Wolverine77

My daughter turns 16 in six months and need to sell my 2002 996 Carrera 4 Cabriolet with automatic transmission to get it off insurance. I have a nagging check engine light that seems to come on when the car is hot, and I have to give it gas while cranking to keep from dying. While giving extra gas to crank up, codes will come up immediately. since likely not matching expected schedule. The codes read either Too rich or cat efficiency off. I have changed MAF, OXY sensors, cats, plugs, ignition coils, etc.. I'm thinking the fuel injectors might not be working right and getting vapor lock while cranking hot. I can't really have a vehicle that requires me to go somewhere and let completely cool off.

Anyway, I'm about to the limit of my DIY abilities and/or patience. Car paint needs some new touch up, but overall car is in good shape for 20 years with 100K miles. I'm curious if getting everything fixed would be worth it or just let it go with known issues. I'm going to take on a 500 mile work road trip this week to make sure all the check engine lights come back on after clearing. Runs great otherwise. I'm pretty sure the local shop will need to drop the engine since everything easily accessible has been changed.

Would getting fixed by a Porsche mechanic be worth it or just sell "as is" and move on with life.

JohnCA58

depends on the emission laws of your state, quite a few states the seller is responsible for passing smog checks. sounds like could be something simple as vacuum leaks, I would have a professional Porsche independent have at it. doing a 500 mile road trip could hurt rather then help.

islaTurbine

Is Porsche Insurance offered in your state? If it is, they will cover the car and only the drivers you tell them to list on the policy. This shields you from any increases due to having a new/young driver in the household. Obviously your daughter wouldn’t be properly covered if she ever drove the car, though.

DBJoe996

I have State Farm and when my sons got drivers license, I signed an affidavit that they would never drive the 996. No problem (and they never did).

996-CAB

If you've already taken care of the numerous known issues like the IMS bearing, gave it a new clutch at the time, replaced the coolant reservoir, water pump, engine mounts, etc. so the next buyer only has to worry about your current issue, then maybe you can get a decent price as is. If you haven't fixed all the known issues, there is no point in fixing the issues you are having now because, unless the buyer has done no research, the bid will be reduced by all these other items. And since it's a Cab, those of us in the know will want to have that inspected. There are known issues there, which, unfortunately no indie here would touch, so I had to get a wallet-echtomy at the Porsche dealer. I agree with JohnCA58, I wouldn't add another 500 miles.

Houtx996

Give your kid the car.

168glhs1986

Turn the tags in and cancel the insurance. Then sell it.

pulpo

get it diagnosed by a reputable indy and then decide if you want to get it fixed or sell it with the known issue. usually it's worth it to get it fixed as many people won't even consider a car unless it has "no issues"

bnh996

What are the Cab issues which those in the know will want to have inspected?

frisbee91

Hagerty insurance will also allow you to limit the drivers, and get the car off of your main policy.

996-CAB

Apologies bnh996, didn't mean to be secretive. The cable that pulls the latches to release the tonneau cover so it can open, breaks and then the top is stuck in whatever position it was in. I'd want to do a visual check on the cables and check hydraulic fluid level at that time.

bnh996

oh ok got it. Yes over time the cables can become maligned and need adjustment or replacement. Fluid is easy enough to address unless actively leaking. Typically you can determine there is some soft top issue simply by watching and listening to the operation. If you don’t see or hear any quirks in the action it is very likely operating as it should. I posit that could be done from a distance in most cases. I did it, at least, with success.

wdb

Not in Pennsylvania. I just went through that with them today. It would be a good idea to contact them and make sure.

allcool

IMO, DO NOT take a 500 mile trip with a car thats not running correctly, unless its an emergency. Do not drive it at all.
Not sure how you can say(with multiple check engine lights on) its running great in 1 sentence and the sentence before explains how terrible its really running and what you have to do to keep it from dying.

Good rule of thumb for anything mechanical, IF ITS NOT RUNNING/OPERATING CORRECTLY, DO NOT USE IT. This applies to anything mechanical you don't want to self destruct, washing machines, cars, boats, bikes, planes, A/C systems, heaters, can opener, etc....

JMHO