about to buy a 996 - startup noise advice?

The friend I've been pushing all those months to buy a Porsche finally found a "cream puff" (his words) of a 996 (1999) that he's put a deposit on. I test drove it yesterday, the car is superb. 1999 with 36000 miles, 7000 on a new engine... Not one scratch, scuff, in fact the only defect on the car is a slightly off center porsche emblem on the hood (the rubber under it shows more on one side than the other, and a scuffed trunk release handle), that is IT ! the body is mint ! The car got a new engine from PCNA due to RMS issues 7000 miles ago. It runs great, not a drop of oil under it, etc... It'll undergo a PPI this week, my only question was when you start the car cold (windows down), there is a loud whining noise from the driver side - reminds me of the boxster I used to own that did that too upon startup, but much louder.. some air pump or some anti-pollution device? It was pretty loud though, but it stopped after 30 seconds or so and was never heard again ! Is that normal ? Thanks guys ! I hope this checks out for him ! I had been parking my 993 under his office window for 6 months to push him ;-)

It could be a fuel pump. Check archives, I seem to remember discussions on this subject

It's the fan that warms the catalytic converter at start-up. You tend to hear it more in cold weather than during the summer when the converter is already warm.

It's the emissions air pump. It is located on the drivers side rear of engine. It should shut off after the engines warms -- usually 3-5 minutes but only at idle.

Thanks Loren, that's what I suspected, it's just that it was much louder than anticipated ;-)

Yeah, sounds like a vacuum cleaner...

Seems to me, your friend did not get your message. Oh well, any 911 is better than no 911!

Hey Greg...you've got to straighten out the hood emblem. Take an 8mm socket and stick it in the holes under the lid. Loosen and the emblem comes right off. Take the rubber gasket and stick it in hot water to make it more pliable and then re-attach being careful not to over tighten the little fasteners. You probably know all this tho.

Wish I had heard this two weeks earlier!

>Thanks guys ! I hope this checks out for him ! I had been parking my 993 under his office window for 6 months to push him ;-) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >Seems to me, your friend did not get your message. >Oh well, any 911 is better than no 911! Oh no, he heard it allright and considered 993s too. Eventually though, I convinced him a 996 was a better car for him. I am a fan of older 911s and a 993 was the last aircooled car for me, great noise, very close in grunt to a 99 996, and I love working on those "oldies" and don't mind the dated interior... My friend on the other hand, knows little about Porsches, will never lift the engine lid, wanted something modern for his money, so I steered him towards the 996 - I figured that would be a better car "for him". I am not one of those aircooled zealots spitting at 996s, I had a boxster once, I prefer the aircooled beasts but fully realize the 996 is a great car ! Anyway, he got it, pending a PPI. Nice car except I did not care for the 99 dash plastics.. little by little we will "assimilate" the parking lot ;-) Greg.