I picked up my 997s this morning after the RMS was replaced over the weekend.

I scanned the service printout just to confirm this issue for anyone with questions, either about the possibility of an RMS failure on a 997 variant or the related part numbers:



Needless to say, I'm thrilled to be back in my 997. Despite the frustration of having to deal with this issue in the first place, it couldn't compare to the grin I had on my face when I drove off from the dealer today. There really is no substitute.

 

Did you break your car in to 2000 miles? What was the mileage when leaking?

 

Hi Robert,

I did follow the break-in procedures carefully and have driven the car normally since (It's a daily driver for me but I spend most of the time in 6th gear, since I do quite a bit of highway driving.).

The dealer first notcied a minor leak at just over 7,300 miles. I then immediately gave the car to the dealer. The machine test checked out, so the engine and tranny are perfectly fine.

 

Austin, thanks for the info and keeping us updated with this issue.

 

Austin, thanks for posting the info. Yes, please do let us know how things go in future with your car.

 

Thanks, Bill.

I will definitely do that.

 

Thanks for your post Austin. This 997 is my first flat 6 Porsche and I readily admit that I am surprised that a known problem from the earlier variants has made its way into the 997. Not what I was counting on from Porsche.

Does anyone know, from personal experience or second hand report, what the worst case senario for RMS leak is? For example, is catastrophic oil spewing a possibility? Or, is the WCS a crappy oil drip everywhere she sits?

I did so want to believe that Porsche didn't do things like this.

JD

 

We have a winner. Not only was your RMS replaced, but the intermediate shaft seal and the 4 rear crankcase bolts. This is the standard routine on the 996/986.

900 123 106 30 is the seal for the drain plug. 996 195 112 01 is the intermediate shaft seal. This seal is below the oil level in the engine so that is why your oil was drained and replaced.

999 073 092 09 is the fly wheel bolts. To get to the seals the flywheel is removed and new bolts are used.

999 385 004 09 is the 4 'blue' coated bolts for the rear of the crankcase. http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=2346

And, drum roll please, 999 113 490 41 is the rear crankshaft seal, aka RMS.

What is interesting is that the second generation seal for the 996/986 that went into production 5 years ago was 999 113 490 40. The current parts list for the 987 shows the 40 seal, but if you try to order it it bings you to the 41 seal. So the new 987 Boxster, just released, will be right behind the 997.

 

Thanks for the update, Austin. Not happy to hear about RMS and 997 in the same sentence but it just confirms what we already suspected. Not that I have ever been able to live with the same car for more than 4 years so far, but it makes the hypothetical long term ownership of my 997S out of warranty a scary proposition. Hope its your last RMS failure.

 

I'm glad that I ended up leasing the car in lieu of buying it...I'll let PCNA bear the risk of excessive depreciation.

Let's face it, Porsche does not deserve the benefit of any doubt with respect to the RMS issue, and they are eroding goodwill with their devoted customer base.

 

Two words -- "Extended Warrenty"

 

Austin, thanks for posting complete info re your repair.

I am also wondering what quantity of oil was leaking out which caused you to take the car in for service.

Tina

 

I'm curious about the quantity as well; according to Peter Morgan's recent article on 996s in "911 & Porsche World," they don't seem to leak much - I've read you wouldn't be particularly low between scheduled oil changes.

Emanuel

 

Great question!

The leak was so minimal that I wasn't the one who spotted it. I had taken my car in for an oil change and I also told the mechanic to check everything else out--in the process of doing that, he spotted a barely noticeable RMS leak. They even said I could have waited quite awhile to have it fixed, but I said "no way!"

Right now, I'm just happy to have my car back. It was such a joy to drive today!

 

what does this repair cost out of warranty?

its hard to believe Porsche can not fix a seal, they must feel its cheaper to repair the faulty cars under warranty, and give the dealers some maintenance revenues for cars failing after warranty.