18 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
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YOUR RESEARCHTransmission rebuild options PNW
Reported or suspected cause
rebuild is partially dependent
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
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Discussions that report identifying a cause
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Reported cause
Problem is the rebuild is partially dependent on opening the Transaxle up and seeing what needs replacing vs.
Leading evidence: 'rebuild is partially dependent' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'rebuild is partially dependent' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check /' (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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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Had it installed earlier this year....no problems so far.
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
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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
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I've also used Chris Powell who I know is great in many ways but it sounds like his focus has changed a bit to taking care of some rich dudes car collection, but that is 3rd hand.
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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Suspected cause · Original poster
They suspect output shaft bearing on the right side based on where the noise is coming from.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I've also used Chris Powell who I know is great in many ways but it sounds like his focus has changed a bit to taking care of some rich dudes car collection, but that is 3rd hand.
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18 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.
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Generation: 20261026T120458Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hi all, I have a 2004 C4S in Spokane WA. It looks like my trans is needing some love. I was taking it to a shop to have the passenger door latch looked at and told them I heard a howl on new pavement on the freeway heading to the shop. The car has just over 103k on it. They told me they put it on the alignment rack and ran it with a scope and also pulled some fluid. The fluid is in bad shape and there are some decent sized metal chunks. They suspect output shaft bearing on the right side based on where the noise is coming from. I'll pick the car up today more information. We have no shops in town that can work on this trans that I'm aware of. I'm familiar with some of the shops in Seattle but haven't lived there in years. Any specific recommendations for where to take the trans? I can pull it at home and deliver or perhaps trailer the car over. Portland would also be an option. I've seen some posts recommending California Motorsports and could go that route as well. Any other thoughts? I plan to keep the car. It's in otherwise decent shape although in need of struts/mounts which I knew and now the bank 1 cat is throwing a code which I need to research options on . The PO replaced bank 2 at 90k. This shop only will deal in new factory Porsche parts so of course the trans quote was close to $10k for a new unit from Porsche.
GBox did mine. Had it installed earlier this year....no problems so far.
Plus. they have a proprietary process(es) to address some of the known failures of the 996 transmission
what was the cost? $3-$4k? The C2 transmission is probably way cheaper.
I have 160k miles on mine with lord knows how much track use over the years (a lot). So at this point, this is the one failure point that's on my mind.
I bought an engine/gearbox off a C2 with 40k miles but of course, with the gear sets being the same between a C2 and C4s, there is a difference in the bellhousing to account for the front drive output shaft.
If you are going to ship to CO for a rebuild I would find Brian Copans at BMC&G. I spoke to several shops when I had mine rebuilt and he and a few others were at the top of my list.
There was also a guy in the Pac NW, but I can't remember his shop. I'll check my email.
Other to search for are CMS in AZ and Bill Rader in Las Vegas who did my transaxle. Very happy with his knowledge, communication, and workmanship. As stated none of these guys are cheap, and you will likely need to get on their calendars. Several shops will rise to the top...and some might fall...do your due diligence on RL and talk to a couple shops.
Thanks for the replies so far. I spoke with Stanley??, I'm terrible with names, at Gbox today. He was helpful over the phone. I mentioned it was a C4S but hopefully he remembered that. He quoted roughly $3,400 plus shipping to do what they would consider their standard service. Of course if anything else was too out of whack like a busted up 5th gear or something, it would be more. I'll continue to research.
I'll start calling shops in Seattle to see what they say but if anyone has recommendations there, certainly let me know. I've dealt with John Walker in the past who I doubt would touch one of these but I can call him. I've also used Chris Powell who I know is great in many ways but it sounds like his focus has changed a bit to taking care of some rich dudes car collection, but that is 3rd hand. I don't know if Denny Akers is still around or working on this era of car.
+1 for Gbox. Stanley and Maggie were easy to work with. Quick ship directly to mechanic's shop.
Don't forget items worth checking/replacing while you've got the transmission out (clutch, IMS, RMS, AOS, etc).
So I called the other local Porsche/Euro shop in Spokane and talked to them for a bit. They don't do rebuild work in house but said they use German Transaxle Service in Bend OR and suggested calling them. Anyone familiar with them? I talked to Roger at California Motorsport and if I end up shipping it, will likely go that route. The advantage of Bend is I could drive the unit down or if I get lazy, European Autohaus could do the R&R.
The majority of these rebuild costs for the G96 transaxle is in the parts...maybe 25% of costs should be labor. Thus I wouldn't expect a ton of difference between a specialist in Porsche gearboxes like the G96 and a more general trans shop. Problem is the rebuild is partially dependent on opening the Transaxle up and seeing what needs replacing vs. what doesn't. If you talked to Roger, he probably said there's a standard list of parts that they assume will need to be refreshed. So, you're really working with whoever open the gearbox up...no changing shops mid-stream.
If it doesn't blow your budget, I would use one of the Porsche specialists before a more general transmission shop. I know shipping is usually pretty straightforward in a big igloo cooler, strange as that sounds.
Curious to hear if the quotes turn out similar.
What you say makes sense. I had a good talk with Roger and he went through quite a bit of information. He wants it shipped on a pallet. The Gbox guy does the cooler :-) He suggested if I keep the car longer term to go through the front diff as well. He said to plan on $4-$5 k for the trans assuming nothing catastrophic happened and it doesn't need more that what he would consider standard for this mileage. He said the diff would be $1,200. Shipping will add another $500-$600 most likely. He's 2-4 weeks. I'm leaning in that direction. I would pull it myself and do some "while in there" stuff like the RMS, check the clutch and replace the AOS at a minimum. I bought the AOS a few years ago when I did the coolant tank, water pump, engine mounts, etc. but couldn't get to it without dropping the motor. Wayne's book says you can but he did it on an early C2 and I couldn't figure it out. The car had the IMS done at 85k and clutch at 70k by the PO. I'm just working up to dropping this kind of coin on a car that also needs struts and mounts and has a left door lock actuator acting up. The car has a lot going for it. Very nice condition body and interior. Motor runs well and burns no oil in between 5k changes. I've done the work mentioned along with a nice new double DIN install. I do love to drive it. Heck I've got an SC that has 180k on the chassis and has had new motor/trans. A 356 that was completely gone through 15 years ago and still looks and drives like new. I keep telling myself cars age. This was never an investment. They all eventually need some major maintenance if you actually drive them :-)
For sure and thanks for that. Yours was one of the posts that prompted me to call CMS. I was just pointing out that the shop I was referred to by a mechanic in town in turn referred me to Roger so it came full circle. I'll be starting the process of pulling my trans in a week or two and sending it to them. I'll update this thread as my R&R process progresses. Cheers, Jerry
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