Sql

Hello guys, been a long time lurker here, finally bought my first Porsche, a 02 996 TT.

Car is amazing, very well kept, nicely tuned with Gemballa Chip, Gemballa exhaust, EVOMS intake etc etc.

One thing that kills the joy is the noise that I started to hear like 2 days ago.

It seems to be coming from behind the front seats (prob where the gearbox is) and it sounds like a whine that is most noticeable when slowly accelerating in high gear, especially putting it into 4th or 5th too early causes this to be loudest.

But it is there also in lower gears, just not that loud.

It drives me crazy. Do you think it is a soon to be dead gearbox? IMS?

I am so paranoid now, I just cannot drive it comfortably I keep listening to that whine all the time.

Any ideas?

Tim Wasmer

Is it like a pump whine? Maybe check your fluid levels etc.

Is it speed sensitive (louder at higher speeds etc)

PS: Welcome to the nuthouse

Sql

Hey, thanks for your reply.

It does seem to be speed related and it is hard for me to explain the sound, it actually sounds a bit like what some cars sound like at in reverse if that tells you something. I am not sure if "whine" is the best way to describe it but english is not my first language so please excuse me.

It is loud when you put it in 4th, 5th or 6th gear and gently accelerate. When clutch pedal is pressed or when the car is in neutral the sound is totally gone. It is also quiter in 2nd and 3rd, does not seem to be audible in 1st at all.

It seriously drives me nuts as I already picture a gearbox exchange or some other sad scenarios.

I am pretty sure the sound was not there when I bought the car last wednesday.

Car was checked by Porsche Frankfurt and was supposedly all OK. Now instead of enjoying my car I just keep listening to the noise and worry if I should drive it or not.

I am coming out of a tuned Audi B5 RS4 so it will actually be my second "nuthouse", I am glad to be a member here as well!

deckman

Does it go away when the clutch is engaged?

Macster

Noises are hard to diagnose.

Couple of things: These cars are not tractors, and the engines do not like to be driven at very low rpms in higher gears. They can manifest some noises when treated this way.

Generally I stay about 1K or higher in 1st, 1.5K in 2nd, 2K in 3rd and a bit higher in 4th, above 2.5K in 5th and closer to 3K in 6th. Occasionally if the road is level and I don't anticipate having to accelerate very hard I'll violate the above, but not often and not by much.

However I seldom drive the car in too high a gear at too low an rpm just to see how it sounds, so I can't tell you with any confidence what the noises sound like other than I know I don't like the sound of them so I avoid driving the car in a way that produces them.

The clutch hydraulic power system can make a whine that is most noticable at lower speeds when coasting in gear when rolling up to a stop. Is there any signs of fluid leaks around the clutch slave cylinder reservior which is located under the plastic cover under the front trunk lid just ahead of the driver?

In my car's case, if I depress the clutch pedal and the noise goes away.

Also, it is not nearly as bad as it was when I first got the car since I had the clutch accumulator and clutch slave cylinder replaced (they failed under warranty).

My 03 Turbo developed a 'dry bearing' sound that proved to be a, well, a dry (bad) serpentine belt idler roller bearing.

If the noise appears to be more directly related to road speed this can be anything from noisy tires to a wheel bearing or diff or tranny problem.

Sincerely,

Macster.

Sql

Yes, there is no noise when I press the clutch or when car is in neutral.

earlymidlifecri

I think this is the power steering pump. It's a very common problem.

Sql

But would the power steering noise be speed dependent? Louder when gas pedal is pressed in? Louder under load? Sorry but I have zero experience with Porkers....

Tim Wasmer

Porkers??

deckman

Power steering reservoir valve?

manny_g

that's exactly what it is. happened to me about a year ago..dont think its the pump itselve, but a valve that needs replacement.

Sql

It would be great if that was only a power steering pump issue.

Today I was on the phone with one porsche specialist and he suspected flywheel on the way out but he has not seen the car so far, only my description of the problem over the phone.

When you guys had this steering pump problem was the noise loud? I feel that in high gear at low speed the whine is louder than the whole engine!

SSST

It would be RPM dependent which sounds like what you are describing.

Sql

Ok so how do i check if its the steering pump? Where do I start?

deckman

Trying to diagnose this is inexact since it could be multiple things. I have something similar but I can only hear it at low speeds. From what you've described I had many people diagnose as a worn check valve in the power steering reservoir. I also heard from someone knowledgeable it could be a throw out bearing. Someone else suggested a pulley. See the thread on Renntrack here. Still undiagnosed.