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This is hands down one of the best threads out here...finally some + interactions. I think this thread should always be bumped to the top of all the 996 threads! Keep posting...
What a great thread. I got my car a short time ago, it didn't have many miles on it at all. I read the horror stories and decided to replace the things in the stories. I don't regret it but after reading this thread I now believe the car will outlast me. My suggestion is for anyone that doesn't own one of these cars is to go buy one today, if the information on this thread becomes well known prices will double!
2002 C2 Targa Tiptronic -- 169,xxx miles; all original engine, original IMS; change synthetic oil every 3K miles; runs great.
Some cosmetics starting to show (wood veneer detaching in some places; chrome peeling from wheels. Leather seats/interior in fantastic shape (garaged and/or covered its entire life.
Went tot he dealer this weekend to get parts for my car. Just had to wonder around the sales lot because you know. Anyway there were 2 sales guys come out to look at my 996 C4 and started asking all kinds of questions. Seemed the older one wanted it.
Surprisingly, it was not IMS or RMS related. At the time, my mechanic and I thought it was a blown head gasket. There was even coolant coming out of the exhaust pipes. But we did not do an engine tear down, so we can't say for sure.
With the benefit of hindsight, I would now guess that it was a cracked cylinder head.
Edited to add additional information which may be of interest: It actually began as a problem with the Variocam Plus system. The problem would cause at least one cylinder to shut down occasionally. If I remember correctly, my mechanic determined this from some engine computer error codes.
12-21-2014, 12:03 AM
