Just bought a 996

Hi guys ive just bought a 996 (on saturday to be exact). Just a couple of questions for you; Im currently running tyre pressures at 36F/36R as per the manual but somebody at work said this seemed high. The tyres are conti sport contact 2 205/50/17 on the front, and prelli p zero rossos 255/40/17 on the rear. Are these tyres any good, the rears are brand new and the fronts have bout 6 mil. I also noticed some dripping of what looks like water underneath, approx inline with the dashboard but in the centre of the car any idea if this is a problem or just normal. I would also like a haynes manual or something similar but i cant find anything i wasnt sure if you guys know anywhere that sells them. Also is there any maintenance that i should know about that needs doing/checking regularly that i need to know about? Lastly my dad is convinced i should have a large bag of sand under the bonnet to keep some weight on the front wheels, is this necessary or is it not a problem. Cheers in advance for any help. Chris P.s. Heres a pic

Hi, welcome to the 996. Tyre pressures as stated in the drivers manual and are a good starting point, you may find that there are some differences from other peoples experience on what works for them. I have had a number of Porsches and recently got a 996 C4S. There is no Haynes manuals for these cars although you can find some iformation on the net regarding this and a lot of help can be found on the forum, its a good source of information and help , you need to find a good independant Porsche garage locally, again people on the forum can advise of those in your area. You should check all the uausal things as usual oil, water & tyre pressures etc. You do not need a couple of bags of sand in the front as these cars handle very well provided the geometry is to specification and everything is as it should be. Seems an odd mixture of tyres and you would not normally mix tyre makes either on an axle or back and front. Both tyre types are acceptable provided they are "N" rated (its marked on the tyre after the tyre size). There should not be water under the car in the position you mention perhaps theres a leaking pipe or its running down the undershield from somewhere else rads etc, check the water level in the engine bay its the blue cap job on the left in the back corner, its clearly marked as to where the level is. Did you purchase from a dealer with a warranty or not it might be worth getting it checked anyway. Hope you resolve you issues[8D] Brad

Chris! Nice clour combo - same as my C2. Not as fast as silver, of course! I think the water dripping from that area is typical air conditioning condensate. If it is clear plain water, don't worry about it. Edit: Take a look at www.cannell.co.uk/Manuals.htm . A bit out of date, but it covers the pre-facelift, and is a lot better than a Haynes manual.

cheers for the quick response guys. it was just a couple of clear drips. my dad worries about everything and it gets a bit contagious when its a new car. what is it that the n2 rating is refering to exactly? oh that website might be the one my dad sent me with a workshop manual on it, i just wish i could get it in book format. also i checked my coolant last night and its a browny colour does that matter? i wasnt sure if i should just keep my eyes on the dash incase the warning light comes on.

Chris, congratulations on your purchase. That space is purely for a spare engine when on a long journey [ ] If you want a perfectly balanced car then best to follow Porsche's official weight guidelines* when they state the weight of the car and performance figures; I assume the figures are based on the driver in a LHD position: * Weight is calculated in accordance with the relevant EC Directives and is valid for standard specification vehicles only. Optional equipment means greater weight. The figure given includes 68 kg for the driver and 7 kg for luggage. [8|] I have been told most Porsche owners opt for absorbing the 75Kg for themselves and going without luggage [ ] [link=http://www.porsche.com/uk/models/911/911-carrera/featuresandspecs/]http://www.porsche.com/uk/models/911/911-carrera/featuresandspecs/[/link]

This is an extract from a Porsche tyre bulletin which explains the N rating system: Design and Testing Porsche designs and manufactures some of the highest performance vehicles in the world. Because of the essential role that tyres play in vehicle performance, Porsche has integrated tyres in the design process throughout vehicle development. Porsche original equipment tyres must successfully pass the tyre company’s laboratory tests, road tests and race track evaluations to confirm that the prototype tyres meet Porsche’s noise, hydroplaning, handling and high-speed durability requirements. Only upon successful completion of these tests, will tyres be released for production. Branded as N-Spec Production tyres that have passed all of the tests and received Porsche’s engineering department’s release can be branded with an N-specification. The N-specification brandings include: N-0 (N-zero), N-1, N-2, N-3, N-4, N-5 or N-6. These markings on a tyre’s sidewall clearly and permanently identify them as approved by Porsche for their vehicles. The N-0 marking is assigned to the first approved version of a tyre design. As that design is refined externally or internally, the later significant evolutions will result in a new generation of the tyre to be branded with N-1, N-2, N-3, etc., in succession. When a completely new tyre design is approved, it receives the N-0 branding and the succession begins again. (Club Members can see the whole thing in the FAQ section) Porsche coolant is either a yellow-green or pink colour. If it is brown, I would get an independent Porsche specialist to take a look.

thanks i might pop in at the weekend and see what they say. i got the car from motor depot with a 3 month but ive heard their warranty is a bit crap.

Hi Chris- I'm also a recent 996 owner, after having a Boxster for 5 years! They take a little getting used to but are great overall and ought to be pretty trouble free. I have a C4, and the type pressures are 44R/36F, and if they drop below that the handling certainly suffers so I'd take yours as the correct figures. The water under the car is almost certainly condensate from the A/C, but I would check the 'brown' coolant. I hope yours has the uprated HiFi! The basic one is absolutely useless, though it can be improved with better speakers (I put InPhase units in my 4 speaker enclosures and they make a huge difference!); you may need it to mask the sqeaks that come from the dash and passenger door trims

[/quote] Porsche coolant is either a yellow-green or pink colour. If it is brown, I would get an independent Porsche specialist to take a look. [/quote] As Richard has pointed out, although Porsche coolants come in different colours, they are fully compatible and mixable. If it is brown and sludgy, someone has added an old silicate type coolant to the newer OAT/HOAT coolant. Some older mechanics still go by colour (blue - 'old fashioned coolant', red/pink/purple - modern coolant) and by and large that applies but not always. One red coolant may be OAT and another HOAT. Blue ones tend to be silicate based, red and pink ones OAT or HOAT, purple is usually the latest HOAT coolant used in the VW group cars. You then also have to see if it is nitrate, amine and phosphate free.

the radio ive got in is fairly modern, its got bluetooth and a usb slot so im pretty sure they didnt have these things in 1999 when it was first registered. p.s. is diy maintenance possible or do you guys take it to a garage?

Chris if you're after a book the one by Adrian Streather is very good, 'Porsche 996 - the essential companion' its readily avaialble on ebay and the like about £40 from memory but very comprehensive

Is that this [link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Porsche-996-Supreme-Essential-Companion/dp/1845840968/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1282069777&sr=8-9]one?[/link]

That's it.

+1 on Adrian S book...essential for all 996 owners. Enjoy your new wheels.

Hi all. Just following on from Chris's post, i'm a fairly new owner of a 996 Carrera 4 (2001 model). I am unsure of what the correct tyre pressures shoudl be and would be really grateful for any advice. The tyres are Pirella P Zero's all round and the sizes are: 225/40/18 and 285/30/18. Many thanks, Matt

44 rears and 36 fronts. Although after 4 years I have just dropped mine to 40 rears and 34 fronts as my spine could take no more. I can now drive over a fag paper without feeling it .

Yes- 44 rear and 36 fronts. I've tried lower but find below 42 the rear end gets less stable and feels woolly. Different tyres may make a difference though.