19 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHA couple of questions re: PPI
Reported or suspected cause
weak -- some say bearing undersized, others say oiling
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
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Reported fixes
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 report identifying 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.
Reported cause
Another serious problem is a weak -- some say bearing undersized, others say oiling to bearing the cause -- intermediate shaft that can quickly transition from a failed bearing that with an engine pull/disassemble can be fixed to a failed engine and engine that is not repairable.
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
If found out of position, I'd need a new engine or the price adjusted to cover a new factory sourced engine and dealership install (which should see the engine/labor come with 2 years, unlimited mileage warranty, though check on this, it may have changed).
Leading evidence: 'weak -- some say bearing undersized, others say oiling' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'weak -- some say bearing undersized, others say oiling' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check on this' (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
A low mileage '99 though I'd be pretty leery of, unless it had an engine replaced already for one of the above conditions, or the one below.
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
If found out of position, I'd need a new engine or the price adjusted to cover a new factory sourced engine and dealership install (which should see the engine/labor come with 2 years, unlimited mileage warranty, though check on this, it may have changed).
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
Even with RMS, during repair the crankshaft position should be checked and if it is found out of spec a new engine sourced.
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
You need to be sure the car's checked by someone who's very knowledgeable about the above issues, and others, like body paint damage/repair, flood salvaged cars, theft cars, lemons/buy-backs, etc.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Check on this
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Reported fixes
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Unsuccessful attempts
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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
If found out of position, I'd need a new engine or the price adjusted to cover a new factory sourced engine and dealership install (which should see the engine/labor come with 2 years, unlimited mileage warranty, though check on this, it may have changed).
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
You need to be sure the car's checked by someone who's very knowledgeable about the above issues, and others, like body paint damage/repair, flood salvaged cars, theft cars, lemons/buy-backs, etc.
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
If found out of position, I'd need a new engine or the price adjusted to cover a new factory sourced engine and dealership install (which should see the engine/labor come with 2 years, unlimited mileage warranty, though check on this, it may have changed).
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
weak -- some say bearing undersized, others say oiling
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that report identifying 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.
Reported cause
Another serious problem is a weak -- some say bearing undersized, others say oiling to bearing the cause -- intermediate shaft that can quickly transition from a failed bearing that with an engine pull/disassemble can be fixed to a failed engine and engine that is not repairable.
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.
19 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: 20261026T124918Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
From reading through previous threads, I'm picking up that with the 996 there are three consistent issues on a 1999 model. I keep seeing the issues mentioned but am not clear on exactly what is going on with each.
1.
Rear main seal leakage
2.
Coolant tank leak.
What exactly is happening with this one? Is it cracking of the tank or something else?
3.
ABS/seat belt trigger.
Can someone explain what is going on with this issue?
Any other consistent issues I should have the inspector evaluate? Thanks.
#3. the seatbelt buckles are notorious for setting off the light for the airbag ie. poor connection/ground. Many threads on all three of your questions have appeared....SEARCH is your friend.
to add to the list: get a compression/leakdown test, and preferably a printout of over-revs (I believe that may only be available from dealer). Best of luck
ignition switch tends to fail
coolant tank cracks after awhile and leaks due to heat I suppose. ~$600 at dealer
RMS, you must know what this is from doing a search. in short the round rubber seal on the rear of the engine that the crank shaft passes through to the flywheel leaks oil. simple part, simple repair, relatively high labor cost ~$1100 at dealer.
Remember that the RMS repair labor cost can be pretty much avoided if you do it at the same time as your clutch. Until you need a new clutch, you can just put some kitty litter on your garage to soak up the occasional drip of oil. I don't think the RMS issues cause too many drips per day.
checked for and eliminated, but there are other problems that are just as bad, maybe more so.
One particular problem at least with the 996 with the 3.4l engine is a few of them failed from a crack that developed at the top of the middle cylinder (either side) that ultimately developed into a piece of the cylinder wall breaking out with catastrophic engine failure. This failure happens so suddenly that one day there may be no oil in water, water in oil, the next day there can be, the day after, a pile of busted engine parts under car.
Another serious problem is a weak -- some say bearing undersized, others say oiling to bearing the cause -- intermediate shaft that can quickly transition from a failed bearing that with an engine pull/disassemble can be fixed to a failed engine and engine that is not repairable. In this case, one again has just maybe minutes, seconds even, depending upon engine speed, before a bad bearing turns into an expensive engine replacement job.
Another possible area of risk is the engine's air oil separator. These can fail in such a way the engine can ingest oil to the point the engine suffers from hydraulic lock and this almost always causes severe if not fatal engine damage.
The above problems if they occurred at all appeared fairly early in the car's life time. A low mileage '99 though I'd be pretty leery of, unless it had an engine replaced already for one of the above conditions, or the one below.
Even with RMS, during repair the crankshaft position should be checked and if it is found out of spec a new engine sourced. Since a '99 is likely no longer under any warranty I'd not rely upon a diagnosis of a RMS thinking a simple seal R&R would suffice.
I'd insist the work be done and the crankshaft position checked. If found out of position, I'd need a new engine or the price adjusted to cover a new factory sourced engine and dealership install (which should see the engine/labor come with 2 years, unlimited mileage warranty, though check on this, it may have changed).
You need to be sure the car's checked by someone who's very knowledgeable about the above issues, and others, like body paint damage/repair, flood salvaged cars, theft cars, lemons/buy-backs, etc. Event then for some problems even the most expert of inspectors can turn up nothing and not for the lack of trying either...but a short time later, through no one's fault, one of the above problems occurs.
Sincerely,
Macster.
Well, most of what you listed are sudden onset type issues that a PPI of a well running car will not turn up. If all of this freaks you out buy a car with a warranty...preferably not a Porsche.
Would it be a safe bet that if a 996 has made it to say, 80K miles then either the issues have already occurred and have been addressed or they're not going to occur? Or can any 996 engine blow at any time unannounced?
Most major problem with the M96 engines surface by 45k,that includes cracked sleeves & IMS failures. The only thing that I've seen occurring at that high of a mileage is a cracked cylinder head.
Your pretty much in the clear I'd think. Don't be shocked if the brakes need to be replaced soon though.
dismissed as not worthy of the vehicle. A lesser vehicle.
Your response is one I would have expected to get and did from a Corvette forum some years back.
While I'm sure current owners of Carreras (and other late model Porsches) would very much like to have all the risk assumed by the buyer of his used Porsche.
Nice work, if you can get it.
However, as one who's interested in better understanding the used Porsche and especially the used 993/996 Carrera market with a serious eye to owning one soon, I'm going to try to mitigate the risk inherent in these automobiles -- granted, a low risk, but a real risk nonetheless -- and attempt to adjust my valuation of the car by about the only means I know of and that is to arrive at a possibly lower valutatio of the car to help cover the possibility of anything serious appearing.
As an owner of a Carrera and potentially the seller of a used one (at some point) you of course can attempt to downplay the risk, dismiss it as beneath concern.
But unfortunately, there's too much info to the contrary regarding these vehicles for any one considering a used one to ignore the risk involved in owning a used one, out of warranty.
Sincerely,
Macster.
Unfortunately for most 996 owners who purchased cars 2 or more years ago, the market has already discounted to the true valuation - that being current market value. It is what it is.
Hey Macster,
I have probably owned Pcars longer than you have and they are not cheap transportation. So there is no dismissing going on here, just the fact that if spending a lot of money someday to get you Pcar back on the road bothers you, then either buy a warranty or don't buy the car. Or for that matter don't buy almost any expensive europeon car. I speak from experience
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
