25 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHDetermining Engine History question
Leading reported evidence
Repair there were some issues
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
There were some issues with porous blocks early on in production that were repaired at the factory to keep up with production.
Leading evidence: 'Repair there were some issues' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check engine' (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
I snipped the image, rotated it so it was correct orientation to the numbers above it, and ran a Google Image search on it.
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
I went to check my engine for matching serial numbers to tell me if the engine was replaced under warranty.
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
To my surprise, the engine serial number was CLEARLY welded over (very clean bead).
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
It had been owned by two previous owners, both of those sales were at well known Porsche dealers as well - so a very clean history.
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
Was probably discovered at an inspection station, then put in a repair station, then put back on the assembly line.I have seen a few other simular repairs ,although rare.
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.
25 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.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T113718Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Ok, new member post here. This is not directly an IMS question, but may be related. I have a '99 996 that I've owned for 9+ years. Other than a coolant expansion tank, no issues other than normal maintenance. Bought the car at an authorized Porsche dealer in 2009 with ~25,000 miles. It had been owned by two previous owners, both of those sales were at well known Porsche dealers as well - so a very clean history. The car now has 70,000 miles and it needs a clutch. Obviously this means it would be an ideal time to replace the IMS if it hasn't been. I went to check my engine for matching serial numbers to tell me if the engine was replaced under warranty. To my surprise, the engine serial number was CLEARLY welded over (very clean bead). Has anyone ever seen this ? Were the Porsche replaced motors all like this ? Many joke I have a stolen engine, but with the clean history and knowing it would have happened in the first 25,000 miles I doubt it. Just trying to determine if I already have a new motor, or what is going on. I don't have factory service records, but imagine I could obtain them. Just curious if anyone has ever seen this.
Looks to me like something has been rubbing there...maybe an old serpentine belt gave way. That is not where the engine number is. A replacement engine will have an AT in the serial number.
Engine serial number is here, drivers side next to oil pan:
Agree with DBJoe. Looks like something has been rubbing there. Check out where others have said (under the car) for the number. If the number has an AT in it, it has been replaced.
[Image-only post; no author-written text. Original image references:]
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlist.com-vbulletin/693x480/engine_numbers_years_6093d6b756c2eb2d329cd8ca7aa7708bf5cdaebf.jpg
So mine is a M96/01 engine, 66W=98 and engine serial number 14443. My car was built 7/98 and sold as a 99. I believe the only way to determine what engine serial number was originally installed is to get the COA from PCA. Cost I think is $25.
Thanks... I'll look for my engine number tonight. Maybe the picture doesn't show it well... but the block casting number is definitely welded over.. it's not a rubbing situation... it's built up aluminum. Thanks everyone.. more data to follow.
If you don't mind my asking, what is the engine serial number? The one on the tab next to the oil pan drivers side Bank 1.
Would also be interesting if that is a QR code...do you have one on your phone? I tried doing it from your picture but get nothing.
It looks like a weld puddle to me (looks raised - if something was rubbing it would be indented). No idea why someone would weld over numbers like that...perhaps there's a water passage under there and it was leaking? It's all conjecture at this point - if it's not creating a problem, move on !
Joe, my short block doesn�t have a conventional serial number, at least to my understanding. Here�s a pic
Also, that srrange square isn�t a QR code, at least my reader can�t recognize it. Here is a clearer view.
It looks like a factory weld repair to me. There were some issues with porous blocks early on in production that were repaired at the factory to keep up with production. Was probably discovered at an inspection station, then put in a repair station, then put back on the assembly line.I have seen a few other simular repairs ,although rare.
I think one of the problems here is that the Porsche short block engine program is new, so we don't have much information to go on. Early on, Porsche would do replacement engines for cars that needed them. The engines went to Porsche dealers where they would get installed, and noted. Since those engines were full blown new replacement engines they usually came with the standard full serial number. I think Porsche did this until they ran out of them. Then Porsche did remanufactured engines that came with an AT in the serial number. I think I read that Porsche now recognizes the 996 as a classic and has started a new remanned short block supply chain. I know on sites like AutoAtlanta Porsche they now have a P/N and listing for a short block for around $6000. So what we are seeing is all new to us. So the engine has the serial number marking of M96/01 AT, and I would guess that the other numbers are some sort of internal code to Porsche about the remanned engine, possibly about the internals, process, parts, supply chain and a serial number buried in there so they can track them. Don't know exactly...maybe Porsche North America could shed some light on the subject.
It's like some type of code. The numbers are 83853094 and 8325. That is 12 numbers. I counted up the rows and columns and came up with this:
Maybe someone with a better mathematical mind can decipher the dot matrix. I cannot. Is it what is there (a dot), or what is missing? A 12 x 12 matrix would be 144 dots if all were there. So do they put a dot in the matrix to make a number, or do they leave off a dot to make a number? Hmmmm....
