29 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHHeavy Vibrations on cold start
Reported or suspected cause
still there
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
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Leading evidence: 'still there' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'still there' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check wiring harness now' (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
The dealer has changed all the plugs, replaced 2 injectors with new ones, etc, etc.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
When I bought the car last year, they replaced 4 of the 6 coils.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Changed the fuel injector, replaced the spark plug and coil pack and still no luck.
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29 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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I have been driving my 2003 996 2-3 times a week all of summer. Unfortunately, my commute to work is only 5 minutes and I used to make a loop and turn it into a 20 minute drive whenever I took my p-car.
As it started getting colder here in Wisconsin, I pulled it out only on weekends for longer drives. Yesterday, I started the car and left her on idle for
a couple of minutes and then on reverse gear, backed out of the garage. And when I was completely out, I started feeling heavy vibrations and I saw the check engine light come up. Parked her right back in.
I know this is not enough information to diagnose much. But, has anyone here experienced anything similar to this. I will be taking her to my local Indy to get it checked out this afternoon. But it will be good to here from you guys before that. I am also wondering if it is okay forme to drive 5 miles to the mechanic shop or if I should get her towed.
Appreciate your help!
If you don't have a code reader...
If the CEL is flashing don't drive it, have it towed.
Even if the CEL isn't flashing, since you had heavy vibrations, I would consider not driving it and have it towed since it is such a short distance the tow will be cheap (or maybe free if you have AAA/etc.).
I wouldn't restart the engine until you get those codes read.
Good question. My take is the owner has been putting few miles on the car and then the weather turns cold. Not only does the tank still have 'summer' blended gas in it but likely what gas it has in it is stale.
Sincerely,
Macster.
Thank you all for your responses.
I was pretty sure it's not the fuel issue. I have been putting about 250-300 miles a week. It turns out that it was mis-firing due to a bad coil. Changed the coil and my baby is rockin' again
Was real nervous until I got a call back from my Indy.
Getting her ready now for hibernating with oil change, fresh fluids, lubrication for the roof, fuel stabil, etc etc. I know I will get a lot of boos for the winter storage but unfortunately I cannot afford winter tires/wheels right now
Thanks again for your comments/advice. You guys r awesome!
winter storage and yet somehow I am excited about the chance of snow...love driving these cars in the snow...one of the absolute best snow cars I have ever owned... I plan to park the suburban for winter
Ivagene, is yours a c2 or a c4? Love your attitude! In the 996 world, I am probably what they call "newbies/virgins" and you are obviously on the other extreme end
May be in a couple of years, I ll end up driving my car in the snow and not worry so much about her feeling cold :P
Had the coil pack changed and took the car for a drive, everything seemed fine. After a couple of hours, started it again and left it on idle for a couple of minutes. CEL is back on. Drove it and the same mis-firing and vibrations!
My mechanic thought it must be the spark plug because the error code was pointing to the same cylinder. He did that and it seemed fine initially only to see the CEL and mis-firing again after a bit of idling.
After a day of diagnosis, he is telling me that he is positive that it is the fuel injector that needs to be replaced which is going to cost me $675 with parts and labor. I am not sure if this is fair because I had paid 584 bucks for the oil change, brake fluid replacement, and replacing the cool packs before hand. He might take off the cost of the coil but another 675 bucks to replace the fuel injector?
So, what do tou guys think? Is it a reasonable price? Should I go ahead with it?
Well the injectors are around $150-$200 ea. IIRC. So if he's replacing one injector, factor 475 for labor @ 125/hr lets say = 3-4 hours of work, maybe a little high if it is injector #1 or #4. Some are easier to get to than others. If it's near the back of the engine those are a PITA without removing lots of stuff.
You would be lucky if it is a cylinder closer to the front of the engine.
So is it a little high? Maybe, but maybe not that high of a price if it is injector #3 or #6, or even 2 or 5 would be somewhat of a pain too without ripping lots of stuff apart.
Thanks logray,
It's injector 6. I just called Sunset and found the price too. Pelican Parts are a bit cheaper. He is trying to find parts for less which can lower my cost but it is good to know that the labor to replace the injector takes about 3-4 hrs. May be 3 hrs since it is #6.
Thanks for the info again.
#6 yes pain in the *** unless you are a contortionist midget with freakishly long and skinny arms and small hands.
The engine has to be lowered a bit, not sure if it can be done without unbolting lots of stuff, I would think P/S reservoir, A/C compressor, and passenger side intake manifold to start.
I would say 2-3 hours (but I'm guessing he's budgeting an extra hour).
Never tried it with engine in car though, so it might be good to get more opinions.
If you post a question on renntech (or perhaps if Loren is reading this), usually he can provide shop times for various repairs. I always like to compare my estimates with what the official Porsche book time is. And it's a good reality check to take to shop owners and ask them why they are charging a certain amount of money.
Okay, back to square one!!!
Changed the fuel injector, replaced the spark plug and coil pack and still no luck. The error code is pointing to that same cylinder but out of ideas at this point as to what could be causing the mis-firing. It seems to be only getting worse.
My Indy said that he will get in touch with the Porsche representative for North America before shelling out more time and money on this. I am sort of worried now!
Would appreciate any help/advice from u guys.
Why not get the injector cleaned and tested? 1/10 the cost. Get all of them done, while your at it.
Here is one place I've used.
http://www.rceng.com/Fuel-Injector-Cleaning-P43C0.aspx
You might find a local shop.
I've also cleaned them myself, but time consuming.
This explains the process.
http://www.rowand.net/Shop/Tech/DIYF...orCleaning.htm
Good luck!
This is a situation I fear because I would really have a hard time with the mis-diagnosis. I work in networking so I understand you can't always be right the first time. But after shelling out so much money and still no fix it has to be frustrating (not to mention the wife aspect for me)
I think at that point I would go from nice customer to *******.
Thanks for the links. Well, he replaced the injector and tested it let alone clean it. But the error code is still the same cylinder 6. So, am pretty sure at this point that it's not the injector.
Dotframe,
Trust me, I am on the verge of losing it right now (wife is mad!!!) I know they are trying their best to do it right. But since this is my first major issue with the car, I am not sure what the typical practice is. Do u keep paying them for all the labor since they have put in the work or blame them for the mis-diagnosis and expect them to eat the labor time???
I am trusting them to know what they are doing based on the reviews From folks here but am wondering now if the dealer would have probably fixed it by now and cost me the same.
Dont know the anawer but Frustrated big time!!!
Honestly if it were me and they weren't really making good on the multiple mis-diagnosis I would probably cut my loses and look for another shop or bite the bullet and try the stealer.
Mine has been to the dealer 4 times for a similar issue. Super rough on cold starts. Sometimes it bogs so bad it almost stalls.
The dealer has changed all the plugs, replaced 2 injectors with new ones, etc, etc. Problem is still there.
I don't get a CEL....but there is a misfire code in memory.
When I bought the car last year, they replaced 4 of the 6 coils. So the only thing left that I can think of, is those 2 remaining coil packs? Hopefully. Cause if not, I'm pooched.
Thank god for CPO.
Maybe, I'll give her to a P shop in LA while I'm down there...see if THEY can find the problem.
Thankfully, I don't have codes from other cylinders. After all this testing, it's not during the cold starts anymore. It starts mis-firing as soon as the engine is started. Earlier it was after idling for a few mins after starting the engine.
Checking the wiring harness now to see if that's okay. Hoping to know more in a day or two.
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