13 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHWooHoo Variocam Issue fixed.
Leading reported evidence
Replace defective one
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
Dealer switched the actuators to confirm one not working and replaced the defective one.
Leading evidence: 'Replace defective one' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace defective one' (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 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
-Durametric allowed my to identify multiple bad coilpacks also so I ended up replacing all of them.
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
Kahler fixed it with the engine IN the car still and just replaced the bad solenoid (open circuit).
Outcome qualification: Negation, uncertainty or missing explicit repair resolution overrides the raw extraction signal.
Use code reader if in fact you threw a cel
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
Or did you use a code reader if in fact you threw a CEL to tell you it was a VarioCam issue ?
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.
13 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.
2 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
After many many frustrating months of not being able to drive my 996, the variocam issue is fixed and I finally PASSED CA SMOG today.
After many many frustrating months of not being able to drive my 996, the variocam issue is fixed and I finally PASSED CA SMOG today.
Thank you to Kahlers for getting this fixed inexpensively compared to the astronomical quote I gotten from the dealer.
Now to get my suspension setup...
The dealer wanted to drop the engine just to diagnose the issue (>$2k).
Kahler fixed it with the engine IN the car still and just replaced the bad solenoid (open circuit). For the '99 the valve cover had to be removed, special tools are used to hold the top end in place, etc...way too much work for the little spare time I have.
My Durametric can kick in both variocam now where as I was driving around with only 1 bank working.
I just noticed you are in the Bay Area, you coming to the GGR autocross this Saturday?
Glad to hear your engine is working good now. Doesn't sound right things not being diagnosed good enough to do the jo as performed. Oh well. Take care and enjoy.
I recently had the same problem. Dealer switched the actuators to confirm one not working and replaced the defective one. Warranty paid for the bulk of cost but I paid $800 including an oil and filter change.
Springgeyser -
Are you saying the athe Durametric has a function to advance the VarioCam? I am not sure if mine are working as the actual values on the Durametric don't show an advance. Can you give me some direction on this?
@Doug. Durametric has a 'drivelink' feature to activate(advance) the variocam from either bank. This I know can be done with the DME 5.2 and 7.2, I can't speak about the later DME versions. It can also read the deviation that I think you already posted.
@Redridge. The solenoid mechanics was fine, it was a electrical short in the solenoid assembly. The Porsche dealer state they see the variocam issues with a 'lot' of 996s. Kahler states they see the solenoid failing but not often.
Were you aware of the problem with the vario because you felt power was low, or because your car was throwing a cel and when you hooked to the smog machine it failed you because of the cel, or what?
The variocam fault will throw a CEL which will cause you to fail CA smog. My Durametric caught this fault early but I thought the CEL was from the secondary O2s that were bad. After I fixed the O2s the variocam fault actually didn't trigger a CEL right away but popped up right when the smog test was being conducted.
As for power being low, I didn't noticed since I had the variocam issue pop up right after I bought the car. It 'seemed' fine when I was on the track with other Porsche and did well at AXs.
My learnings from this ordeal-
-I am not going back to a dealer for servicing.
-Durametric allowed my to identify multiple bad coilpacks also so I ended up replacing all of them.
-While the car was not being driven ...I started getting a RMS leak wherre it was bone dry before.
-Kahlers also identified a bad purge valve causing me to have a intermittent EVAP CEL.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
