95carrera

Started my new to me 95' after sitting over weekend. Violent noise, engine locked up. Towed to shop, not the starter, pulling engine to open up chain boxes. Waiting to find out extent of issue.

This could be a nightmare. Had PPI done, nothing significant, appears to be solid car, put 600 miles on car in last three weeks, no major problems.

I have never read about this issue. What could have happened? How likely is it that valve train is damaged? I am sick about the thought of doing a top end rebuild on a car I have owned three weeks.

goofballdeluxe

You could be doing more than even a top-end rebuild, you could be doing much less.

We could arm-chair quarterback for you, but the info you get from the mechanic will be much more definitive. Be prepared for a massive bill, and if it is, you're ready. If it's not, you get to be really relieved.

Sorry to hear this. I have no idea what it could be, but pulling the engine out and opening it up is already getting expensive.

Best of luck.

Jeff96-993

Ouch! Sorry to hear about this problem... it's not the norm. How handy are you with car repairs? If you're not, do you have a good Porsche mechanic familiar with air/oil-cooled engines?

Without knowing the cause, no one can really guess a cost estimate.

95carrera

It's at independent now. BTW car has 93k on it, recent service included replacing chain box gaskets by PO.

Mark in Baltimore

Absolutely sound advice. Good luck!!

race911

Not to get into the above-mentioned armchair QB'ing, but you started it, it ran................for how long..........idled..........moved under its own power.............and then the noise came.

95carrera

Never moved, it immediately stopped. Ran for literally a few seconds. Thought I threw a belt or something.

race911

I don't see how it could have puked a tensioner and lost cam timing. But what you describe was a monthly occurrence when I had both of my shops going from '85-'95! Broken valve spring and sucked a valve? When the yellow car pulled that trick from the Aase valve springs the car was actually street licensed and it happened to me on startup in the hotel parking lot. Drove it to the track, but only found a single bent intake from two broken intake springs.

Guess I should ask the question--do you think in any way, shape or form overrev'd? (Of course you'll tell us it's a tip...............)

95carrera

LOL, it is a tip. No over rev. Just turned the key to leave for work, it is my DD.

MielsOnWheels

Man I am sick hearing about this, especially with a car you've only had a couple of weeks. I hope it's something simple...best of luck

solomonschris

This is really a bummer. I just would reiterate how important it is that the mechanic be experienced in the air cooled 911's. Even if you have to put the car on a roll back to deliver it to the right guy for several hundred dollars, it will be money well spent. Good luck.

gtroth

Wow, that's rough. Best of luck.
Did the PO drop the engine to do the chain cover seals?

trophy

Sorry to hear this. Interested to hear what has happened. You may have lost a spring or maybe even a chain, but these usually happen at higher revs. It could also be transmission related, torque converter failure.

Keep us informed. hope it is simple for you.

Cactus

+1!

ricks993

Violent noise is bad thing, with that comes a violent bill. Maybe it is something simple but if the engine is locked I hope you do not have a valve touching a piston or worse a valve broken into the piston. If you can talk to the previous owner you might be able to go after the shop that replaced the gaskets. It could be because the shop did something wrong causing a tensioner or chain to fail when replacing the gaskets especially if it was recently done. Your next decision” will be “while the engine is out you might as well do ………” With 90k and original clutch “might as well” replace. With 90k you “might as well” have the heads done, etc.
Good luck and as others have posted I hope you trust your wrench, because you are looking at a large bill, plus no car for some time.