35 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHNew 996 owner Chicagoland
Leading reported evidence
Check ignition coils
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 · Original poster
I had him tune up the car he changed the plugs checked the coils changed the brake fluid.
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
He believes these bits have been in the sump since that event and told me not to worry but to keep an eye out for strange noises and to check my filter at oil changes.
Leading evidence: 'Check ignition coils' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check filter at oil' (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
I brought him what I found in the sump and he inspected the car.
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
Since I last posted I open and inspected the oil filter and it looked clean, I then dropped the sump plate and found this on the botton
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
I had him tune up the car he changed the plugs checked the coils changed the brake fluid.
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
I had him tune up the car he changed the plugs checked the coils changed the brake fluid.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Check filter at oil
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
He believes these bits have been in the sump since that event and told me not to worry but to keep an eye out for strange noises and to check my filter at oil changes.
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
I asked about the IMS issue and his opinion is, it is way over blown, told me not to worry about it just keep inspecting for leaks and noises and when I replace the clutch upgrade the IMS at that time.
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.
35 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.
2 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
I recently got a 2003 911 cabriolet 6 spd manual with 25000 miles on it. I did'nt PPI the car prior and now after finding this forum I find I am driving a ticking time bomb. I will admit I probably should have done more research but I do like the car.
Car has maintenance history showing only service at a dealer but having low miles the history is fairly limited to basic maintance. I did change the oil and inspected the filter and did not find any metal, car also drives great, no drips of oil or any obvious issues.
But holy cow, now I read this forum and I need to replace motor mounts, AOS, water pump, RMS, IMS, run Joe Gibbs oil, drive it not too fast but not too slow wash it with fuji bottled water and read it a bed time story at night. What have I done? I really like the car but should I even drive it?
LOL! You can be extra afraid because of the low miles on your car.
I do have a Durametric, if you haven't checked cam deviation (quite frankly I don't know if it's the same for a 3.6 as compared to a 3.4), I would be happy to check it for you. I live in Forest Park.
Enjoy!
LOL
These are great cars that were meant to be driven. Just drive it and enjoy it. Most of them never have any more problems than other cars but be prepared for sticker shock when you buy parts.
The 996s are a bargain and you can pick them up for cheap money (comparatively) but they are not cheap cars. Ferrari had its bargain cars as well the Mondial/308/328/348 could all be picked up for low price (until the last year or so) but they cost just as much to fix as their more expensive brethren. The same is true here.
It is a good idea to check your oil filter regularly though.
Oh, and most important, make sure you only use GENUINE PORSCHE coolant or your car will implode immediately. You have been warned.
take a couple deep breaths and relax
you're not the first person to have bought a low mile 996 without a ppi (self included)
water pump? is the car overheating?
AOS? is the car acting like a mosquito abatement truck?
RMS? possibly, but it's a maintenance item...only an inspection can verify
its not likely that you need motor mounts, we need to see pics
drive the car for 1,000 miles and decide if it's for you
then spend the 2k+ for the IMSB or Solution
live happily ever after, you should have done this years ago
did I mention pics?
welcome to 996 ownership
where in Chicagoland?
For another perspective, by example, I have an '04 that is at 98K miles. Aside from oil changes, brakes & tires, I've changed the plugs, water pump, one cat, drop links, recently the motor mounts, serp. belt, signal switch, upgraded the sound system. That's about it. Runs great; oil changes always come out clean. Ditching your car as a roller is probably premature. Enjoy it in good health!
Agree with everything above, HOWEVER, man I think I'd spend the money now on changing that IMS bearing. 2003 with 6 speed and low miles is right in the crosshairs of being the most at risk. If you are going to spend it in a year anyway, why take the risk of waiting a year?
That being said, I'm generally not the type to go crazy replacing parts that are working fine just because they might break. There are a long list of WYAIT parts to replace, but again, you can quickly turn your $2,000 or so IMS bearing replacement into a $3,500 or $4,000 job by replacing all of the WYAIT stuff.
Here's what I believe. I believe the OP is a long-time rennlister hiding behind a trollish bot like nom-de-plume to stroke the fires of angst.
I am willing to be wrong, but - it's my opinion until shown otherwise, and will remain vigilant to being a stroker. Now - I have stroked in the past, but in this case - until further evidence either way shows up I will not stroke it.
Unless I have a stroke.
Just be glad you don't have a tip and have to worry about a tranny and a couple topless dudes and possibly posing with your top down without your top with a craft beer on hand getting photoshopped into a postcard with the other two topless dudes with a burning car and a couple hippy looking guys thrown in for fun.
Welcome and you may need to buy in bulk of these:
This thread is gold
After owning a SC that blew a piston I think the 996 is less prone to issues and I have read a lot about them on this forum...You just have to do your research and cross your fingers your ticking time bomb doesn't explode
Your experience was similar to mine. My 2002 Cab had 27,000 miles on it when I purchased it a year ago. I had an acquaintance who was a Porsche owner explain the issue of the 996 prior to my purchasing it, so I went into it with my eyes wide open. Simply look at the prices of pre 996 cars and then compare that to the price of a 996. You can afford to put some money into it to protect your investment. I, like you read this forum and while many will suggest to you to just go out and drive it like you stole it. I wanted to sleep at night, so I decided to have the LN Engineering Solution installed. Also, I had a very slight oil leak so there was always the question of where the leak was coming from, the IMSB or the RMS. The bottom line for me ended up at $3845, to include the solution, RMS (where the oil leak ended up coming from) and an air oil separator. As it turned out, the seal on the IMSB had failed and as of yet had not caused visible wear on the bearing, or specs of metal in the filter, but if I had continued to drive it I would have had the dreaded failure. You didn't share what you paid for your 03 but for me the price of repair was worth the peace of mind, and as it turned out was the right decision financially. Good luck!
I understand your trepidation. I recently picked up a '99 with 63,000. Did the bearing update, RMS, clutch, etc.
Slept like a baby after that. Smooth sailing, right?
Then, I made the mistake of coming here and discovering horrific terms such as "intermix," "chocolate milk," and "D-chunking."
Now, I spend my days lying on the garage floor in the fetal position, blubbering like a baby.
I had a 1983 SC Cab, great car. I spent a ton on 2nd gear synchros (twice), Carrera chain tensioner upgrade, pop-valve upgrade, etc.
Bottom line was I spent more per year on that car than on either 996. It stranded me at least once per year and I sold it for half what I paid for it 8 years earlier. Neither 996 has stranded me once (unless you count getting totaled). I got significantly more for the write-off on the first 996 than I paid for it and used that money to buy the second one with enough left over to do the IMS, clutch, transmission and engine mounts, plugs, coils and lots of little stuff. Oh, and the 996 is faster, handles better, has a real heater and A/C and cupholders. Only thing better about the SC was it had a glovebox. And those stupid round headlights, looked like a beetle from the front...
I do wish I had done the solution instead of the retrofit but I don't think it was available yet. At least I was not aware of it yet.
Thanks, I may take you up on that. I live in Plainfield. What makes a low mileage car more susceptible to a IMS issue? I understand if a car sits for long periods gaskets can dry out and rubber can dry rot but I don't understand the IMS issue being more prevalent on a low miler.
Many of the Porsche specialists claim that a 996 is more susceptible to catastrophic failure if it sits for long periods of time without regular use or oil changes... This (they claim) causes the IMS bearings to suffer premature failure from "bathing in oil" and when the oil becomes acidic over time, the bearings could breakdown and thus cause the shaft to go...
how should I put it... it will cause the car's seat belts to hold you in a deathtrap while it turns on the stereo and plays Justin Bieber music in continuous loop while it sets itself on fire and melts you to a mere puddle on the ground.
This usually only happens to Arctic Silver, Dark Blue, and Black colored 996 MkII Cabriolets. What color is yours?
I feel your pain. I haven't slept for over a week and I'm fine, today Abraham Lincoln took me surfing on Lake Michigan and tomorrow I'm parasailing off the sears tower with Orval Wright.
Welcome to Rennlist and congrats on your new car. It sounds awesome!
Find a good indy by talking to the local PCA guys and get the IMS, RMS, AOS and Water pump done then you are good to go. Should be roughly 4-5k and then all your major stuff is caught up for the next 3 years at least. Toyota built their reputation on low maintenance, reliable vehicles. Porsche built theirs on being an absolute blast to drive.
If you aren't sure if the preventative maintenance makes financial sense, go visit the dealer and see what a new pcar costs. And you will still have to pay for the maintenance on it as well. My '09 997TT cost me almost 20k in maintenance and repairs the first year I owned it (2014). If you really want to own a Porsche, the 996 is an absolute bargain.
Since I last posted I open and inspected the oil filter and it looked clean, I then dropped the sump plate and found this on the botton
I then called Kurt at Kurt's German Autowerks a local independent with 30 years of Porsche experience and scheduled a PPI ( post purchase inspection in my case). I brought him what I found in the sump and he inspected the car. I should note the car runs great and has no leaks.
Kurt looked at the bits and hooked the car up to the code reader. He said the car showed an over rev about 4 years ago and he believes the cam chain slapped on the chain guide and broke off a piece along with some what he said appears to be casting flash. He believes these bits have been in the sump since that event and told me not to worry but to keep an eye out for strange noises and to check my filter at oil changes.
He performed a inspection of the entire car and only found some minor issued to repair, he said the clutch is a little weak, turn signal wont cancel, a micro switch at the convertible top is weak and the car could use an alignment. Other than those items, the RMS is fine, he said its a real nice car just drive and enjoy.
I asked about the IMS issue and his opinion is, it is way over blown, told me not to worry about it just keep inspecting for leaks and noises and when I replace the clutch upgrade the IMS at that time. I had him tune up the car he changed the plugs checked the coils changed the brake fluid. I feel better already.
Fixed it for you.
OP, congrats, and welcome. Sounds like a nice car (cant be sure as we haven't seen PICTURES yet...)
If it will help you sleep better, the water pump and engine mounts are pretty simple DIY projects. Im way up in the northern suburbs, else Id say Id try to find time to help you with it.
I used Kurt once, he's a great wealth of knowledge. Also recommend Midwest Eurosport. Performance Motorworks in Naperville is also a good place to get it worked on since you are in Plainfield. Used to live in Bolingbrook until I moved to Dallas and recently parted with my 996.
Like they say "Drive it like u stole it!"
Thanks for the Indy tips guys. I've been wondering who I could trust to take my car to. Who would you recommend most Kurt, Motorworks or Eurosport? I'm in Morris. Do you know if these guys usually report to Carfax or not?
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
