997 engine reliability ???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 478
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From: Midwest
997 engine reliability ???
This is from a Porsche professional.
We replaced more than ten 997 Carrera motors in the 2010 fiscal year (July to July). If you extend the numbers back to the introduction of the 997, it means that one out of every 8 or so that we sold in the preceding years had a major engine problem. Most of them had catastrophic failure of cylinder walls or valve train components . Porsche is getting more and more stingy about replacing them at all. If they do, they’re requiring the dealers to rebuild them on-site (even though they have ample factory remanufactured motors) and most technicians have never rebuilt one of these.
That said, some 997s held up fine. It’s just a crapshoot.
I'm thinking of buying a 2008 Carrera. But this worries me.
We replaced more than ten 997 Carrera motors in the 2010 fiscal year (July to July). If you extend the numbers back to the introduction of the 997, it means that one out of every 8 or so that we sold in the preceding years had a major engine problem. Most of them had catastrophic failure of cylinder walls or valve train components . Porsche is getting more and more stingy about replacing them at all. If they do, they’re requiring the dealers to rebuild them on-site (even though they have ample factory remanufactured motors) and most technicians have never rebuilt one of these.
That said, some 997s held up fine. It’s just a crapshoot.
I'm thinking of buying a 2008 Carrera. But this worries me.
Poseur
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Santa Barbara, CA
Who is "we?"
This is tantamount to tossing a grenade into a room and slamming the door. Qualify your statement.
How many 997s has your dealership sold each year since 2005, and explain what the failures were. Were any driver caused?
This is tantamount to tossing a grenade into a room and slamming the door. Qualify your statement.
How many 997s has your dealership sold each year since 2005, and explain what the failures were. Were any driver caused?
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 487
Likes: 24
I dont understand the statement!
My approach would be how many cars were built each year and how many had catastrophic engine failures against their recorded mileage at the point of failure...
If we would examine the occurence this way i would think that Porsches given their production numbers, total mileage and number of failures are pretty reliable, given the fact that usually they are driven harder than normal cars...
My approach would be how many cars were built each year and how many had catastrophic engine failures against their recorded mileage at the point of failure...
If we would examine the occurence this way i would think that Porsches given their production numbers, total mileage and number of failures are pretty reliable, given the fact that usually they are driven harder than normal cars...
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 105
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From: Springfield, MO & Ridgway, CO
Rebuild the engines at the dealership? Complete B.S. Friend of mine is a p-car tech. Very small number of engine failures, and he doesn't rebuild them.
Someone is yanking your chain IMO.
Someone is yanking your chain IMO.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,471
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I agree, I highly doubt most Porsche mechanics can rebuild engines on the fly. I know these car forums are a small population of 911 owners but a lot do join because they have some type of issues. And so far I have not heard many engine failures as you have described. I've been lurking on most Porsche forums since 2005.
Moderator
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From: Connecticut
I monitored the 997 before buying my 1st in early 2007. Bought another in early 2009 and am loving the 997.2 C2S. I've been very active in PCA and the track for 5 years. I know of zero engine failures at my 2 dealers, at the track, within one of the nation's largest PCA chapters (CVR).
If the failure rate was as high as 1 in 8 (or even 1 in 80) I think I would have heard of or met somebody in the Northeast that has had a problem.
If the failure rate was as high as 1 in 8 (or even 1 in 80) I think I would have heard of or met somebody in the Northeast that has had a problem.
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Michael S. Palmer
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: London
there is no rebuild by the dealer. porsche buys the problem engine and reimburses labor for the dealer. client is charged according to warranty etc. and gets either factory rebuilt (ie not the original) or mint. as with any new engine platform, and particularly not stressed in other applications - this is rather frequent. as the factory builds the knowledge of each failure, things improve rather fast. is the same across different manufacturers. current performance platform benefits from well known and understood stress limits and been in development for decades - this is due to change with next iteration.
Banned
Joined: Oct 2009
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A Porsche mechanic/aftermarket supplier who is lauded (sometimes it seems, worshiped) on this very forum repeatedly asserts that several cars every day come into his shop with catastrophic engine failures. So either both sources are reliable or both are not.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Oregon
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next thing we might hear here is that the 928 is the best car ever produced by porsche by a long shot. 10 out of 10 are still on the road....hmmmm maybe maybe not.... where i am never heard of a catastrophic engine failure on a 997.2. pdk problems yes but engines exploding...not a single one...