Engine Failure in 996
Just a car guy
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From: South Lyon, Michigan, Ewe Ess Eh
The car has 170 000 km now. The motor was replaced with another 99 mother when the car had 90 000 km. Mileage on the motor when it went in is not known (work was done in Japan). Porsche says to leave it alone, and not do anything until the clutch needs to be done (Lol, my car is an automatic ...). It is not known if the IMS was replaced at that point, but PO said it was. Also not known if the IMS is Porsche or aftermarket.
$4000 cdn is a hefty price to pay. Bump that up to $5500 cdn if I want to do the RMS. RMS is not leaking at all.
I have not had the sump dropped.
$4000 cdn is a hefty price to pay. Bump that up to $5500 cdn if I want to do the RMS. RMS is not leaking at all.
I have not had the sump dropped.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 8,050
Likes: 819
From: Kauai
The car has 170 000 km now. The motor was replaced with another 99 mother when the car had 90 000 km. Mileage on the motor when it went in is not known (work was done in Japan). Porsche says to leave it alone, and not do anything until the clutch needs to be done (Lol, my car is an automatic ...). It is not known if the IMS was replaced at that point, but PO said it was. Also not known if the IMS is Porsche or aftermarket.
$4000 cdn is a hefty price to pay. Bump that up to $5500 cdn if I want to do the RMS. RMS is not leaking at all.
I have not had the sump dropped.
$4000 cdn is a hefty price to pay. Bump that up to $5500 cdn if I want to do the RMS. RMS is not leaking at all.
I have not had the sump dropped.
You are getting price gauged on that! Takes 15- 20 min max (with engine out) to change and the part is ($25.00) cheap...I suggest you research all replacement parts cost if you're not doing your own work.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 8,050
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From: Kauai
Maalco, sorry for the thread drift.
Jim this should be discussed in your own thread.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 459
Likes: 26
From: WA
Sorry to hear about your engine troubles, OP. Like many here, I'd like to hear more details regarding the cause of the failure.
My 996 is currently in the shop with engine troubles (broken oil scavenging pump and intake valve spring).
Mike
My 996 is currently in the shop with engine troubles (broken oil scavenging pump and intake valve spring).
Mike
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From: South Florida
I did my research too (over the years that I've been looking for one) but it's the "just fail w/no warning at all" even if you've taken proper care of it that's got me spooked.
I've got the money to rebuild the engine if it became necessary but who even wants to worry about that? And we're not even talking about the IMS. We're talking about timing chain failures in the 2 most recent engine blow ups and that really wasn't on my radar; only the IMS was.
So, I will have to give some serious thought to flipping my 996 to avoid the need to worry about it.
My MR2 Spyder has given me 15 years of problem and carefree use and, while it's not a 996, it is a rag top 2 seater that tracks like it's on rails and is a heck of a lot of fun to drive even if it is down on power. The plan was actually to sell the MR2 after I got the 996 but the way it looks, I just might sell the 996 and keep the MR2.
We'll see . . .
I've got the money to rebuild the engine if it became necessary but who even wants to worry about that? And we're not even talking about the IMS. We're talking about timing chain failures in the 2 most recent engine blow ups and that really wasn't on my radar; only the IMS was.
So, I will have to give some serious thought to flipping my 996 to avoid the need to worry about it.
My MR2 Spyder has given me 15 years of problem and carefree use and, while it's not a 996, it is a rag top 2 seater that tracks like it's on rails and is a heck of a lot of fun to drive even if it is down on power. The plan was actually to sell the MR2 after I got the 996 but the way it looks, I just might sell the 996 and keep the MR2.
We'll see . . .
Captain Obvious
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From: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
The rear main seal is a $40 part and takes less than half an hour to replace when the flywheel is already off. $250 extra is a huge overcharge.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2015
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Boy, the more I read these days, the more dismal the 996 ownership thing becomes. I believe 2 this week on this board and 1 on the 986 board.
Now I am curious since I've had two LN Retrofits installed on two cars. Both by certified installers with no problems to date. My question is, the Retrofit has now been around long enough that there must be some historic data on these? What is the failure rate on these? I am hoping super low.
Lastly, the IMSB was the big issue and now it seems chains are popping off. My mechanic told me to wait and get a 3 chain due to reliability and then I've read here 5 chains are better and more robust. Not sure if he was talking chain specifically or engine in total. These cars seem to have more do's and don'ts. Is there any preventative stuff we can do regarding chains?
If it wasn't for the sales tax I just paid, I would definitely get rid of mine now. The thought of a car losing 2/3's of it value due to some flaw is really hard to grip and dropping another 25k for a fancy rebuild just seems like I should have bought a turbo.
What is a 02 guard red C4S roller worth?
Now I am curious since I've had two LN Retrofits installed on two cars. Both by certified installers with no problems to date. My question is, the Retrofit has now been around long enough that there must be some historic data on these? What is the failure rate on these? I am hoping super low.
Lastly, the IMSB was the big issue and now it seems chains are popping off. My mechanic told me to wait and get a 3 chain due to reliability and then I've read here 5 chains are better and more robust. Not sure if he was talking chain specifically or engine in total. These cars seem to have more do's and don'ts. Is there any preventative stuff we can do regarding chains?
If it wasn't for the sales tax I just paid, I would definitely get rid of mine now. The thought of a car losing 2/3's of it value due to some flaw is really hard to grip and dropping another 25k for a fancy rebuild just seems like I should have bought a turbo.
What is a 02 guard red C4S roller worth?
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Joined: Oct 2014
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From: L.I. NY
Dont know, yet. AAAPremiere has a 200 mile towing limit and I was further than that from home when the engine failed.
But, my farm in NC was inside the limit so had it towed there. The car is three hours away from me now and I have commitments this weekend and travel for work next week so it will be a while before I can get the car.
That being said, I suspect IMS. But, it could be any one or a combination of the 31 failure modes.
But, my farm in NC was inside the limit so had it towed there. The car is three hours away from me now and I have commitments this weekend and travel for work next week so it will be a while before I can get the car.
That being said, I suspect IMS. But, it could be any one or a combination of the 31 failure modes.
^^^ Future "Barn Find" right there
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From: L.I. NY
Happens all the time. I lost the engine in my 2001 Boxster (68K miles) last Thursday in NC on the way to a Porsche event. I was 10 miles from the hotel just cruising along. Heard a muffled noise for a second or two then the dashboard lit up, engine shut down and that was it.
Yeah, I get it, but my point was more that I bet there are tell tale symptoms, noises etc. (albeit very subtle) that are generally dismissed out of hand as "normal"... until something like this happens. One I can think of right off the bat is, chain noise when starting the engine. It pretty much happens on all these engines good or bad when starting - maybe in some cases there is damage being done unbeknownst to us? Maybe once the chain pads wear, the chains start to contact the metal parts of the tensioners causing said damage/wear. Or, perhaps there was a batch of bad chains that just give up the ghost without warning - this is the most disconcerting possibility, and the one that just scares the crap out of everyone
Just a car guy
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From: South Lyon, Michigan, Ewe Ess Eh
I also know those Canadian doellers don't go as far as US dollars.
Last edited by Scott at Team Harco; Sep 20, 2019 at 03:43 PM.
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
Boy, the more I read these days, the more dismal the 996 ownership thing becomes. I believe 2 this week on this board and 1 on the 986 board.
Now I am curious since I've had two LN Retrofits installed on two cars. Both by certified installers with no problems to date. My question is, the Retrofit has now been around long enough that there must be some historic data on these? What is the failure rate on these? I am hoping super low.
Lastly, the IMSB was the big issue and now it seems chains are popping off. My mechanic told me to wait and get a 3 chain due to reliability and then I've read here 5 chains are better and more robust. Not sure if he was talking chain specifically or engine in total. These cars seem to have more do's and don'ts. Is there any preventative stuff we can do regarding chains?
Now I am curious since I've had two LN Retrofits installed on two cars. Both by certified installers with no problems to date. My question is, the Retrofit has now been around long enough that there must be some historic data on these? What is the failure rate on these? I am hoping super low.
Lastly, the IMSB was the big issue and now it seems chains are popping off. My mechanic told me to wait and get a 3 chain due to reliability and then I've read here 5 chains are better and more robust. Not sure if he was talking chain specifically or engine in total. These cars seem to have more do's and don'ts. Is there any preventative stuff we can do regarding chains?
I need to decide whether I want to "invest" anymore $ in my 996 to fix various things that need to (but do not "have" to be) fixed or just sell it "as is" (which is how I got it) in order to avoid the need to worry about the engine blowing up on me unexpectedly.
Don't even have the pink slip yet and am going on a 2 week trip overseas in a couple of days. So, any decision will have to wait til I get back.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 842
Likes: 70
From: Clemson, South Carolina
Yeah, I get it, but my point was more that I bet there are tell tale symptoms, noises etc. (albeit very subtle) that are generally dismissed out of hand as "normal"... until something like this happens. One I can think of right off the bat is, chain noise when starting the engine. It pretty much happens on all these engines good or bad when starting - maybe in some cases there is damage being done unbeknownst to us? Maybe once the chain pads wear, the chains start to contact the metal parts of the tensioners causing said damage/wear. Or, perhaps there was a batch of bad chains that just give up the ghost without warning - this is the most disconcerting possibility, and the one that just scares the crap out of everyone