csb5150

Drove the car about 60-70 miles on Friday without incident. As driving home, shifter felt bit warm but not enough to give me too much pause -- I was going to mention it next time I came online.

Today, Sunday, I went to move car. When opened door had bit of fuel smell, again, not too much. Started the car and it turned right over but ran rough and stalled. Did again same thing. After a few times, with rest between got it running by giving gas when close to stall. Engine sounded really rough and made a bit of banging sound. Car was idling on its own but very roughly. At first I thought might be some bad gas as I had refueled on Friday with 93 octane. After few minutes I noticed tiny wisps of smoke from near shifter console. Turned car off immediately and looked under car and saw tiny wisps of smoke from area underneath car roughly below shifter area (maybe oil pan???)

I am still learning car so apologize for vague description of problem, but would appreciate any help. I am afraid that permanent damage will result if I drive so I assume it needs to be flatbed to shop.

Thanks for any thoughts.

pmotts

I am guessing auto?

csb5150

Yes, auto.... should have mentioned... sorry

Also, I know that car needs engine mounts (needed them when purchased). This of course may be very relevant to online diagnosis.

Bill Ball

Well, in terms of the shifter heat - with bad motor mounts, the seal in that area is no longer effective due to the lower drivetrain, and heat and whatever fumes under the car will pass into the cabin, warm the shifter and tickle your nose. The cats are right below the shifter and generate trememendous heat. Any oil on the exhaust will burn and smoke. So, if you have a leaky pan gasket (VERY common) or rear main seal (uncommon), oil gets all over the place under the car and will do this. The oil pan is forward of this area, but oil will blow back on the exhaust.

As to your gas smell and bad running engine with banging noise....that could be a lot of things. When was the timing belt last done?

Somebody needs to see and hear the car and lay some hands on various parts. Maybe there is a local list member who could help. Where are you located?

Dannyfumi

I have an 85 as well,though a manual. What I found is im leaking from the rear cam towers, oils runs all the way down the engine to the pan onto the cats and burning of oil. Im in the process of changing those seals.

Dan

Mark

VERY common problem. Most do that as a WYAIT whenever removing the cam towers.

Ketchmi

If it is misfiring, your cats could be getting very hot and burning off any oil residue that may have collected. While diagnosing a bad misfiring problem on one 928 I looked underneath to see the cats actually glowing red. A few tense moments while the car cooled down...

csb5150

Thanks to all for your thoughts. At least no one said "Enjoy your 3500 pound paperweight."

I am going to make arrangements to have the car flatbed to local 928 specialist. I will let you all know what it winds up being.

Of course, my neighbor with an early Boxster that has had ignition problems summed it up best. When I told him that I needed to have car towed, he told me that I have finally lost my virginity and that you're not a true Porsche owner until you've watched your car roll away on a flatbed.