LA Porsche and BMW Repair

One of the more common issues with the M96 engine has been and remains the degradation of the Intermediate Shaft Bearing (IMS). If the IMS begins to wear severely and continues to do so undetected, the IMS will eventually fail. A failure of this vital engine component can set in motion a myriad of collateral damage to other internal components. The resulting unfettered spread of metal debris will result in a catastrophic failure of the engine. The frustrating part of the IMS issue is in not knowing if the problem is present in your 986 Boxster or 996 Carrera or one you are considering for purchase. The IMS and almost all of the other potential failure scenarios associated with the M96 engine have one easily overlooked symptom that precedes a deadly failure. This symptom is where high amounts of ferrous (iron) metal particles are present in the engine oil. If the deteriorating part, that is shedding metal debris into the oil, can be found and replaced in a timely m ... read more

Porsche Communication Management IssuesBy Tony Callas and Tom Prine The Porsche Communications Management (PCM) system encompasses all areas of your Porsche’s electronics operations that do not relate to the mechanical operation of the car. PCM would include the electronics for the audio, video, navigation and displays used in your car. For the purposes of this discussion we will focus on the 987-1 and the 997-1 which covers models years 2005 through 2008. Some owners have experienced problems with PCM equipment and they are surprised when we query about any possible changes to the car made prior to the onset of problems. Is your vehicle completely stock meaning there is no aftermarket electrical equipment, such as an IPOD interface, Satellite radio, Bluetooth component, etc… Almost any aftermarket component can cause issues with the MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) Fiber Optic Network architecture. The components or equipmen ... read more

The cylinder head(s) on any water cooled engine has the potential to crack, and Porsche’s M96 engine in the 986’s & 996’s is no exception. The most common reason for this to happen is when an engine significantly overheats, usually due to the loss of coolant. Overheating can be caused by something as simple as a faulty coolant hose, a cracked or broken radiator or coolant reservoir, or a water pump failure. If the driver is not periodically checking the instrument cluster, they might miss a warning light or a dramatic change in the reading on the temperature gauge (if your vehicle has a temperature gauge). When the coolant flow is lost, it doesn’t take much time for the engine to get really hot. When the engine overheats a great deal, the aluminum head material can actually distort in shape due to the combination of the extreme heat and pressure (or torque) being applied to the head by the fasteners that hold it in place. If the head material distorts, even a s ... read more

We are discovering that as new cars are coming off of their factory warranty and reaching the independent garages, they have been fairly neglected in the basic service areas. By basic service area we mean tire rotations, brake fluid changes and especially standard engine oil and filter changes. In an effort to look green and appear to produce an overall lower maintenance automobile, auto manufacturers are claiming their cars only need oil and filter changes every 10k miles, 15k miles, and even in some cases, 20k miles. Most auto manufacturers are now offering maintenance plans that appear to cover the costs of full maintenance but in all actuality do not. These skeleton maintenance plans only cover oil changes within their extended mileage guidelines. Extended mileage intervals are causing internal engine problems because engines are not receiving the critical oil and filter changes as often as needed. Many components inside the modern automobile engine are ... read more