Hi everyone. This is my first day as a Rennlist member.

My name is Simon Shearer and I have recently sold my '91 964 cpe and bought what looked like a very nice low-mileage '95 993 cab (#76; manufactured 1/94 with '95 VIN).

It's a 1995 Porsche 911 (993) Cabriolet [3.6L; Tiptronic; Aventura Green Metallic; 32K miles].

I bought this one in February 2003 (from a guy out west - its history is Dallas, then Phoenix - I'm 3rd owner) and have had quite a few problems with it.

Help anyone?

a) the cabriolet top motors keep failing. I purchased two windshield locking motors from LA Porsche dismantlers for $250 each and both have failed in under 3 months. They intermittantly work at the moment and currently they unlock (nearly completely), the warning light is on permanently (even after I try to lock the top back down again - it doesn't feel "locked" properly), and then nothing happens - the rear motor(s?) don't kick in like they did up to a week ago. Any thoughts on the reason and what I can do?

b) the Tiptronic transmission "clunks." Sometimes it is smooth as silk, other times it is rough just into 4th, other times from 2nd into 3rd as well. Any ideas? My 964 had a fabulously smooth Tip trans.

c) don't know if it is transmission (or engine problem below) but this is supposed to have a higher HP engine than the 964 I had, but it seems more gutless than the 964 was.

d) there is a very annoying sound that the engine(?) makes when I depress the gas pedal. It is a combination of hiss, squeal and whine. If I lightly pump the gas, the sound rises and falls with it. It sounds like air rushing out - that made me think there was something connected with the gutless performance...again, any ideas?

Lots (too many!) problems - sounds like a lemon I'm afraid - at this stage I need to get some stuff fixed so I don't feel so bad!

Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Simon

 

Welcome, Simon. Do you have a record of the 30K major service? If so, was anything noted? Transmission fluid changed? Plugs (12), filters (air, 2 oil, 2 pollen), belts changed and tension adjusted? Brake fluid flushed? It's all in the service manual. If you have any doubt that any of this was done or done properly, I would find a good independent and get it done. About $1100 or DIY. Not cheap, but no point driving a gutless wonder. I can't help with the cab top.

 

You might require the tiptronic gearbox service.

 

With regard to item B, disconnect your battery for a few minutes and allow the computer to re-set itself. Sounds strange, but it worked for me.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Simon Shearer:
<strong>
Help anyone?

a) the cabriolet top motors keep failing. I purchased two windshield locking motors from LA Porsche dismantlers for $250 each and both have failed in under 3 months. They intermittantly work at the moment and currently they unlock (nearly completely), the warning light is on permanently (even after I try to lock the top back down again - it doesn't feel "locked" properly), and then nothing happens - the rear motor(s?) don't kick in like they did up to a week ago. Any thoughts on the reason and what I can do?

</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Simon:

Regarding the top, are the motors in the front not locking (ie, do they click over and over again and fail to lock the top down)?

FYI on those motors, used ones are used ones. They can burn out. The constant "clicking" when it is trying to engage is the sign of a burned out motor.

As far as the rear motors, what is the problem here? Is it that the top won't close all the way and "stops" about an inch from the windshield? If so, you need to assist the top down. This problem is caused by 1) leaving the top down too long, or 2) too tight of a top (which can be adjusted). I had to make 5 or 6 adjustments to my top to get it to close without assisting it when I left the top down too long.

 

Welcome Simon.

For your performance problems, I'll go on a long shot and say to check your dual distributor for a belt failure. Do you get any pinging on accelleration? When I first got my 95, I had a failed belt. It was pinging like crazy, but disconnecting the secondary distributor makes the pinging stop a good deal but then drives like you're down about 50 to 100 horses. For a quick and dirty check, pull the main lead to the primary distributor cap (the one driven straight off the shaft) and try and start the car. If it fails to start on the secondary alone but will start on the primary alone, you'll know instantly that there's your culprit. Not a lot published about this little belt failure on 993's but it can and does happen.

For the squeal/whine/hiss. Can you isolate it in the engine bay to a specific area? I get a hissing air sound from the air injection pump(?) but only for a few minutes. If not that, what about the roller that rides on the alternator belt? Try pulling it away off of the belt and see if that makes your sound go away. If that is is you should be able to grease it up. See <a href="http://www.p-car.com" target="_blank">www.p-car.com</a> for DIY instructions on that one.

Hope these help at all. Long shots I know, but I'm a hopeless optimist in the "simple solution."

 

My Tip is also a little "clunky" from 3rd to 4th - but not always (clunky meaning a snatchy pick up?). No problems with other changes. Other guys with Tips have also reported this. Your 993 should be just as quick as the 964, sounds like it could do with some technical TLC.

Good luck - report back if you solve the problems.

PJC

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by TR:
<strong>With regard to item B, disconnect your battery for a few minutes and allow the computer to re-set itself. Sounds strange, but it worked for me.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">For a moment I was getting VERY depressed about this, because when I took the car to my mechanic, he contacted Porsche and found a Technical Service Bulleting on this subject: "If a customer complains of rough shifting from the Tiptronic transmission, the hydraulic control unit valve body and TCM should be replaced." $3,723 (the quote) later...I would be right as rain.

Instead of leaping into this replacement, I took advice from TR (hearing BS911 in the background with his: "Long shots I know, but I'm a hopeless optimist in the "simple solution.") and disconnected the battery for a couple of minutes.

Three minutes later I reconnected it...and took the car on the smoothest 25 mile run I've had since I've owned it!!

I certainly got my monies worth out of RENNLIST membership!

Thanks guys, I owe you one! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Simon Shearer
'95 993 Cabriolet

 

probably not the cause of the above problems, but, has the original wiring harness recall been taken care of?? good luck with the 'new' car, max

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by max911:
<strong>probably not the cause of the above problems, but, has the original wiring harness recall been taken care of?? good luck with the 'new' car, max</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">No it hasn't. I've been reading about so many post-recall problems with expensive a/cond problems...I'm a little wary of doing it...what are the consequences of not replacing the harness? What was the original reason for the recall?

Regards,
Simon
'95 993 Cabriolet

 

Simon, best of luck with these issues. Don't worry, you will sort them all out. And I have to give a plug for the Tip trans--it is really an enjoyable transmission once you learn all its features and quirks, which does take some time.

Re the wiring harness, you are already in the best possible place for that info:

<a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=006121;p=1" target="_blank">http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=006121;p=1</a>

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Simon Shearer:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by max911:
<strong>probably not the cause of the above problems, but, has the original wiring harness recall been taken care of?? good luck with the 'new' car, max</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">No it hasn't. I've been reading about so many post-recall problems with expensive a/cond problems...I'm a little wary of doing it...what are the consequences of not replacing the harness? What was the original reason for the recall?

Regards,
Simon
'95 993 Cabriolet</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Welcome to the board Simon, take care of the recall asap. It will not cost you anything and you will avoid a lot of headackes. There have been cars on fire because of the harness which is THE most important piece of equipment in your car. The problem in a nut shell was that due to the materials used on the original harness the protective rubber would crack, melt etc with the obvious results. Do an archive search and follow the links on E.J's website ( you can see the admin post ontop of the forum) where you will see the extend of the problem.

 

One last point...after re-connecting your battery,
you will need to find a road where you can put it in D, and hold the gas pedal to the floor.

You will need to do this several times.

It won't do anything to further cure the tip issues, but it is a hell of a lot of fun!!!!!

tr

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by TR:
<strong>One last point...after re-connecting your battery,
you will need to find a road where you can put it in D, and hold the gas pedal to the floor.

You will need to do this several times.

It won't do anything to further cure the tip issues, but it is a hell of a lot of fun!!!!!

tr</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I did!!

...and to feel the Tip changing smoothly was a dream come true!!

 

There is a great DIY on p-car.com that helps with top issues. I recently had to tear mine apart to se why it wasn't opening and closing well. This DIY was invaluable in helping diagnose and repair the problem.

I always hear a hiss from the engine, especially at idle -- it's the air feeding in at the filter (I have the motorsound cover with lots of holes). Have you tried to listen to the engine while a friend gives it gas to locate the source of the noise?