11 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHTapping noise
Reported or suspected cause
diagnosed as tappets - and i have spoken
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
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 · Original poster
The problem was diagnosed as tappets - and I have spoken to owners and garages who have had a similar problem and basically have to eliminate possible causes one by one, which can become v.expensive.
Leading evidence: 'diagnosed as tappets - and i have spoken' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'diagnosed as tappets - and i have spoken' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace ...' can i ask you who is 'we'' (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 · Original poster
The car is performing fine in any other aspect and I initially thought it was a tappet noise, so we’ve changed the tappets, chain tensioner, timing chain guide – but the noise is still there.
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
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 did not "change the tappets, chain tensioner, timing chain guide" for the fun of 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
In your initial posting, when you say 'we changed...' can I ask you who is 'we'?
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
There, I just saved you from replacing the left side pistons.
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 · Original poster
The car is performing fine in any other aspect and I initially thought it was a tappet noise, so we’ve changed the tappets, chain tensioner, timing chain guide – but the noise is still there.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
diagnosed as tappets - and i have spoken
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 · Original poster
The problem was diagnosed as tappets - and I have spoken to owners and garages who have had a similar problem and basically have to eliminate possible causes one by one, which can become v.expensive.
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.
911uk: 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: 20261026T163944Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I have a 1998 996, which has recently started making an annoying tapping noise from the right hand bank, but when the revs are increased to around 1000, the noise seems to stop.
The car is performing fine in any other aspect and I initially thought it was a tappet noise, so we’ve changed the tappets, chain tensioner, timing chain guide – but the noise is still there.
If any one else has had a similar problem or knows what this is, please let me know asap.
Thanks
Migration info. Legacy thread was 138762
"so we’ve changed the tappets, chain tensioner, timing chain guide"
Man, that's a lot of work just to avoid diagnosing the real problem.
Migration info. Legacy thread was 139498
In response to the last message.... I did not "change the tappets, chain tensioner, timing chain guide" for the fun of it.
The problem was diagnosed as tappets - and I have spoken to owners and garages who have had a similar problem and basically have to eliminate possible causes one by one, which can become v.expensive.
The worst case I have heard about required an engine rebuild – so if you have any useful suggestions on “diagnosing the real problem” then please let me know.
Migration info. Legacy thread was 139814
Don't get mad at me, buddy. I'm not the one who talked you into a top end teardown to find nothing. "Eliminating possible causes one by one" does not generally entail dewrenching half an engine because of a notion. If you paid a mechanic to do this unnecessary work because he haphazardly "diagnosed" a nonexistant problem, what amount would you have happily paid? I doubt many people would answer with a very high number. And apparently, you DID "change the tappets, chain tensioner, timing chain guide for the fun of it". You still have a broken car.
Finally, even though you did ask quite snottily (sic?), I will give you a diagnosis suggestion. Have you yet put a timing light on the engine at idle so you can see if the sound is timed to the crankshaft, camshaft, or occurs randomly? There, I just saved you from replacing the left side pistons.
Migration info. Legacy thread was 139832
Actually W Donovan does have a point there. The first rule of project management is "First define the problem".
You do seem to have been let down by imprecise diagnostics.
For peace of mind it would be a good idea - as with medical diagnoses to get a second and third +++ opinion. (like the guy in the news this week who was given weeks to live and then they found he wasn't dying).
Try all local independent Porsche specialists.
A good point about the strobe flash - here's another - use a wooden stick to the ear to listen to the engine areas to narrow down the search. A cheap stethoscope off ebay would also be useful.
Also - search Pelican.com and Rennlist.com for users who might have solved this problem.
Try Ray Northway at Northway Porsche on 01189714333 - he's out of your area but very helpful and has come across most problems in his time.
Must be extremely frustrating.
Migration info. Legacy thread was 139844
Hi K8 Jones. Welcome to the forum. It's usually a friendly place to be but anyway....
In your initial posting, when you say 'we changed...' can I ask you who is 'we'? If it was done under a garage who has given you a warranty for their work done, I'd suggest to take it back there and say you are not satisfied with the results. If it's not under warranty (which I am suspecting) then I'd take on Stevo's advice and see if any of the other local indies will do a free inspection for you before asking them for a quote for any work done. I'd even speak to an OPC for their opinion too (they may well have come across this phenomenon). Sorry can't offer anything more useful to you.
~ Maxie
Migration info. Legacy thread was 139902
hi- k8 jones try Barry tonge at River Bank garage bolton.(01204 370352) he defo knows his stuff ,honest,and is a porsche maniac who wont nail yer cap on for sure. good luck
Migration info. Legacy thread was 141099
Fiirst of all, thankyou for all your comments, however i would like to say that i have owned porsches for over 25 years, have written articles for porsche post and have an understanding of all porche models. However, i can honestly say that this is the first time that i have been unable to diagnose a problem on a porsche.
All of your suggestions had already been tried prior to posting the article, and thanks once again.
Through my contacts i have been able to speak to several people, porsche G.B(Reading) had a 996 with the same problem, stripped it down, but to no avail. Two other official poersche centers have listened to my vehicle without being able to pinpoint it. Four other independant porsche specialists have been unable to diagnose it, and at some time all have come across the same thing before.
In posting the article i was hoping that there may be someone out there who has had the same problem and been able to pinpoint and remedy it. So if there is please contact me, but in the meantime i would be grateful if you could all keep your suggestions coming in.
Thankyou.
Migration info. Legacy thread was 141174
Hi again k8 Jones; a neighbour of mine uses a dedicated Porsche mechanic based in North London (which I know is far out of your way). You could try describing the problem to Chris on: 020 8451 6000.
~ Maxie
Migration info. Legacy thread was 141681
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
