14 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHSeat foam / pad / padding going bad ? possible to fix???
Leading reported evidence
Use ) seat, they are all over ebay
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
Worst case you can get a new (used) seat, they are all over Ebay for not much money.
Seat foam / pad / padding going bad ? possible to fix???
Frequently discussed work
Check there are only sport seats
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 · Original poster
Well, I was hoping for a less dramatic fix than new seats :-( (And last I checked, there are only sport seats on eBay, not comfort.) I may call a dealer and see if Porsche sells what I think is the relevant piece of foam.
Seat foam / pad / padding going bad ? possible to fix???
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'Use ) seat, they are all over ebay' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'probably' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check there are only sport seats' (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 · Original poster
The problem is probably with part 7 in the picture in the below link:
Seat foam / pad / padding going bad ? possible to fix???
Outcome qualification: Negation, uncertainty or missing explicit repair resolution overrides the raw extraction signal.
whole top half.)
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
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 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 · Original poster
(In the worst cars, it's probably the whole top half.)
Seat foam / pad / padding going bad ? possible to fix???
Check there are only sport seats
Suggestion or failed attempt
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 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 · Original poster
Well, I was hoping for a less dramatic fix than new seats :-( (And last I checked, there are only sport seats on eBay, not comfort.) I may call a dealer and see if Porsche sells what I think is the relevant piece of foam.
Seat foam / pad / padding going bad ? possible to fix???
Test driven have a problem
Suggestion or failed attempt
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 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 · Original poster
Many 996s I�ve recently test driven have a problem with their seat backs � the foam or padding around shoulder level seems to go bad.
Seat foam / pad / padding going bad ? possible to fix???
Frequently discussed actions (4)
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Check there are only sport seats
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 · Original poster
Well, I was hoping for a less dramatic fix than new seats :-( (And last I checked, there are only sport seats on eBay, not comfort.) I may call a dealer and see if Porsche sells what I think is the relevant piece of foam.
Seat foam / pad / padding going bad ? possible to fix???
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.
14 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 · 1 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T203514Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Many 996s I�ve recently test driven have a problem with their seat backs � the foam or padding around shoulder level seems to go bad. From the feeling, I�d guess it got weaker and/or got torn or cracked. You can feel it give way or move around a bit as you lean back /accelerate / lean towards the side. Makes a bit of a creaking noise too.
Unfortunately, even the car I am close to buying is mildly affected.
Anyone know if this can be fixed (other than new seats), and if so, how? E.g. new pads available? Or maybe switch the driver and passenger seat backs?
Thanks for any insight!
Foam tearing is not likely. FYI, the middle insert in the seats is removable and is held down by two hooks. So it moves around and it is possible even to get it to un-hook itself when exiting the car.
On the picture, the part with horizontal lines is the insert I am referring to. It moves around as it is meant to be removable. That might be creating the illusion of the failed foam.
Kalashnikov, thanks for the post and the pictures!
You are right, tearing is very unlikely. Crumbling is more likely. Maybe it dries up and crumbles/breaks.
It's not the middle insert. I feel it in the shoulder area outside of the middle insert. It is probably in the top of the side bolsters. (In the worst cars, it's probably the whole top half.)
I'm surprised I could not find this mentioned in any other threads. I've noticed it in maybe 1/3 of 996s I've test driven, and sometimes it is very bad. From the feeling, I am convinced it is a problem with the foam padding.
I'm on 996 #5, have owned a 986, and have looked at more than I can count. I have never seen a seat that has totally broken down, particularly in the top half. The first area to show wear is the side and bottom bolsters, I've seen bottom bolsters worn to more of a flat profile in higher mileage cars. Are you sure you aren't just seeing some normal characteristic of the 996 seats?
Yes, I'm sure. I've also looked at more than I can count, and perhaps I am quick to recognize this problem, having seen two cars in which it was quite advanced (and several in which it seemed to be starting).
To be clear, it has not totally broken down. The upper part of the outside side bolster on the car I am thinking of buying may have the same shape as normal, but when you sit down and lean back normally, you can feel it (and sometimes hear it) give way a bit. Maybe the end result (once it gives way) is similar to the worn out thigh bolsters. It's not that it is soft like a pillow. Rather, it feels like one portion of the side bolster is as stiff as the rest, but is not entirely fixed in place. (The leather cover yes, the stuff inside no.)
Weird. Worst case you can get a new (used) seat, they are all over Ebay for not much money. Or you can upgrade to a nice set of Recaro, Corbeau, etc sport seats.
Well, I was hoping for a less dramatic fix than new seats :-( (And last I checked, there are only sport seats on eBay, not comfort.) I may call a dealer and see if Porsche sells what I think is the relevant piece of foam. Though since no one has confirmed fixing such an issue, I have to wonder if I am correct in diagnosing it ...
The problem is probably with part 7 in the picture in the below link:
http://www.jimellisporscheparts.com/...roduct=3747532
Though I suppose it could conceivably be with the frame or with some clip or bracket. Haven't found pictures of such things yet - and more importantly, I haven't seen inside the seat ...
