6 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH996 Reliability (with a Battery Replacement Sidebar)
Leading reported evidence
Replace alternator and battery upon purchase, as both
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I replaced the alternator and battery upon purchase, as both tested as bad in the PPI.
996 Reliability (with a Battery Replacement Sidebar)
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'Replace alternator and battery upon purchase, as both' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Recommend by a seattle pca member, who i cold-called' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Replaced the convertible top in the spring of 2008.
996 Reliability (with a Battery Replacement Sidebar)
Use car wholesaler
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Bought my 2001 Carrera Cabriolet in 2006 from a high-volume used car wholesaler.
996 Reliability (with a Battery Replacement Sidebar)
Use cigarette-lighter battery charger
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
As recommended in another posting, I used a cigarette-lighter battery charger to keep juice in the system while I installed the new battery (taped the charger into the lighter socket, as recommended in yet another post).
996 Reliability (with a Battery Replacement Sidebar)
Use factory
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
996 Reliability (with a Battery Replacement Sidebar)
Use cigarette-lighter battery charger
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
As recommended in another posting, I used a cigarette-lighter battery charger to keep juice in the system while I installed the new battery (taped the charger into the lighter socket, as recommended in yet another post).
996 Reliability (with a Battery Replacement Sidebar)
Coverage and how to read this overview
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
6 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T161109Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Former member, long-time lurker. Cannot be bothered to learn how to load photos (flame away). Thought I would put out a "good news" message, to counter the many newbie's who find Rennlist only to launch a crusade against 996's.
Bought my 2001 Carrera Cabriolet in 2006 from a high-volume used car wholesaler. The 911 had 50,000 miles on it, and was ex-lease out of California. Got the PPI from a Bellvue, WA independent who was recommended by a Seattle PCA member, who I cold-called using a number off the internet. Imported it and drove it as a daily driver (70 km a day round trip) until the fall of 2008. Mounted winter tires, and drove it in the snow (well, the couple of weeks a year Vancouver gets snow). The car now has close to 80,000 miles on it, and gets used slightly less, as I bought a second car.
The 2001 996 has been WAY less expensive to maintain than my last two BMW E36's. I replaced the alternator and battery upon purchase, as both tested as bad in the PPI. Replaced the convertible top in the spring of 2008. I use the factory-recommended Mobil 1 oil. I use a good independent mechanic for maintenance, not the dealer. YMMV, but the 996, given its depreciation curve, is the only "semi-exotic" car you can drive every day for the price of a Honda.
No RMS problems. No IMS problems. Car has its original engine and tranny. When problems do arise (and they will, it's a well-used sports car), I will repair her and not whine - she has been a great car.
Signed on to Rennlist yesterday for the first time in almost a year, to look up info on the battery for the 996. The Porsche battery I had paid good money for in 2006 was testing as "weak". Found out on Rennlist that I had been "Molled" (a nice play another Rennlister had on the name of the Porsche battery manufacturer). Bought a Sears Diehard "Group 48" model battery, based on Rennlist comments. Fit perfectly, down to the vent tube hole (the battery is not as long as the OEM, but there is a bolt hole for that size). As recommended in another posting, I used a cigarette-lighter battery charger to keep juice in the system while I installed the new battery (taped the charger into the lighter socket, as recommended in yet another post). The whole job took maybe 10 minutes, including the time to find the right sockets in my garage. Worked like a charm. No loss of radio codes, no computer reset. Starts without hesitation now. Thank you Rennlist.
My thanks go out to the many members of this forum who contribute their time and knowledge to the 996 community (in gota911's case, even after he sold his Porsche!).
To all of those who stumble across this posting while thinking of whether to buy that high-mileage 996, I suggest you sift through this forum, read the September 2008 Excellence magazine article on the M96 block, and then cruise through similar forums for M3's and AMG's. And then Google "Toyota engine oil sludging". A small percentage of all cars have issues. Sports cars tend to attract the passionate. It's hard when the car you have lusted after lets you down. But great reward does not come without risk. Do your research. Get a PPI. And make the jump. For every person whose chute didn't open, there are tens of thousands who are having the time of their life.
And when the Canuck buck gets back above 90 cents US, I'll be back below the 49th looking for a 996 Turbo or GT3, and lurking in those Rennlist forums.
And, yes, I will get around to sending in my membership renewal fee.
I now retreat back to my lurkers lair.
Since Tim didn't ask, I'll fill in for his usual duties. Pictures of your 996 please? If you need help, I can post pictures for you if you email them to me. PM me for my email address.
