15 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHPPI Results - NEED ADVICE!
Leading reported evidence
Replace under warranty
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
PPI (Dealer) said there was no record of the RMS ever being replaced under warranty.
Leading evidence: 'Replace under warranty' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'may lead' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check evidence of crash' (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 suspect a cause
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.
Suspected cause
A Porsche dealer PPI is going to be "by the book" so they will nitpick out every little thing that they might suspect may lead to a problem or goes against official Porsche policy.
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 contain suggestions
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.
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 contain suggestions
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.
Suggestion
Assuming you are buying site unsee/ dont know how to tell, I would for sure have a body shop look at the car to check for paint work.
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 contain suggestions
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.
Suggestion
Add that to the price and see if it's still a "good deal" over a "clean" one.
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.
Suggestion
When resealing the cam covers, ( u called them valve covers), you re-glue the cam cover, replace the gasket that goes around the vario cam solenoid, replace the o-ring that goes around the pick up oil pump, and replace 3 green inspection plugs.
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.
Suggestion
When resealing the cam covers, ( u called them valve covers), you re-glue the cam cover, replace the gasket that goes around the vario cam solenoid, replace the o-ring that goes around the pick up oil pump, and replace 3 green inspection plugs.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
may lead
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that suspect a cause
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.
Suspected cause
A Porsche dealer PPI is going to be "by the book" so they will nitpick out every little thing that they might suspect may lead to a problem or goes against official Porsche policy.
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.
15 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: 20261027T075545Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
PPI on a 02' 996 w/56K (private deal) revealed the following issues:
RMS leak and both valve cover areas
looks like vario cam solenoids are leaking;
rattle noise from the right rear (could be exhaust tips or muffler?)
Very stiff clutch engages at top of travel - needs replacement;
Wheels need alignment;
CEL - (Mass air flow sensor) about to come on;
car sits slightly higher due to 997 19's - not recommended by Porsche for the 996;
For
$39,000.00
am I getting a repairable car that should be good to go or am I inheriting someone else's headache? The dealer that did the PPI gave me a rough est. of $1675.00 to fix the RMS and replace the clutch. Is this within the range for that type of repair? Overall, the dealer thought the car was a 7/10.
Also, if anyone could comment on the wheel size and whether a car with these type of wheels (assuming they're properly spaced and aligned) which will never be tracked or driven at break-neck speeds, can live a normal life. OR, is this wheel size just a mistake that will cause damage to the suspension, etc.?
Any comments would be appreciated.
bob
When resealing the cam covers, ( u called them valve covers), you re-glue the cam cover, replace the gasket that goes around the vario cam solenoid, replace the o-ring that goes around the pick up oil pump, and replace 3 green inspection plugs. I have seen the solenoid leak itself and need to be replaced, but it is more common that the gasket that goes around it leaks.
If that price includes replacing the IMS,(will only know when the trans is pulled and is inspected), not a bad price. Prices will vary from shop to shop, but keep in mind you need a shop that knows 996 cars.
By the way, dont be shocked if they tell you that it also needs a dual mass flywheel.
with the 19" topic, you will be better off hearing from those who have 19" wheels on their cars. I dont see anything wrong with it.
As for the mass air flow sensor, pretty common part to need replacement.
Then again, if it was perfect, it wouldn't be 39k. Can't have it both ways, unfortunately. If the car costs 5k to fix and warranty to 100k(cpo), would it be worth it at 44k, maybe.
If it were me, I'd get the PPI dealer to quote you a price to fix everything on that list. Add that to the price and see if it's still a "good deal" over a "clean" one. One thing to consider is the byproducts of those issues, ie alignment is out, is the tire wear alright, etc.
fix it and buy it...you know what's wrong, so....deal with it, because an 02 for 39K!!! I paid (6 months ago) 42 for a 99 cab with the same mileage....and put over 8K in mods on and in it!! Including the post 02 front!
Even when the repair end up being 4K, you have a 02 for $43K......take an extended warranty and start driving!!
Just my 2 cents..... I have to mention that I just bought my P no inspection nothing...saw it drove it liked it bought it and took an extended warranty...almost 8K miles later...still going strong (hee $8K in mods and 8K miles.......a dollar a mile?!?!? and still lovin' it!
I would agree, you're going in eyes wide open, factor repair costs into the price and close the deal. Did the PPI check for evidence of crash repair? If the car can't be aligned because the frame is bent, that would be bad.
Also keep in mind not everything in the PPI is necessarily going to have to be fixed ASAP. A Porsche dealer PPI is going to be "by the book" so they will nitpick out every little thing that they might suspect may lead to a problem or goes against official Porsche policy.
When you get an extended warranty, some companies require an inspection prior to issuing the policy to catch any pre-existing conditions. Then again, some don't inspect (mine didn't) or catch everything in the PPI so who's to say when that RMS started to leak...
for an 02 car, why didn't the owner fix all of those problems(except the wheel) when it's under warranty? any hidden stories there?
or there were multi-times rms replacements already, but re-occured?
i would get the warranty-repair history of the car, then decide.
I say nope.....OR...ask the dealer to buy it, fix it and give you the certified warranty up to 100k miles. It will cost you a little more money, but you will get a car that has been gon eover VERY well and the peace of mind that if anything goes wrong, you are covered.
This was the 02 on ebay with the 19" 997 wheels?
I emailed with this guy and something was just not right .... i would really be careful.... Did you see the car? if it was a so cal car with 56K miles, that might be ok ... but with 56K miles (largely spent in Rhode Island) in that short of at timeframe, it was a daily driver all year long and the actual condition was really questionable. Not that its a big deal but didnt he state that he paid almost 4K for the wheels and tires? if you look at his feedback you can see that he bought them used for $1999.
Finally, he did not get a PPI before he bought the car 6 - 9 months ago and it sounds like he learned a hard lesson!!
just my .02
Yes it is the one on ebay.
PPI (Dealer) said there was no record of the RMS ever being replaced under warranty. Is that a good thing that it lasted as long as it did?
He gave me some quotes on the repairs:
RMS/clutch - $1675.00
Vario-cam/crank seal - $600 - 1200.00 (tech thought is was most likely just the gasket that need resealing - so closer to $600.00)
Mass Air Flow Sensor - $850.00
Alignment - $200.00 (no sign of accident, bent frame, etc. but tires are too new to detect any strange wear patterns).
Tech thought flywheel was fine "not making any strange noises"
???
I am at a loss as to what to do. I appreciate everyone's advice thus far.
None of these repairs are "major". All are regular wear and tear items. At $39K I'd get the car. Plenty of 2001s sell for a bit above $40. Just MHO.
FWIW, An indipendent shop will likely only charge between $600-$800 for RMS and less than $500 for the vario-ram seal.
The MAF sensor can be had for around $400 from many of rennlist sponsors, and takes 5 minutes to replace...
Here are the issues 1) As Eli K indicates, none of the issues are major. However, they are compounded and thus an indication that the car was not will cared for 2) There is no service history for this car except for the current PPI, which is less than favorable (this alone is a deal killer for most buyers).
Even at $39K, add another 4 - 5,000 in repairs, shipping (isnt the thread started in Canada), and $1,000 for the 60K and you are in the 45K range. To me, that is STEEP for a car with no history and high miles, when you get one for about the same price w/ less miles with a little more looking.
Assuming you are buying site unsee/ dont know how to tell, I would for sure have a body shop look at the car to check for paint work.
I would look elsewhere. Sure these are not necessarily major issues, but there are so many 996's out there that have been properly cared for with warranty piece of mind. Granted they cost a bit more, but again you're probably going to get a nicer car and warranty out of it. CPO with 2 years of warrantly left is a great piece of mind. In my opinion I would rather take the 4-5k that I would have to spend on this car in repairs and simply apply that to the 39k you're already in for and buy a better car.
