48 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHAnyone here have one without RMS issues or know someone without RMS issues?
Reported or suspected cause
crank wobble issue
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
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Reported fixes
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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 report identifying a cause
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Reported cause
The real issue is a crank wobble issue which damages the rear main seal.
Anyone here have one without RMS issues or know someone without RMS issues?
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'crank wobble issue' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'crank wobble issue' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Inspect by 2 mechanics and has one bad lifter' (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 report identifying 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.
Reported cause
The bigger and more expensive issue is engine replacement on the 996's..
Anyone here have one without RMS issues or know someone without RMS issues?
Inspect by 2 mechanics and has one bad lifter
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
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Discussions
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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.
Anyone here have one without RMS issues or know someone without RMS issues?
minor annoyance, if
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
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Reported fixes
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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
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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
In my ( and most others) opinion the Intermediate Shaft is it's achilles heal, the Rear Main Seal issue is a minor annoyance, if that.
Anyone here have one without RMS issues or know someone without RMS issues?
Replace engine
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
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Discussions
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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
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Suggestion
If this is the case, Porsche was replacing the engine.
Anyone here have one without RMS issues or know someone without RMS issues?
Use car, particularly one
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Reported fixes
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Unsuccessful attempts
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Discussions
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Discussions that contain suggestions
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Suggestion
Words of advice to all those who are currently trying to buy a 996, do it, but if you don't want to deal with mechanicals on any used car, particularly one that originally cost at or near $100,000, buy it CPO or with a warranty.
Anyone here have one without RMS issues or know someone without RMS issues?
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.
48 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.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
My previous 996 didn't leak, the PO went through two or three RMS replacements before they fixed it good.
Porsche is on it's sixth revision of the Rear Main seal, and the current one is a good fix. When a clutch is replaced, the RMS should be checked. If it's leaking (no big deal if it is by the way) then the seal should be replaced with the latest version, and the problem will go away. I would think it rare to see cars with actual leaking seals nowadays. Sure they maybe leaked in the past but I would think they've all been fixed by now.
My RMS doesn't leak, my car had a reman motor installed in 2005. My previous 996 didn't leak, the PO went through two or three RMS replacements before they fixed it good. My buddy's MkII doesn't leak, he had a reman motor installed in 2006. His previous motor didn't leak.
The M96 motor is a fantastic piece of kit, light and powerful, but it has a fatal flaw. In my ( and most others) opinion the Intermediate Shaft is it's achilles heal, the Rear Main Seal issue is a minor annoyance, if that.
I'm sure there are plenty of examples that don't leak. I'm not sure where you heard the 5% number, that's seems to be internet speculation. Porsche has a good idea of how many there are but they aren't saying. The fact that they have six versions of the fix suggests to me it's more widespread than 5% though.
I agree with Jasper on the IMS issue. In fact I think the IMS and RMS are intermingled and confused with each other in many discussions especially until the last year or two when people began to realize all the engine failures were because of the IMS. It's easy since they sound alike and are in the same location of the engine. The bottom line is the RMS is an annoyance, but the IMS can lead to a very crappy day.
Never had an issue here. I made sure to make it a point to look for a car without RMS history when I bought my car. 51K miles on the factory original seal without issues.
Andy
p.s. buy mine
I had my RMS updated with the newest one in March of this year. It has been dry ever since. Even before, it was a very minor leak. It wasn't actually leaving any oil on the garage floor.
It appears lots of people had to replace engines more often than RMS seals. I also had my motor replaced (July2008), and have not a drop or any leak whatsoever... The bigger and more expensive issue is engine replacement on the 996's..
sometimes I get a couple days where there is one drop of oil on the garage floor, after a track day I might get 10 drops, then I will go 3 weeks without a drop hitting the floor
not sure where the drops come from, could be a cam end cap seal - or the rms... but seriously... a couple drops in a week? I am not concerned about that at all and wont be fixing it until I am in there for some other reason. Not sure how bad other people's car leaked with an RMS out, but if it leaks a drop of oil - wipe the drop up and add one drop to top it up .. . ... .. ......
2002 C2 @ 53K, never leaked a drop
even if it did leak, why would that matter? it's a seal, if it leaks a lot replace it. If it leaks a little, it will live
Words of advice to all those who are currently trying to buy a 996, do it, but if you don't want to deal with mechanicals on any used car, particularly one that originally cost at or near $100,000, buy it CPO or with a warranty.
Every single one of these new threads lately has already been thoroughly discussed and answered.
Bought my car from the 2nd owner in July. 2nd owner bought the car CPO'd in Feb 09 and the original RMS was dry (I assume). During the PPI, I was told that the RMS was damp or weeping.
I had my local dealer chcek the car over a monht after I bought it and they said it was the orignal RMS in there (they could tell by the bolts) and that it was leaking.
It was replaced under CPO and I had them throw in a clutch kit at the same time that I bought from Sunset. The car has 35K on it.
I think when my CPO expires (2/2011) if all is well at that point i will just have the LN IMS bearing installed for good measure.
RMS leaking = no big deal
IMS failure = it's all over
+1 its like saying the power steering hose leaks on these cars so they are no good....
blown up hype over a seal -
(I know some have had issues with theirs like Deckman, sorry to hear)
Two 996 GT3's mine, and my wife's sold to buy GT3 RS. Neither one had an RMS problem. Both tracked and sold with around 25,000 milkes. Still in our local PCA region and tracked. No RMS issues on either of them at 40,000 plus miles.
Best,
'99 C2, 6spd sold to a friend this summer with 55k. No RMS issues. Current 82k 2004 GT3, also no issues.
Drive and enjoy the car. The RMS is a nit, IMO. Even if it does start leaking badly, it's about a $800 fix at the dealer with a 3 year warranty on the repair. Inconvenient, sure. Reason for not buying or enjoying these cars, no way!
IMS was a little scarier for me just because the downside is so big. When I had the chance to buy a used motor, I jumped on it. Of course, having that spare motor is like a warranty that the original will be perfect.
Anyone want to buy my 55k '99 "warranty" sitting in my garage? Inspected by 2 mechanics and has one bad lifter. No other issues found.
Joe
Jasper (or anyone else who may know). Where can we get information on this sixth revision. I am having a clutch replaced and while he is in there want to be certain my Mx replaces the RMS with the latest fix...Thanks.
I've had my '99 Carrera going on 7 years, never so much as one drop on the garage floor, wife's had her '99 Boxster going on 8 years and it's dry as well. Wish I could say the same for my Harleys.
The RMS issue has 2 angles. The first is just the seal leaking. No big deal if it does, most 996's leak here. Mine did not until they "updated" my seal. Go figure. The real issue is a crank wobble issue which damages the rear main seal. This is the less than 5% and can cause real problems. If this is the case, Porsche was replacing the engine. You need to seperate a leak from a real deal mechanical defect.
