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Hi Everyone,
I am new here and not doing so great with first posts. Just posted the following in "New members section" and realized that was wrong. Is there a way to cross post between two forums? 996 and 991? See below. Since I can't figure out how to cross post... bringing the 996 question to top and will also post in 991 section. Or should I be using another forum?:
"Why am I here: My cousins husband passed away at 55 (heart). They live in my town (Sudbury MA). He had a 1999 996 Convertible with a Flat-6 Innovations Performance 1 engine AND a 2013 Porsche 911 Convertible bone stock with lower miles (56K). The 996 is now mine (more below). I will help cousin sell 2013- we have interest but not where we want to be $. I am looking for; 1. Advice on options with 996, and 2. Questions about sale price on 2013, where to list, etc.
996: 115K miles. Beautiful car. Its a mess. Windows don't work (won't go down- fuses are fine), Top doesn't work (dash light blinks -won't go down- fuses are fine), 2012 Top leaks (which probably flooded interior and body control box under driver seat causing the other electric issues?), and the single biggest concern: The $19K "Flat 6 innovations" engine (car shipped to GA for instal after bore score on original) fowls a plug and burns oil like crazy (1 quart per fill-up). It also seems to miss at low RPM and run fine at higher RPM- it could still be missing but less obvious. There is black soot on passenger side bumper above exhaust. Car passes inspection when plug is cleaned on bad cylinder. Maybe a ring? This car was given to me. My cost is null. I have all receipts since 2012 (close to 40K in receipts when engine is included). My cousin's husband was not mechanically inclined at all and paid for all service. I have driven the car through 1.5 tanks. Even with engine issue, its fast and fun. The handling is superb... way better than my 2019 Tahoe and Outback (Joke). From reading the 996 forums, the engine seems like a wormhole. Engine 1 failed. Engine 2, built by a pro, has something major wrong with it with less than 50K miles. All of this in 115K total miles on clock. I have found great advice in 996 forum on electronics. I will post questions there on each of the existing threads. Bigger question- what to do with it:
1. Sell it as is without spending a dime: How much? I would simply give all the money to cousins kids- all of them have worked for me at one time and I have given them cars for their "Hard work" (honda/toyota). 2. Add myself to insurance to avoid a sale, drive the daylights out of it until it dies then throw on CL or eBay: How much of a loss from 1st idea? How long can a car drive like this before self destruct? 3. Drop the engine, sell 996 Engine.. (how much?), and... here it comes gents, the fight of the day, do an LS engine swap over the next couple years. Probably give up and have neighbors complain about yard art. I can't fathom putting another 996 engine in it... even sinking money into repairing it doesn't seem wise.
Full post for those that are interested:
Hi Everyone! Trying my damndest to be succinct and will fail. A friend of mine recommended this Forum. My first post is in "New Member" but should probably go straight to 996 or a new section "Frugal people that shouldn't own a Porsche".
Why am I here: My cousins husband passed away at 55 (heart). They live in my town (Sudbury MA). He had a 1999 996 Convertible with a Flat-6 Innovations Performance 1 engine AND a 2013 Porsche 911 Convertible bone stock with lower miles (56K). The 996 is now mine (more below). I will help cousin sell 2013- we have interest but not where we want to be $. I am looking for; 1. Advice on options with 996, and 2. Questions about sale price on 2013, where to list, etc.
About Me: Important for 996 part. I grew up in suburb of STL. My first car was a non-running 1974 Porsche 914 that my dad and I bought for $700 when I was 14. Spent 2 years as father/son project (fantastic). It was hot from far and far from hot. 10 years later, bought an H1 Hummer on Ebay that needed a front driver axle AND had other small issues. Flew from Boston to LA with an axle- no other baggage. Had seller tow H1 (2 man pickup) to home depot parking lot- bought cheap tools, swapped axle in less than an hour and drove it 65 MPH back to Boston. Drove it around Boston for 4 years. Literally dozens of notes left on window telling me I was evil. Bought a salvage Jeep TJ and a clean title non-runner. Did complete frame swap parting extras for a very discounted custom Jeep. Had kids... all of that is gone. Why is the above important? I know a bit about cars and enjoy working on them. I also do take some risk... but am MUCH more practical now days and way more impatient now that I have kids and minimal time... and other projects.
996: 115K miles. Beautiful car. Its a mess. Windows don't work (won't go down- fuses are fine), Top doesn't work (dash light blinks -won't go down- fuses are fine), 2012 Top leaks (which probably flooded interior and body control box under driver seat causing the other electric issues?), and the single biggest concern: The $19K "Flat 6 innovations" engine (car shipped to GA for instal after bore score on original) fowls a plug and burns oil like crazy (1 quart per fill-up). It also seems to miss at low RPM and run fine at higher RPM- it could still be missing but less obvious. There is black soot on passenger side bumper above exhaust. Car passes inspection when plug is cleaned on bad cylinder. Maybe a ring? This car was given to me. My cost is null. I have all receipts since 2012 (close to 40K in receipts when engine is included). My cousin's husband was not mechanically inclined at all and paid for all service. I have driven the car through 1.5 tanks. Even with engine issue, its fast and fun. The handling is superb... way better than my 2019 Tahoe and Outback (Joke). From reading the 996 forums, the engine seems like a wormhole. Engine 1 failed. Engine 2, built by a pro, has something major wrong with it with less than 50K miles. All of this in 115K total miles on clock. I have found great advice in 996 forum on electronics. I will post questions there on each of the existing threads. Bigger question- what to do with it:
1. Sell it as is without spending a dime: How much? I would simply give all the money to cousins kids- all of them have worked for me at one time and I have given them cars for their "Hard work" (honda/toyota). 2. Add myself to insurance to avoid a sale, drive the daylights out of it until it dies then throw on CL or eBay: How much of a loss from 1st idea? How long can a car drive like this before self destruct? 3. Drop the engine, sell 996 Engine.. (how much?), and... here it comes gents, the fight of the day, do an LS engine swap over the next couple years. Probably give up and have neighbors complain about yard art. I can't fathom putting another 996 engine in it... even sinking money into repairing it doesn't seem wise.
Next subject: 2013 Porsche 911. 56K miles and perfect. Purchased used and dealer maintained at Nashua Porsche. Black ext gray interior. My family buying it- not going to happen. Doesn't fit my financial goals nor lifestyle. Also conflict of interest in terms of best deal for cousins kids which is where the money will go. I have a history of success on Ebay. The prices are all over the map. I typically search completed auctions and use successful sales as benchmark. Most likely I will throw it on there in 2 months. We are waiting for probate courts. I am thinking I start the auction at low trade in? I have not looked at Classified section here... will do that when I press save. Thoughts on pricing and any suggestions on places to list/sell/or drive interest?
Thank you in advance for any feedback... especially on the 996.
This is a tough one, I think it depends on what you want to do with the car. It might be worth it to have the engine checked out since that is probably the most valuable part of that car. I would imagine even with potential issues is still worth more than a normal vert would be given the circumstances.
On the 996 engine it could be as simple as a bad coil pack or spark plug on Bank 1. Is it throwing any codes/CEL on? I would recommend two things, get the Durametric software and scan the car. It will tell you all kinds of things. Second, with a FSI motor, give Jake a call and have him help you with diagnoses and decision making. 115K is nothing, particularly with an FSI engine.
Window issues and top issues are almost certainly fixable as they are common issues with older 996s assuming they aren't flood related. The flooding and the FSI engine issues i'm sure will get much discussion here from folks much more knowledgeable than me. Did the new FSI engine go in pre or post 2012 flooding issue?
As for the 2013, selling on BaT (bringatrailer.com) might be a good solution. Spent a few extra $ getting professional photos taken, provide as much maintenance info as you can, and let the market set its value. Seems to be a seller's market now, good luck and condolences to your cousin.
Interested to see who the purchaser was on this one. I remember them all.
More than likely the issue is something external, probably a fuel injector that’s leaking and it has a poor spray pattern.
submit a ticket through my site and we will be happy to help you.
Hi Everyone,
Thank you for the advice.
BYT for 2013- didn't think of that. Thank you.
Flood More details: flood was in last year and caused my leaking top. The car was never submerged. Just a few inches after a rain storm.
Getting it looked at: Does anyone know a good local Porsche shop (75 miles of Boston)?
Jake: thank you. I will send a request through your website. Please note that I am not "Fred" and I am not sure how well he handled the situation. Any guidance you can provide would be great. I can share a screenshot of the paperwork and contract with Job number.
Durametric... I will check with another owner in my town that races. See if he has it.
With the car burning oil like crazy, 1 quart per tank, and fouling a spark plug the cause is likely due to an AOS failing or cylinder/ring damage. I would suggest having the effected cylinder bore-scoped and have a Manometer test done on the crankcase vacuum.
An AOS failure will show on a Manometer test, and cylinder/ring damage will show on a bore-scope, possibly due to injector failure. Use a mechanic who is very familiar with M96 engines.
IF AOS has failed, the engine may or may not have suffered damage, if the bore-scope reveals cylinder/ring damage, it would be considered catastrophic.(full engine rebuild)..
Which cylinder is it that fouls the plug??
Last edited by Porschetech3; 01-23-2021 at 01:01 PM.
I would have to choose wife or car. Before you comment on that... my dog is 100+ lbs and won't fit in car without destroying it. So not an option... no wife... no dog... no happiness. Now, if I had a smaller dog things might be different.
Get the 996 back in shape with Jake’s advice along with a good local mechanic and don’t even think about selling it. You have the lowest possible entry price, $0, and hopefully it avoided permanent damage and you still have a superior engine that will last another 100k miles or more.
I'd spend the money to have a local specialist take a look at the motor - everything else is kind of small potatoes if you can source used parts and turn a wrench.
Ok, this is Fred's car. I did not know that he had passed away. Hate to hear that.
Tony Callas and I worked on this car many years ago when we had an M96 engine class in Boston. Fred came up, and we worked on the car in a parking deck, then went out for dinner. Fred had a unique way of driving the car, the clutch caught hell! Not sure if you ever rode with him in the car, or not.
We found several crankcase vacuum leaks, and the AOS corrugated tubing leading to the B2 cylinder head was cracked. I think that Fred drove the car a lot in winter, and the road treatments created the issues with the tubing.
The car was not consuming oil then, it had misfires and was very fuel- rich. We told him to have the tubing replaced, and then see what the fuel trims did, and replace injectors if it continued. After that we may have had a few messages back and forth, but he disappeared and I haven't really thought about all of this since then. That was years ago. I stopped instructing for Worldpac in 2013, so I'd say its been since 2014 that we communicated. I don't know if he addressed any of those things, or not. If he didn't, and the engine was driven that rich, I can see how it would lead to consumption, and likely cause internal damage.
I never had an issue with Fred. He took Tony and I out for dinner and all was good. The car was not well- kept back then, and he mentioned to me that it had flooded and needed an immobilizer replaced before due to that. He had sent the ECU to ECU Dr. in Florida and they made repairs to it as well. After that, I lost track of him.
I'll look for your ticket, and I'll be happy to help.
Last edited by Flat6 Innovations; 01-23-2021 at 02:37 PM.
South Shore Autoworks in Kingston. Justin and Wayne, Did most of my work.
Rensport around Framingham (Rene, never met), suppose to really good just a little to far for me.
Conway Engineering in Hanover (Kenny, people love Kenny)
01-23-2021, 11:12 AM
First post 996
