6 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHRear Main Seal Problems/Failures?
Leading reported evidence
Replace engines
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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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
In a few rare cases Porsche has replaced the engines when the seal continued to fail after replacement...
Leading evidence: 'Replace engines' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'significantly less' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace engines' (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
Most of the older cars have already had this replaced under warranty TSB.
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
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.
Suspected cause
Couldn't tell you for sure, but if this board is any indication, the problem is significantly less.
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.
6 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: 20261027T013556Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
A friend of mine introduced me to a guy who is a tech at a Porsche, Audi, VW dealer. He doesn't work on the Porsches but he said they are having a lot of problems with 996 rear main seals and are changing out engines "daily"!
I'm brand new to this list (about 2 weeks) and have been on daily and haven't noticed anything in particular about a problem of this type.
Thoughts???
Ya, it happened to me. It is true. It has been discussed on this board. All I can say is that PCNA has been stand-up about it. Let's just hope it does not happen out of the warranty period!
Because PCNA did the right thing in my case, I bought another Porsche (c4s) as they are great cars to drive.
Wilam
The earlier 996 models did have rear main seal problems. Porsche came out with updated seals, which solved some of the problems. I believe they later came out with redesigned seal seats, which solved all the problems. The fomer was a simple seal swap, the latter would require an engine change. Also, the former is a fact, the latter is a supposition. Take it for what it's worth.
A new main seal was introduced in March 2000. Most of the older cars have already had this replaced under warranty TSB. In a few rare cases Porsche has replaced the engines when the seal continued to fail after replacement... still under warranty.
I did notice some dialogue in regards to earlier models on here. I spoke with the Technicial last night and he said "We're already doing 02's" which made me think it still may be an issue???
Couldn't tell you for sure, but if this board is any indication, the problem is significantly less. Maybe to the point that it is no longer an issue of design butmore of wear and tear. If personal experience means anything, I now have 10,000 miles on my C4S, maybe half of those miles were at the track or "sporty street driving". Not a single negative issue. Of course, I have now just jinxed myself, and my egine should fall off the first time I start it. Anyway, I believe it is a dead issue, but certainly one that Porsche bashers just love to bring up.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
