cheap fix. Selling the car as is is probably the worst thing to do IMO. I bought a 996 with a bad motor and bought a good used motor, put in the LN IMS bearing, new clutch and made a good car. The motor was about 8k and had 43k documented miles. Labor was another couple of grand, plus parts. It also came with a 3 yr warranty, so it was worth it to me. I found the motor at Engine and Transmission World in Wisconsin. Did not need a core to send in and sold it off seperately to help offset the total cost. Had the shop R & R the motors.

Flat 6 will be about as much as a new crate motor but you will get a much better motor, a 3.8 with more HP and torque.

Good luck and again, sorry about your predicament.

This sucks, I'm sorry to hear it. If you do fix it up then you should consider fixing it up "and then some." Otherwise you're spending a whole lot of money to get right back to where you were, which isn't very satisfying. Spending a couple thousand more to get something you're excited about might make the whole experience a little more palatable.

Good luck -

Wow. Are there any posts out there that clarify in more detail this failure mode, which cars are effected etc.?

It sounds like this is a well known failure and not that uncommon. I am surprised Porsche isn't held responsible. Manufactures are often held accountable by consumer oriented groups (NHTSA as one) for poor design or manufacturing problems when it has a big impact on customers and exceeds some level of occurrence.

Sorry to hear of another example.
Problem and a solution described well here . Nothing that $ can't fix :confused:

http://www.autofarm.co.uk/pdf/Total911_July06.pdf