Interesting noises coming from my '01 Boxster.

Doug&Julie · 09-14-2006, 04:56 AM

So far I'm loving my "new to me" 2001 Boxster. While I've owned two before, this one is just different enough to have me wondering about a few things. Most seem like non-issue things that I can work with (rattles, especially), but there are a couple of noises that have me a little nervous.

One is a slight induction howl coming out of the passenger side vent. It happens very rarely, and only when I'm trying to hold 30mph in the neighborhood. If I lift throttle it goes away. (..which is why I'm guessing it's an induction howl..)

The other I noticed only this morning when I started the car. There was quite a wine coming from that back of the car. It only lasted a few seconds and I never heard it the rest of my drive. I'll keep an ear out for it in case it was just "something weird". But Julie drove the car yesterday and mentioned a similar noise. I thought she was talking about the induction howl, but maybe she was talking about this? Hmm...

Anyway, anybody have any thoughts on these? The car is certified so any fixes would be done under warranty, but I want to be pro-active if this is something that will leave me stranded on the road somewhere!

Thanks.

AFJuvat · 09-14-2006, 11:27 AM

The whine on startup is probably the secondary air injection pump.

The induction howl could be an oil-air seperator - with the motor running, open the rear trunk, then open the oil filler cap. If there is vacuum there, you seperator is damaged and needs to be replaced.

AFJ

Doug&Julie · 09-14-2006, 11:29 AM

Thanks AFJ. I posted the same Qs on Rennlist and got another "vote" for air injection pump on the one. I'm told that's nothing to worry about?

I'll check the oil-air separator tonight...

Doug&Julie · 09-14-2006, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AFJuvat
The induction howl could be an oil-air seperator - with the motor running, open the rear trunk, then open the oil filler cap. If there is vacuum there, you seperator is damaged and needs to be replaced.

OK, I just did this test and there is a vacuum there. It's very slight, but definitly a bit of suction pulling my hand.

A quick look at my Bently manual indicates this may be too sophisticated for me to handle easily. (..my mechanical skills thus far are pretty much limited to bolting and unlbolting "easy stuff"..) Is this something that would be covered under a factory warranty? (..which I have.) Or is this a "wear item" that will cost me to replace? I'm asking because I'd like to know if I should take this to my dealer or to my indipendant wrench.

Edit: Oh, and what is the "urgancy" of having this replaced? (i.e. should I not drive it at all until fixed? ..or just limited and get it fixed asap?)

Thanks so much!

Doug&Julie · 09-14-2006, 01:54 PM

OK, I just talked to the dealership that sold me the car and they said that an air-oil separator is covered under the warranty. Whew! So I'll be making an appt. for that very soon.

Interestingly, I also talked to them about the car's service history. (..really, the main reason I called them instead of the dealership close by..) Evidently my car had a lot of service done to make it ready for certification; RMS replaced, new brake pads and rotors, 30k service, new rear tires (although they should have done the fronts, too!). So my car is very "good to go"!

..ok, other than an air-oil separator..

Doug&Julie · 09-14-2006, 06:39 PM

OK, update...second opinions (on another board) are telling me that there is always vacuum at the oil cap? ..and if it's only slight, that's normal? That is very much the case...very slight vacuum. I have no problems getting the cap off (or on) and the vacuum doesn't pull skin or leave a mark when I put my hand on the filler. So it looks like everything is normal. (???)

seventythree · 09-15-2006, 07:46 PM

Same as above. So, is slight vacuum normal or not?

Thanks

AFJuvat · 09-16-2006, 06:57 AM

In my experience, a perfectly functioning oil air seperator does not allow vacuum at the oil filler pipe. You will hear air movement, but you will not really feel suction or pressure.

My guess is that your oil-air seperator is on its way out.

You get the whistling noise as the oil filler pipe pulls vacuum through the seams of the hose itself (it is not air tight)

Total failure will result in vacuum strong enough to make it very difficult to open the oil filler cap.

Also, have them check the oil filler pipe. They can crack - causing strange noises and running issues.

You can drive it with a bad seperator. When it really goes bad, you will definately know it - You will have some drivability issues and get clouds of white smoke on start-up - fogging for mosquitos/oh my god my engine is dying clouds.

FWIW, the part is $60 and you can change it yourself in about an hour. You will need a 10mm socket wrench, a new hose clamp (the clamp that holds part of it on is a pain to put back on - standard hose clamps work wonderfully) and a little patience.

AFJ

AFJuvat · 09-16-2006, 07:05 AM

Here is a picture of the part.

How to replace one without removing a bunch of stuff from the bottom of the car and doing everything from the top:

The part is located at the rear of the engine, passenger side, top.

You disconnect the hoses (parts #4 and #5) Remove the two bolts securing it (10mm part #3) With a razor blade, CUT part #10.

Work the seperator out of the engine compartment.

remove the remains of part 10 left on the engine, discard hose clamp.

clean up the area

Install a regular hose clamp on the bottom of the new part 10 (already attached ot the the new seperator)

Reinstall the seperator. it helps to lubricate the o-ring (part #2 with clean oil first). tighten the hose clamp with an 8mm socket wrench

Reattach the hoses and install the bolts.

done

AFJ

Doug&Julie · 09-16-2006, 02:53 PM

Thanks AFJ. I think I'm going to schedule an appt. with the dealership to have them look at it, just to be sure. Your instructions are terrific, but since the dealership did confirm that this is covered under warranty, I'd rather trust it to the "experts". (i.e. not my amateur wrenching)

seventythree · 09-16-2006, 05:20 PM

Please keep us posted.

seventythree · 10-13-2006, 01:27 PM

Any updates Doug?

Doug&Julie · 10-13-2006, 01:33 PM

Ah yes, sorry. I posted the same thing on the Rennlist and have been keeping up with that one, but not this one...my bad.

I've had the car at the dealership once and they were able to repeat the symptom, and they feel it's coming from the fuel filler area. They replaced a few parts they thought might be the cause, but to no avail. So they ordered more parts...and I'm still waiting to hear that the parts are in to make another appt. They could be in (and just haven't called me), but I've been so incredibly busy at work, I haven't had a chance to get to an appt., let alone make one. The assured me there is nothing wrong with the car that will break and leave me stranded on the side of the road, so I'm ok until we can get the car in.

Once I get a final fix, I'll be sure to post here (and Rennlist) on what the final verdict was.

Stay tuned....

Doug&Julie · 11-30-2006, 03:46 PM

OK gang, the verdict appears to be in. I dropped the car off Tuesday morning to a perplexed Porsche service department in Dayton (where I bought the car). They said they had contacted Porsche to find the "answer" and didn't get a difinative one, but thought they had an idea on what it might be. Well they called tonight and it appears they have fixed the problem.

So what's the answer you ask? Well, in the (almost) hour long drive in heavy traffice and heavy rain, I seem to have forgotten all of the details. Suffice to say I was told it's an airflow problem (improper venting) and not something terminal. (..so don't panic if you have this problem.) They are actually going to send my part back to Porsche because "they want to see it".

Here is what my service report / receipt says:

"CUSTOMER REPORTS THERE IS A HOWLING NOISE COMING THROUGH PASSENGER SIDE VENT.
REMOVED FENDER WELL AND BUMPER COVER AND DETERMINED NOSE TO BE COMING FROM SHUT OFF VALVE BLOCK.
CLEANED FILTER LINE HOUSING TO REAR OF VEHICLE AND REPLACED VALVE BLOCK."

Parts:
996-605-201-01...SHUT-OFF VALVE
996-605-213-01...CARBON CONT VALV
996-201-231-01...VALVE HOUSING
CCLAMP...CRIMP CLAMP

So, they tell me it's fixed. They were able to replicate my noise, and after this fix they say it's gone. I never heard it on the way home, so I'm choosing to believe it's actually fixed. Yeah!

...and for the record, man it's good to be back in my Boxster again. I had a Jaguar loaner car...what a P.O.S. I mean, it drove nice and all, but at only 40k miles it had squeaks in the dash, squeaks when you turned the steering wheel, the bolts on the seat were loose (or something) and the seat would "rock" back and forth a little...and to top it off the car was just an ergonomic nightmare (I never did find the power lock button). This is the second Jag I've had as a loaner and the other one wasn't much better. Scratch me off the list of people who would ever consider buying a Jaguar.

Anywho...hope this info helps!

Brillo · Brillo's Garage

Glad to hear they replicated the sound and hopefully did a permanent fix.

From what I have read, Jag is on life support and Ford needs to step up and do something. Although in it's entire history I don't know that it ever was a marque without problems.

Still there are times when I would like to have an old XK or XJ, but I lie down a while and the feeling passes.

Doug&Julie · 12-04-2006, 04:23 AM

Thanks Ray, so far no re-occurance.

I've heard Ford is trying to sell Jag. Probably the best thing they can do for it. Maybe a German (or Japanese) company will buy it and put some quality back into it?!?

dmcummins · 03-24-2007, 08:04 PM

I had a squeel comming from the passenger side and after doing a search replaced the oil seperator thanks to AFJ's discription obove. Thanks, as that did the trick. I was going to have to wait 2 weeks to get it in the shop but instead ordered the part here for $116 and now its back on the road.