johnireland

Just counting the normally aspirated 996s (and also not counting the GT2 or GT3s) there were roughly 144,069 996s made from 1999 through 2004. If one decides that the number of IMS failures reported on Rennlist (54) represent only one hundredth of the true number that would mean 5400 engines suffered IMS failure. Divided by the production of 144,069...that means there has been a 4% failure rate. At this time I have not heard of 5,400 failure being reported. Or even half that number...which would be a 2% failure rate. And if we multiplied the 54 failures reported here by just 20...or 1080 failures...the failure rate would 3/4 of 1% or 0.0075. Is there any statistical data that gives hard numbers of IMS failure beyond the 54 recorded failures here on this poll?

Ahsai

To me 10% is laughable (way too high) like you said there are 54 reported failures. That implies we only have 540 Rennlist 996 owners here (as a very first order approximation). Also, check your local PCA club members. Do you see one engine failure for every 10 996 owners?

Paul Waterloo

You probably didn't know that when you do your first oil change on your 996 and cut the oil filter open that you will find small specs of non-ferrous material. You will freak out, buy a microscope to look at it closer, post it on this forum, and then determine that this is normal.

STOP READING THE FORUM and enjoy the car!!!

;-)

babylonboots

In researching the iPhone aux cable, I found that you need to hold the TP key down for ~8 seconds and then select "AUX" to have it appear in the selection.

I couldn't find any reference to the "AUX" procedure in the manual.I'm wondering what other secret settings this radio has.

Anyone know of any more undocumented gems?

emtee49

When driving your 996, if you have to visit somebody in the hospital, you can get away with parking out front where the spots are marked "Doctors Only", even if you're not really a doctor - works every time!

Joe Ricard

Ok I have read through this entire thread and have to admit there are some pretty neat things about the car. But with as many places that the Spoiler manual switch could be, my car DOES NOT have this switch anywhere. Not that is is a world crisis but dang it.. So my contribution is not all cars have a switch to manually raise the rear spoiler.

996_North

There should be a switch by the fuse panel? It's not labelied

Joe Ricard

WOOT! Found the switch to raise and lower the spoiler. Pretty sure I would have gone through the life without knowing what that un-marked little rectangle thing on the fuse panel was for.

JayG

all ya got to do is read it!

Joe Ricard

Well That would be great but somewhere in the cars life the DAPO lost the owners manual. I have made several attempts in the past 2 weeks to find one on line. These must be very year specific because the ones I found in PDF form have this switch all over the place.

JayG

Should not matter much between model years for the basic stuff within a series, IE 996, 997, etc.

What year is your car?

PM me, I may be able to help you with a PDF

emtee49

Just finished my first year of 996 ownership. Bought an '02 C2, stick, all stock, with 39k miles. Now, 14000 miles later, I would like to share some random thoughts . . Went through a set of rear tires, two oil changes and a battery. Thanks to this forum, I've gotten a print-out of the original option list (which does not match the frunk sticker nor the inside of the manual but does match the car itself), and also my radio code - both for FREE! How awesome is that? Not to mention all the other tips and suggestions that are helpful. Thanks!, everybody! Seems like if you get a good 996 they are really good, but if you get a bad one, they are really bad - and the odds are at least 90% in my favor that I got a good one. Does that sound about right? What about the 98 octane issue? I guess that's what the car calls for, but unless I buy racing fuel, I am maxed out at 93. Anybody got any thoughts?

DTMiller

Where does it call for 98?

JD ARTHUR

I use and additive from BND that not only raises the octane but coats the upper cylinders with something that helps with cylinder wear. I use it in my V8 bikes and I know some FERRARI guys that use it also. It can't hurt to TRY to keep the cylinders from scoring or going oval.

emtee49

Oh yes, it says 98 in the manual, 98 RON, not 98 octane. I guess that's not the same. Does anybody else put an additive in with the gas?