swmic

A month of so ago, I purchased two Bosch direct replacement O2 sensors, I think from Amazon, for $155. They are the two for before the cat.

Blaine S

Jeff - IMHO do what you have to do to fix the SAI and get the 993 on the road and enjoy. With 123k on the clock and clogged SAI ports, at some point there will be more work to be done and you can sort things at that point. Just remember that the SAI issue is really more of one for getting past the MA inspection, the car should perform just as well with our without setting off the SAI CEL. The root cause can be sorted later as long as you aren't going through too much oil.

nile13

Yes.

Essentially, all the O2 sensors are the same at the sensor level. There are varieties that have to do with whether the sensor is heated (1, 3 or 4-wire), and whether the sensor is model-specific or universal (plug-in or splice in).

You simply have to buy the sensor with the right number of wires. If you feel particularly co-pathetic to your mechanic, you can but the model-specific one from Pelican or Sunset, so he can't beach and moan that he has to splice a few wires in.

JeffC

Another update. And not a good one. The shop has been at the SAI thing for 3 days without getting some of the ports clear. It appears some clogs are in the cylinder heads and they want to remove the heads. I guess this has to be done, so what else should be done when the heads are off? Is there a local (MA) shop someone would recommend for the head work?

Thanks again for all the advice and help,

Jeff

Deadeye

Call Jerry @ EPE in Natick. 508-651-1316 He's the real deal.

Blaine S

I agree with Dennis. I just had Jerry do a bunch of work on my car. PM me if you have any questions. Here is a pic of my heads showing "open" SAI ports that are coated with carbon and would eventually close up and trigger the CEL.

Slow Guy

Are you sure you weren't quoted $500 for all 4 sensors? $500 per is highway robbery IMHO. They're just Bosch sensors, another place to price shop is AutohausAZ.com.

JeffC

It turns out the shop guy misunderstood the parts guy ....etc. Yes, the price was around $500 for 4.

Jeff

vjd3

I'm sorry I haven't been checking in much lately, I would have weighed in earlier.

Jeff, I'm afraid you might be headed down a road you'd rather not travel here with this particular shop.

When I bought my 97 off a local guy (I am on the South Shore in Marshfield), it came to me with no CEL light and throwing error codes. (I discovered this when I brought it in for its inspection.) Subsequent checking found that the previous owner was having it serviced at a local foreign car place that had some experience, but not much, with Porsches. Two years earlier, when it failed inspection, they basically charged him a fortune ($3k or so) to replace a bunch of parts (including the MAF) and hoses that had nothing to do with the SAI issue, managed to get it past inspection anyway, then removed the CEL light so he wouldn't know about it.

I would not let that shop touch your heads, or anything else if I could avoid it. They probably don't really know what they are doing. You really want someone who knows the ins and outs of the 993. They may be good mechanics, but these cars are pretty specific in their foibles.

Even though my car was throwing SAI error codes, I was still able to get a $39 OBDII code reader, reset the light, drive the car around for a day until I got all the readiness codes set (monitoring the reader constantly) then get it inspected and pass. As soon as all seven were set, I pretty much veered right into a gas station that does inspections. As I drove away with the sticker, the light came back on. I would highly recommend you take that strategy instead of having a shop with limited experience mess around on your dime trying to fix the problem.

If the car is running well and not using oil, I would leave well enough alone until the next inspection comes around. If the car needs attention, the best thing to do is have the top end redone, which will cure everything, SAI included. Your valves guides are likely shot -- at least the exhaust ones -- mine were at 60k miles. You can have Jerry at EPE do it -- he is the best in the Boston area, in my opinion. Or, if you are patient, you can take it up to New Hampshire and have Mark Nadler at Exotech do it for a bit less, but it will take a while.

How much are these folks charging you?

Slow Guy

I really hate to add this to your concerns but if the shop guy didn't pick up on the fact the O2 sensors are nowhere near $500 ea I would question how much experience he has with these cars.

I do wish you the best of luck getting this resolved.

henkinc

Actually, even if only 2 of the error codes (or flags on my $130 Equus OBDII) are showing, I believe you can pass. I did so today. The flags still showing were O2S and Cat, obviously related to the emissions system and as yet not "read" by the computer - hence the passage. For the life of me I do not know why the station accpets the state of the computer with two codes not "ready" but this has happened twice to me now.(Charlie from Arlington, VA)

JeffC

Update for Dennis. Sorry, can't call 'cause I am on hold with the IRS. Anyway, the original shop couldn't get the passageways cleaned out and I wasn't comfortable with them taking the heads off so the car has been moved to Sports Imports where Scott will continue the clean out. He has experience with this unfortunately he is on vacation this week. So the saga continues.

Jeff

JeffC

The saga is complete. I received this sticker yesterday. Thanks for all your knowledge and help. I will get the car cleaned up (dirty from sitting in shop for 3 months) and take pictures and formally introduce us to the list.

Jeff

95_993

Nice!!! Congratulations....now you can enjoy.

Join us for the drive to Limerock this Saturday morning.