11 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHMuffler removal - impossible! - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Leading reported evidence
Use stubby ratchet once it breaks free
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
I use a stubby ratchet once it breaks free to make it easier to get some turns.
Muffler removal - impossible! - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'Use stubby ratchet once it breaks free' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace muffler could be so difficult' (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 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 can't believe replacing a muffler could be so difficult.
Muffler removal - impossible! - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Coverage and how to read this overview
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.
11 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
986Forum: 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: 20261027T192637Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hi all,
I have a 2004 986 S and am trying to remove the muffler.
I have removed the bumper, loosened all the clamps and sleeves on the u-pipes but I can't physically get my hands up to remove the top two nuts which are behind the bolts in the centre of the hanger, which are not even visible.
Is there a trick to this or is there another way of releasing the muffler?
Would loosening the allen key bolts on the silver cylinders work?
Thanks in advance.
Multiple ways about it (must say my experience is on the 5 speed and 987 6-speed, not the 986 6-speed).
- Remove the bolts as you indicate
- Remove muffler with the transmission side bracket (unbolt from transmission)
- Undo the two bolts you wanted to from the bottom with a socket and extension.
The two bolts that are circled are locked in place and will not turn. The other side has two recessed nuts that you can remove fairly easily if you know where to put the wrench.
I use a stubby ratchet once it breaks free to make it easier to get some turns.
Thanks for the reply and the pics.
The problem with removing the two bolts from the other side is that I can't get my arm/hand up there and I'm not a big guy.
There is a steel bracket in the way - do some remove this?
I can't believe replacing a muffler could be so difficult. No wonder the mechanics charge so much.
I removed my muffler when preparing access for my mechanic to remove my transmission.
If that is a pic of the underside of your car... you've more **************** to remove so you can gain access to those nuts. Patience, patience, patience. Remove the traingle covver... everything that might be in the way of the muffler.
FWIW... that's what I execised because those two nuts can be a ********************. Good luck.
Thanks for the reply.
The silver piece of metal where the red arrow is pointing on my pic, can this be removed or is it holding something important in place?
Since I'm doing Boxster stuff today...
If everything else is clear of the muffler, yes. The allen bolts are threaded on the inside and screw onto studs on the muffler:
I'm still wondering why it is impossible to remove those two nuts. I am of fairly standard proportions, losing some flexibility now over 60 years old, 6' tall, 190lbs, and wear size (L) gloves. On my 2004 S I can reach the nuts without trouble and don't need to remove anything or jack the car up to do it.
I first break the nuts free with a standard 3/8 ratchet and 13mm socket, then remove it with a shorter wrench.
I am exceptional in many ways, but have no skills as a mechanic other than being stubborn and persistent.
Thank you for that info and I appreciate the images, I shall remove the allen key bolts seeing as I can't seem to get to the two nuts on the other side.
I wonder why no-one has ever mentioned this way of removing the muffler, and I must have seen 25 videos and read lots of articles.
I can't even get under the back of the car without jacking it up, let alone reach up to the nuts. ?? Exceptional? You must be!
