997.2 Engine Reliability
02-09-2016, 11:08 AM
#436
My opinion...
We are 7 years in on the 9A1 engine
A high volume of these engines have been sold
The number of major engine issues reported on forums has been minuscule. Incredibly minuscule.
So, I see zero reason to question the reliability or how anyone could throw the question up as a deciding factor on buying a 997.2. If it hasn't proven itself in 7 years then what exactly are you waiting for?
We are 7 years in on the 9A1 engine
A high volume of these engines have been sold
The number of major engine issues reported on forums has been minuscule. Incredibly minuscule.
So, I see zero reason to question the reliability or how anyone could throw the question up as a deciding factor on buying a 997.2. If it hasn't proven itself in 7 years then what exactly are you waiting for?
02-09-2016, 12:16 PM
#437
Burning Brakes
2009 C2S 96K miles
I have formulated an opinion on the 9A1... it is based solely on anecdotal information from the 'net, my indy, and other Porsche owners I know or have come in contact with. In other words, my opinion is not worth that much.... However, I come from owning a 2000 Boxster S that had two engine failures and I was an active accumulator of information for the last 16 years.... I fully admit this does not make me an authority by any means.... but... FWIW, YMMV:
I think the 9A1 is back to being in the category of high-quality engines that Porsche used to produce. However, I think it is a midge less reliable than than the air-cooled before the M96/97. The reason I say this comes solely from my Indy, a many-year shop foreman at a Porsche dealer. He said to me back circa 2006 (pre 9A1), something like "I never replaced an air cooled engine that failed from defect, I only replaced them from abuse such as no-oil etc." . He went on to say something about being disappointed in the M96/M97 failures from engineering. So... the apparently rare failure of the 9A1 puts it a notch below the older air cooled engines.
So do I know what I am talking about? No. Only the engineers and accountants back in Germany know the answer. But hey, this is the 'net!
Peace
Bruce in Philly
I have formulated an opinion on the 9A1... it is based solely on anecdotal information from the 'net, my indy, and other Porsche owners I know or have come in contact with. In other words, my opinion is not worth that much.... However, I come from owning a 2000 Boxster S that had two engine failures and I was an active accumulator of information for the last 16 years.... I fully admit this does not make me an authority by any means.... but... FWIW, YMMV:
I think the 9A1 is back to being in the category of high-quality engines that Porsche used to produce. However, I think it is a midge less reliable than than the air-cooled before the M96/97. The reason I say this comes solely from my Indy, a many-year shop foreman at a Porsche dealer. He said to me back circa 2006 (pre 9A1), something like "I never replaced an air cooled engine that failed from defect, I only replaced them from abuse such as no-oil etc." . He went on to say something about being disappointed in the M96/M97 failures from engineering. So... the apparently rare failure of the 9A1 puts it a notch below the older air cooled engines.
So do I know what I am talking about? No. Only the engineers and accountants back in Germany know the answer. But hey, this is the 'net!
Peace
Bruce in Philly
My opinion...
We are 7 years in on the 9A1 engine
A high volume of these engines have been sold
The number of major engine issues reported on forums has been minuscule. Incredibly minuscule.
So, I see zero reason to question the reliability or how anyone could throw the question up as a deciding factor on buying a 997.2. If it hasn't proven itself in 7 years then what exactly are you waiting for?
We are 7 years in on the 9A1 engine
A high volume of these engines have been sold
The number of major engine issues reported on forums has been minuscule. Incredibly minuscule.
So, I see zero reason to question the reliability or how anyone could throw the question up as a deciding factor on buying a 997.2. If it hasn't proven itself in 7 years then what exactly are you waiting for?
I'm a low risk 'slow and steady wins the race' type of guy (accounting and finance background). I almost psyched myself out of getting my dream car due to my conservative financial nature. While the 997.1 failures are still pretty rare, my sophisticated Google research* showed 997.2 failures are even more rare... now I have my dream car, my 911.
*my methodology is probably less sound than Bruce-in-Philly's, but I still trust it
Last edited by Blu311; 02-09-2016 at 12:31 PM.
02-09-2016, 02:54 PM
#438
Thanks for the constructive comments and I appreciate them. I too believe the 9A1 platform seems very reliable.
2009 C2S 96K miles
I have formulated an opinion on the 9A1... it is based solely on anecdotal information from the 'net, my indy, and other Porsche owners I know or have come in contact with. In other words, my opinion is not worth that much.... However, I come from owning a 2000 Boxster S that had two engine failures and I was an active accumulator of information for the last 16 years.... I fully admit this does not make me an authority by any means.... but... FWIW, YMMV:
I think the 9A1 is back to being in the category of high-quality engines that Porsche used to produce. However, I think it is a midge less reliable than than the air-cooled before the M96/97. The reason I say this comes solely from my Indy, a many-year shop foreman at a Porsche dealer. He said to me back circa 2006 (pre 9A1), something like "I never replaced an air cooled engine that failed from defect, I only replaced them from abuse such as no-oil etc." . He went on to say something about being disappointed in the M96/M97 failures from engineering. So... the apparently rare failure of the 9A1 puts it a notch below the older air cooled engines.
So do I know what I am talking about? No. Only the engineers and accountants back in Germany know the answer. But hey, this is the 'net!
Peace
Bruce in Philly
I have formulated an opinion on the 9A1... it is based solely on anecdotal information from the 'net, my indy, and other Porsche owners I know or have come in contact with. In other words, my opinion is not worth that much.... However, I come from owning a 2000 Boxster S that had two engine failures and I was an active accumulator of information for the last 16 years.... I fully admit this does not make me an authority by any means.... but... FWIW, YMMV:
I think the 9A1 is back to being in the category of high-quality engines that Porsche used to produce. However, I think it is a midge less reliable than than the air-cooled before the M96/97. The reason I say this comes solely from my Indy, a many-year shop foreman at a Porsche dealer. He said to me back circa 2006 (pre 9A1), something like "I never replaced an air cooled engine that failed from defect, I only replaced them from abuse such as no-oil etc." . He went on to say something about being disappointed in the M96/M97 failures from engineering. So... the apparently rare failure of the 9A1 puts it a notch below the older air cooled engines.
So do I know what I am talking about? No. Only the engineers and accountants back in Germany know the answer. But hey, this is the 'net!
Peace
Bruce in Philly
My opinion...
We are 7 years in on the 9A1 engine
A high volume of these engines have been sold
The number of major engine issues reported on forums has been minuscule. Incredibly minuscule.
So, I see zero reason to question the reliability or how anyone could throw the question up as a deciding factor on buying a 997.2. If it hasn't proven itself in 7 years then what exactly are you waiting for?
We are 7 years in on the 9A1 engine
A high volume of these engines have been sold
The number of major engine issues reported on forums has been minuscule. Incredibly minuscule.
So, I see zero reason to question the reliability or how anyone could throw the question up as a deciding factor on buying a 997.2. If it hasn't proven itself in 7 years then what exactly are you waiting for?
Agreed.
I'm a low risk 'slow and steady wins the race' type of guy (accounting and finance background). I almost psyched myself out of getting my dream car due to my conservative financial nature. While the 997.1 failures are still pretty rare, my sophisticated Google research* showed 997.2 failures are even more rare... now I have my dream car, my 911.
*my methodology is probably less sound than Bruce-in-Philly's, but I still trust it
I'm a low risk 'slow and steady wins the race' type of guy (accounting and finance background). I almost psyched myself out of getting my dream car due to my conservative financial nature. While the 997.1 failures are still pretty rare, my sophisticated Google research* showed 997.2 failures are even more rare... now I have my dream car, my 911.
*my methodology is probably less sound than Bruce-in-Philly's, but I still trust it
02-09-2016, 03:22 PM
#439
Rennlist Member
Oh boy! Another one of these threads? First it was all 997.1 hyperbole reliability issues, now 997.2? 
Just to open more cans of worms, let me chime in too
From experience, talking to dealers and multiple independent mechanics, it's very clear that 997, being 997.1 and 997.2 is an extremely reliable car! PERIOD (excluding 2005 models)! I remember when I was at Bellingham Porsche dealer talking to their head of Service, he said that he almost never sees any 997 cars having issues, in complete contrast to (1) Cayenne, (2) Panamera, (3) Cayman? Cayman was interesting, as it's very similar to 911, not sure why it maybe less reliable. He said that to stay away from Cayenne like a plague, it's just a pig!
Now, while mechanical reliability has improved a lot, ALL modern cars have vast number of *electronics* and *sensors* and from experience, generally those are the things that fail in modern cars the earliest. I just had a door lock sensor fail on my car, and I bet electronic parts will fail regardless of model (like the electric power pump), etc...
Last I add was that my mechanic said he's seeing 997.2 DFI carbon deposits now, and they're coming in for cleaning out the carbon deposit which is NOT an easy job and dealers don't do.
Just enjoy the car and drive it! To me, the most reliable German car I've ever owned compared to BMW and Audi past experiences!
Just to open more cans of worms, let me chime in too
From experience, talking to dealers and multiple independent mechanics, it's very clear that 997, being 997.1 and 997.2 is an extremely reliable car! PERIOD (excluding 2005 models)! I remember when I was at Bellingham Porsche dealer talking to their head of Service, he said that he almost never sees any 997 cars having issues, in complete contrast to (1) Cayenne, (2) Panamera, (3) Cayman? Cayman was interesting, as it's very similar to 911, not sure why it maybe less reliable. He said that to stay away from Cayenne like a plague, it's just a pig!
Now, while mechanical reliability has improved a lot, ALL modern cars have vast number of *electronics* and *sensors* and from experience, generally those are the things that fail in modern cars the earliest. I just had a door lock sensor fail on my car, and I bet electronic parts will fail regardless of model (like the electric power pump), etc...
Last I add was that my mechanic said he's seeing 997.2 DFI carbon deposits now, and they're coming in for cleaning out the carbon deposit which is NOT an easy job and dealers don't do.
Just enjoy the car and drive it! To me, the most reliable German car I've ever owned compared to BMW and Audi past experiences!
02-09-2016, 11:38 PM
#440
Rennlist Member
For the most part the only negative posts I have read about the durability of the 9A1 engine on here have been from two different categories of individuals:
1 individuals that have a significant financial interest in those engines breaking down and/or receiving significant preventative modifications
2 996 owners.
1 individuals that have a significant financial interest in those engines breaking down and/or receiving significant preventative modifications
2 996 owners.
03-17-2017, 02:37 PM
#441
Instructor
Wow
First off, I apologize for exhuming this thread from the dead, little did I know when I googled "997.2 Reliability" that I was in for such a ride. I am strongly considering a 997.1 or 997.2 purchase and was trying to get up to speed on things.
Bottom line is it seems the 9A1 is a very solid platform but I would love to get an update from any one that has had to have carbon build up removed. I'm not too worried about having to perform a somewhat expensive (say $2k to $4k) one time "repair" at some point but I am worried about something that would cause a catastrophic engine failure all at once (such as IMS). Even if there is some carbon buildup over time, it can be fixed, correct?
Thanks again for an entertaining couple of days as I read this thread over lunches and trips to the... library
Bottom line is it seems the 9A1 is a very solid platform but I would love to get an update from any one that has had to have carbon build up removed. I'm not too worried about having to perform a somewhat expensive (say $2k to $4k) one time "repair" at some point but I am worried about something that would cause a catastrophic engine failure all at once (such as IMS). Even if there is some carbon buildup over time, it can be fixed, correct?
Thanks again for an entertaining couple of days as I read this thread over lunches and trips to the... library
Last edited by greglionb; 03-17-2017 at 05:40 PM.
03-18-2017, 06:27 PM
#442
Rennlist Member
Coincidentally, today I was talking to the shop foreman from a local dealer and he told me that aside from the fuel pressure pumps that were replaced by a recall, the 9A1 engine has been so far bullet proof.
03-18-2017, 11:26 PM
#443
This engine is bulletproof. No carbon buildup issues based on discussions with multiple dealers across multiple states. I am very picky and borderline paranoid on cars and potential issues but this is a non-issue.
03-20-2017, 06:13 PM
#444
I am looking to purchase a used 977.2 since I heard it is the most reliable engine Porsche have ever belt so far.
Is there specific year that I need to stay away from?
Any advice or things I need to know about 997.2 platform?
Is there specific year that I need to stay away from?
Any advice or things I need to know about 997.2 platform?
03-20-2017, 06:49 PM
#445
Burning Brakes
'09 and '10 have a recall for high pressure fuel pump failures.
Last edited by Hula; 03-20-2017 at 06:50 PM. Reason: added quote
03-20-2017, 10:00 PM
#446
Rennlist Member
Just make sure the fuel pressure pumps were replaced. That's all!!!
03-21-2017, 01:06 PM
#447
03-21-2017, 01:14 PM
#448
Instructor
With recall, I believe even out of warranty Porsche would do it for free but only once.
I had to replace the clutch pedal engagement switch after it has already been done on a recall. The dealer wasn't gonna do it again for free.
I had to replace the clutch pedal engagement switch after it has already been done on a recall. The dealer wasn't gonna do it again for free.
