LarryN

My car was at Andial for regular service and to check the 'spongy brake pedal' - figured it just needed to be bled, although I had noticed the ABS activating while backing down my driveway lately.

Outcome: Andial reports that I have an early '95 that falls under the Technical Bulletin quoted below and will need replacement Control and Hydraulic units - $2,628 including labor. <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

So at this point I'm thinking that just when I thought I had learned about all of the trouble spots for my car I get this lovely news. And since I just booked the family summer vacation, this will have to wait in the financial queue...

Then, an archive search produced this thread
<a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=003315" target="_blank">Topic: Defected ABS hydraulic unit for 95?</a>

Guess I will look for a second opinion.

For those who are curious, I have a copy only of page (1) of (4) of this bulletin, which I have typed in below. Note that it does not say why or if there is a symptom or any problem really at all. Note also that they continued to install the old unit until the stock was used up.

[quote]
Technical Bulletin:
Subject: "ABS - System, Hydraulic Unit and Control Unit"
Part Identifier 4530 Number 9407 Dated August 30, 1994

Attention: Service Manager/Service Technician

Model Affected: 911 Carrera, Model Year 1995

Concern: As of March 1994, revised hydraulic units and control units are being installed in production for the ABS/ABD systems.

Part Numbers: The Porsche part numbers remain the same. Identification of the old and new versions can only be done through serial number or manufacturing date of the ABS/ABD control unit.

993 618 125 00 - ABS Control Unit
993 355 955 00 - ABS Hydraulic Unit
993 618 126 00 - ABS/ABD Control Unit
993 355 955 50 - ABS/ABD Hydraulic Unit

(2 small drawings of the Hydraulic and Control units)

Repair Information: After stocks of the present hydraulic units and control units are used up, only the new version will be available.

(warnings about replacing both units together only)
<hr></blockquote>

-Larry

Greg Fishman

That stinks.
Did you buy the car new? or used from a dealer?
Might try to sweet talk them into paying for part or all of the repairs through their "goodwill" warranty.
Maybe contact Porsche North America also.

Greg

tom_993

Sounds like this only effects cars built before March '94. I think this was pretty early in the '95 model year. Larry, what is your VIN?

LarryN

[quote]That stinks.
Did you buy the car new? or used from a dealer?
Might try to sweet talk them into paying for part or all of the repairs through their "goodwill" warranty.
Maybe contact Porsche North America also.

Greg <hr></blockquote>

Thanks Greg. Bought it used 2+ yrs ago, 49k miles (just turned 60k the other day). So I doubt that I would get too far going to the local dealer, although perhaps I should try there for the second opinion and then if it comes down to it try contacting PCNA.
-Larry

LarryN

[quote] Sounds like this only effects cars built before March '94. I think this was pretty early in the '95 model year.
Larry, what is your VIN? <hr></blockquote>

Tom, it's WPOAA2996SS322146
-Larry

tom_993

Interesting, the serial number of your VIN is much later than mine. I don’t recall my build date (it might be March ’94!). Check the panel on your door frame and look at your build date. If it’s later than March ’94, I don’t see how this TSB would apply to you.

hn

Larry,

My car was built in 12/94. Andial told me exactly the same thing when i brought it in for the same spongy brake pedal feel. I'd got an email from member here for the tip and had my brake system flushed at another shop for $70. The problem is completely gone. Since your car is due for a 60k service which includes the brake flush (?) the service work may solve the problem.

Andial may lose its touch without Pete.

Hope yours is the same as mine.

LarryN

I'll take a look at the build date on my door frame, seem to recall checking before and that my car is not actually an 'early 95'.

In thinking about it, it seems to me that the purpose of the bulletin is just to alert service managers/technicians that if they need to replace one or the other of the units, that they have to be aware that to identify whether it's an older or newer unit and make sure that it matches with the one they replace it with. It's not alerting that an the early unit is defective just because it's an early one.

hn - thanks, $70 is certainly worth a try. Perhaps you can email me with the shop you used. BTW, just paid $225 for L.O.F., and you might be right about Pete - though I hope he is enjoying his retirement.

-Larry

LAURIER

My VIN is xxx2268 and was built in 10/94. Most Porsche model years start after July production of the previous year. My guess is that your car was built in August or September 1994, well after the change was made in 3/94 to correct the problem.

grungyspeed

I had this problem with my early 95 and my dealer covered it under Porsche "goodwill". It also significantly changed the feel of my steering. The pump that went bad also controlled the steering.

TrackMan

[quote]Originally posted by LarryN:
<strong>

Tom, it's WPOAA2996 SS 322146
-Larry</strong><hr></blockquote>

Larry:

SS in your serial # indicates that it was built in the "second run" of '95 model year production that started in August of 1994. Based on the # probably a November '94 build date, give or take a month.

LarryN

Build date on my door is 10/94. Shouldn't fall into the tech bulletin in question by my reasoning...

Next step is another shop. Will provide follow up when this happens.
-Larry

Ray Calvo

8/94 build date; 69K miles and no problems. System gets bled/flushed several times a year with Motive Products bleeder.

Tito

Hi,
I have a build date of Feb '94 and 79,000 miles. Todate, I have had none of the problems mentioned here. Needless to say they will develop as soon as I hit the 'post reply' icon.
Tito.

HueyN

Hey Guys,

When you all say early '95 made cars, what exactly do you mean? If the sticker on the door panel says 2/95, is that considered an early buily '95 built car or later?

Thanks

-Huey