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Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHleaking '02 996 main seal?
Leading reported evidence
Replace engine
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
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0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
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Suggestion
It is commendable that Porsche will replace the engine after a second failure eliminates simply a bad seal (or bad seal install), as that is the only true solution.
Leading evidence: 'Replace engine' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace engine' (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.
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Suggestion
If either of those exist the seal will always fail early and replacing the seal will only be a temporary solution.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Replace engine
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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
It is commendable that Porsche will replace the engine after a second failure eliminates simply a bad seal (or bad seal install), as that is the only true solution.
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.
17 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Generation: 20261026T191851Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Quick question, I took my '02 996 in for it's first service a couple of weeks ago and the dealer told me the main seal had started to leak. They did the replacement under warranty but I didn't think to ask what might have caused it to leak at what seems to be a pretty early stage. Anyone have any thoughts on what might have caused this and if it should be of a concern?
Thanks very much for your time and input!
Hopefully you wont!
Its between your transmission and engine.
Its a common problem. But keep an eye on it after its done. If it happens again, you get a free replacement engine!
Jim, Don's correct. You might even see something I posted back when I first got my '02 C2( miss it) in Jan '02, leaked twice before they got it right.
1 more and I'd have gotten a new engine! It should be fixable. Good luck.
Bill
Hey Don, long time no post here! How's things in Fla? Are'nt you there full time now? I thought I saw your Vehicles being moved.
My experience with seal failures would suggest that premature wear can be caused by misalignment or if the casing was bored non concentric to the shaft. If either of those exist the seal will always fail early and replacing the seal will only be a temporary solution. It is commendable that Porsche will replace the engine after a second failure eliminates simply a bad seal (or bad seal install), as that is the only true solution.
So I just got the news that my '00 996 C2 is getting a new engine due to the rear main seal problem.
The good news is that its under warranty, so Porsche is paying for the new engine. It also makes the 30,000 mile service I was due for much cheaper, since most of it goes along with the engine anyway.
I've got a couple of questions. From searching the forum, it sounds like I should at least have the clutch checked, and replaced if its worn, since the labor will be much less. Is there anything else I should have done at the same time?
Also, any thoughts on how this will effect resale value? I'm planning on keeping the car, so its just curiosity on my part. On the one hand, its a new engine with 30,000 miles less wear on it (that's good), but on the other hand its not the original engine that came with the car (that's bad). What do you think?
Thanks,
Bob
PS: I'm driving a Boxster loaner in the meantime, and I can't believe how lousy the visibility is to the driver's side rear (with the top up). I can't see anything between the seat back and the side of the top.
rpratt
For what its worth, I originally went to Porsche looking at the Boxter S but the so-so acceleration and HUGE blind spots killed that idea. I liked the general light agile feel of the Boxter, then you get back into a C2 and you know this is a very serious automobile indeed. Can't imagine the TT!
Well, I have to say I'm impressed with Porsche NA and Carlsen Porsche's speed in fixing this. I dropped my car off Tuesday morning, they confirmed the RMS leak and need for a new engine later that day, and I just picked up my 996 on Thursday with a new engine in. 2 day turn-around for getting an engine from wherever Porsche's closest warehouse is, plus actually installing it, is pretty good in my book.
And I'm not stuck with that Boxster any more, although to be fair it does beat the heck out of the usual rent-a-car, it just doesn't stack up to a 996, especially during a cold, rainy week.
Bob
Rpratt,
Did you get the NEW engine with 320HP or exactly the same as the old one 300HP?
I might have the same issue on the RMS case with my 99 cab 996.
Marcel
Same 3.4L engine, they didn't (as far as I could tell) upgrade me to the 3.6L. Mind you, I didn't think to ask for that, so who knows if you ask what will happen.
Bob
I second hand but but it only has 22k on it and now it is out of warrany. Do you think that if my RMS goes bad they will fix it for free since it is now a documented problem on the 996?
Bob
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