Hello all,
I just signed up here and I'm looking for some information and a more lively Porsche forum. I purchased a 93 968 about a year ago, and with a couple of minor issues have been ridiculously happy with it so far (light years ahead of the old 944 I was driving.)
I took a look at the sight glass on the tiptronic (should have been doing it more frequently) and noticed it was a bit low, and looked like it could use a change. I delved into the owners manual for some basic information, and all I managed to uncover was that the transmission was in the rear, and it did in fact use ATF. Not a single word about maintenance except go to a dealer.
Is there a procedure and possibly a parts list for this transmission that any of you know about? If I have to I will take it to an independant shop here in Bremerton WA (the fellow who owns it is the PCA chapter president) but I would rather have the experience of doing it myself. It is a labor of love don't you know.
I would appreciate any help you can give me, and I look forward to talking to all of you again.

Micah

 

This is a 48K service item.

 

Thanks for the quick response Bruce. I suppose I need a little additional clarification. Is there a way to get accurate ATF temp without the Bosch Hammer? Also, is there a recommended way to fill the transmission? Thanks again for your help.

 

Hi micah
can I ask in what way your 968 is "light years ahead of the 944"?
I only ask because I recently put a post on another forum about my recent underwhelming experience in a manual 968cab. Having driven a clubsport and liked it, but felt it wasnt a daily driving car (I need rear seats) and because I fancied a cab, and because I didnt really like the styling on the coupes as much, ive been looking for a suitable cab for a year now to replace my 944 2.7. They always sem to get sold before I get to them, but I got a first drive in one last week. very disappointed. Didnt feel grunty. felt too soft, easy to drive. quick but no sense of excitement or speed. soft uncommunicative brakes. variocam seemed to do liitle until >4000rpm which, on UK roads, meant I hardly got to get it going. In short, uninspiring. I'm curious as to whether this experience is due to that car, or whether its just the nature of the model and I'm used to the rather more primitive nature of my 944. I really need to drive another one, but as I said, they are rare. hence I'm canvassing opinion
Bit off topic I know but any thoughts?
regards
tim

 

I've owned a 944, 968 coupe, and now 968 cab. You must've driven a poor example, they're worlds apart.

 

I guess you could remove the fill plug and use a thermometer?

I would go for a 10 mile or so drive, then get the car off the ground and level as quickly as possible to check the level. Although at this point I would say the important thing is to change the fluid with the correct amount of new fluid.

 

I will be working on this the next couple of days (my weekend) and will post how it goes. Thanks again Bruce.
Tim- My last was an 87 944, and I loved that car like I had loved no other before. I started looking around for a replacement after some fool changed lanes and sideswiped me. I had become familiar with the 968 in the interim, and I found a few for sale in the Seattle area. The first one I drove was everything about the 944 I loved, but even more so. I haven't experienced any of the problems you have written about.
I would try to find another example to try. If you want to convenience of a Lux model, but the suspension of a CS, you are in luck. There is a model called the 968 Sport that was only available in the UK. I would look a bit more, but ultimately, if you loved the 2.7 944, find another one. It's all about the love, and I wouldn't want to interrupt anyones affair with their Porsche wahtever the flavor.

 

The good news first.... I was much more afraid of the tiptronic trans than I needed to be. It's pretty simple to do the fluid change. The bad news is that the filter and gasket are a litle hard to come by. The dealer couldn't get it for me without about a weeks lead time, and that surely wasn't going to fly. I ended up going through an independant volkswaken shop that had run down parts for my 944 when I still had that. They charged me about half what the dealer asked, both were genuine Porsche parts, and had it for me the next morning. Total cost about 40 bucks. If you live in the Seattle area, the company is called Bow-Wow, and they are located in Lynnwood. Not a shameless plug folks, just honest folks to deal with. Thanks for your help Bruce....
Regards,
Micah