asimone

Hello all, I’m a pretty new Boxster 987 owner, after enjoying this car for 10k km I started hearing this rattling noise two days ago. After that I stopped driving it to prevent any damages.

I did a bit of research online to find the origin of this noise and after checking the engine compartment it looks like it is the water pump that is dying. This would be a very relieving discovery as my first thought of course went to the IMS bearing.. if anyone had problems with the water pump could you confirm if my analysis is correct?

You can find a couple videos below, and I think the first one shows most where the noise is coming from (the water pump pulley seems to vibrate a lot and be the source of the noise)

thank you very much in advance to anyone that can help!

https://youtube.com/shorts/ViwMaY4B5pM?feature=share

https://youtube.com/shorts/gcl4rxwZPzw?feature=share

https://youtube.com/shorts/mnA5-MzKnCM?feature=share

https://youtube.com/shorts/FZWPmJtFrjE?feature=share

https://youtube.com/shorts/FZWPmJtFrjE?feature=share

Cemlo

Just did mine today as the engines out and there was a slight wobble, no where near as much as yours though, you should change it asap before the bearing disintergrates. One of the torx was a PITA with a socket, there not much clearance and would heve been easier with a torx spanner.

old man neri

If you really want to confirm it just take your belt off and feel for play. There really should be none.

What year Boxster? Hopefully there is not more damage behind.

asimone

Thank you Cemlo for the reassuring confirmation, and the useful tip on the torx. Seems like the hardest part is reaching the torx on the bottom. I’m about to order the parts and will DIY it, will take the opportunity to update the thermostat with a 71 degrees one.

I really hope nothing has disintegrated inside, as the car is now just cranking with a check engine message, but I hope that is just due to a low battery.

asimone

It is a late 2005 987 2.7

Will definitely try that, thank you.
Wanted to do it but first need to get some tools as I’m missing the 24 socket to loosen the belt.

Would it be safe to turn the motor on without belt on, just for some seconds, to be sure the noise is not coming from somewhere else?

old man neri

Yes. You could also try wiggling the water pump pulley with the engine off.

asimone

Two big updates!

I finally got my hands on a 24mm socket and loosened the belt to test the water pump, it is clearly wiggling, I will go ahead and replace it.

When spinning it I was expecting to hear the same rattling noise as before but it feels more like just the normal operating sound of the pump:


Also I noticed quite some water leaking from underneath and a low water level (below the minimum).

The engine was no longer starting up yesterday and I was pretty disappointed when, after removing the belt, I tried to start up again the engine and still, it would crank but not fire up (also not sure if this cranking noise is normal):


Does anyone has any suggestion on what the reason could be and whether this could be related to the water pump?
Initially I figured maybe it was a low battery (even though I changed it pretty recently) so I charged it overnight and tried again this morning but the result was the same, cranking but not firing up..

Cemlo

You have a check engine warning on the dash, it would help to plug in a diagnostic to check for codes if you can get or borrow one.

The cranking sounds normal and none of this is connected to the water pump, that it's own seperate issue.

The engine cranking but not starting is normally no fuel (fuel pump) or no spark.

I'd check the plugs first - https://haynes.com/en-gb/tips-tutori...est-spark-plug

Fuel pump - https://www.pelicanparts.com/techart...-Fuel_Pump.htm

asimone

Thank you very much Cemlo, I was supposed to get an OBD reader from a friend today but he forgot it.

I also though of sparks but that would mean they are all bad?

I have not yet tried to start it while pressing the accelerator, I was told that it also might just be flooded (potentially due to bad injectors)

Thank you very much for the suggestions, I will proceed to check the spark plugs, fuel pump and also fuel pump relay