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996 Engine Problems

Previous poster said:
Quote: Originally posted by Maxy M on 18 February 2005

I'm not sure that Porsche's reputation has been damaged where it really counts. New cars are still flying out of showroom doors...
True! Which answers the question as to why should they bother to make good the RMS problem to the satisfaction of owners...

The only people who are being hurt are owners when they come to sell.


Migration info. Legacy thread was 24562
 
try and sell o 996 back to a main dealer that the warrenty has expired on they wont touch it

Migration info. Legacy thread was 24812
 
Porsche 996 and 997 still is probably the best car in the world, the problem some of them had did only put in evidence a low attitute of some Porsche Dealer to help their client. The Porsche 911 reputation is still very good even pheraps only because the other sport cars are much worse then Porsche. :) I do take my 2001 996 Carrera 2 cabrio in the track almost every week just adding some oil and getting very good results. Probably the 996 engine problems are the 1999 and 2000 year but even on those model a large number are running fast and without problem. Porsche should just understand that acting like Ferrari (that hide all the problem on their cars) paid back instead of having few unhappy clients goining around complaining for the 996 engine problem. I hope this will be learned by Porsche AG that should simply fit with a new engine for free the client who experience such problem with the engine.I heard also tha some 997 have engine problems but still it is hard to get a new 997 as the market request is so high. So I do agree with the persons who suffered engine problems but the problem is not the 996 as a car but the low attention & care of Porsche with their client. If you had a Ferrari or an Audi probably you get more attention from the factory, but the cars as a product is much less reliable then a 996.


Migration info. Legacy thread was 24814
 
All, especially DOC, this is a very sad story indeed.

Porsche at present are very much a let down to their glorious past reputation of build quality.

I had a problem with my pulleys on my 993 Twin Turbo, and although this was a known design fault............Porsche denied knowledge of it!! I tried all the OPCs in the UK, even called Germany who gave me the run around.

The odd thing is that you can officially purchase the pulley upgrade parts for the 993 Turbo - yet they will not own up to the responsibility once the car is out of the waranty period. Surely this should have been an official recall........but as usual they only fixed the ones that were reported.

Ofcourse, I got it fixed but it's damn annoying that Porsche didn't officially disclose the reasons for the need to upgrade the pulleys.....which could have been done instead of being surprised when driving on the A40 into London.

I've heard that the early '98 Boxters are also prone to engine seizure for no apparent reason.

I love my car, but the OPCs really suck.

Good Luck Doc with the 997 ........it looks better ;-)


Migration info. Legacy thread was 24816
 
Previous poster said:
Quote: Originally posted by Alessandro on 25 February 2005
Porsche 996 and 997 still is probably the best car in the world, the problem some of them had did only put in evidence a low attitute of some Porsche Dealer to help their client. The Porsche 911 reputation is still very good even pheraps only because the other sport cars are much worse then Porsche. :) I do take my 2001 996 Carrera 2 cabrio in the track almost every week just adding some oil and getting very good results. Probably the 996 engine problems are the 1999 and 2000 year but even on those model a large number are running fast and without problem. Porsche should just understand that acting like Ferrari (that hide all the problem on their cars) paid back instead of having few unhappy clients goining around complaining for the 996 engine problem. I hope this will be learned by Porsche AG that should simply fit with a new engine for free the client who experience such problem with the engine.
I heard also tha some 997 have engine problems but still it is hard to get a new 997 as the market request is so high. So I do agree with the persons who suffered engine problems but the problem is not the 996 as a car but the low attention & care of Porsche with their client. If you had a Ferrari or an Audi probably you get more attention from the factory, but the cars as a product is much less reliable then a 996.
biggest load of rubbish that i have ever read porsche did have a great reputation till they built the 996 now even the 997 has got problems even mercedes has gone backwards with there build quality and the italians ferrari lambo are getting better all the time i think you have been stuck in a time warp somewhere

Migration info. Legacy thread was 24837
 
Hey Doc...

Any news about your case or are you still under gagging order??

Hope its going OK...




Migration info. Legacy thread was 25996
 
Doc i cant believe you are being treated like this! is there anything new you can tell us?, i read this thread with interest and if i had of been you i would of stood outside the OPS all weekend if i had to with some sort sandwich board asking anyone that went in to look out for your car and say hello as it must be getting very lonely.of course at the same time leting everyone know what a total crap service you had recieved from this OPC and that your recently OPC serviced car engine blew to the tune 0f 10 grand with only 30k on the clock,im sure perspective buyers would be most put off by this and knowing about the apparant engine design fault what with the added weight of being a doc,you could even call the press and made up a little temporary waiting room outside the OPC with a couple of pretend patiants wating to see you.. may not of worked but for the sake of 10G i would of tried,i hope all goes well and please keep us updated.


Migration info. Legacy thread was 26845
 
I've just had the worst possible news about my 1999 C4. Apparently it has a cracked cylinder or a displaced liner, which means that at the grand old age of 7 years and 69k miles, I need a complete new engine. The problem started as a bit of hesitation that was originally diagnosed as a dodgy airflow sensor. This was replaced, but immediately the car was started up again it ran like a tractor (clearly not firing properly on one bank), and had the tell-tale signs of a blown head gasket (steamy exhaust) on one side. Further investigation revealed that it was even worse than first feared and that there was a fault in one of the bores - coolant was leaking into the engine and vice versa. I've done some searching on various web-based fora, and it appears that this is a relatively common failure in older 996 engines. So much so, that one guy in the US (on Renntech) said that when he called his warranty company, the guy at the end of the phone knew the part numbers by heart.

Unfortunately, I have no warranty (didn't think I needed one with Porsche's 'bullet-proof' engineering and my respectful care), and Porsche wash their hands of the matter because they say I failed to "protect the investment" with a warranty; the car is "old"; its "high mileage", and the worst of all sins, I had my last service done by an independent specialist (all previous service undertaken by approved dealer on schedule). I feel very let down by a brand that I used to be proud to own - now I feel like a bit of a mug - I've got a 120k mile Renault Scenic that has provided more reliable service (still running with nothing more than consumables for the past 8 yrs)! Surely we have the right to expect that a company with the apparent brand values of Porsche would put its hands up to what seems to me to be a manufacturing fault?

The REALLY disappointing thing about the whole mess is that I was less than a week away from exchanging the car for a 2003 996TT that had taken me 2 months to find - now the deal's off and I've got to spend a huge wadge of cash just making my car driveable again.

Has anyone else had any similar experiences with their 996, or know how to squeeze a new engine out of Porsche for less than the £11,500 I've been quoted (I already know about Autofarm and Perfect piston - thanks)?

Migration info. Legacy thread was 52764
 
damn that's not good, worth ringing around independants to see what they have on offer

Migration info. Legacy thread was 52774
 
Perhaps you could try to send a PM to the Doc who started this thread. It's seems he was pretty adamant about getting this sorted out.
But he then just disappeared.... Does anyone know what happened with case against Porsche??

Migration info. Legacy thread was 52783
 
This week I sent my car to PCT for a new spare key. It came back with mayonnaise over the engine bay. I guess I now know what some of you feel like with the liner issue. Really gutted.

PCT want 7K to 'fix' the engine. Even second hand unit seems to be 4.5 k plus fitting.

Autofarm have a rebuild option that is similarly priced to PCT.

One option I'm tempted to try is a little engine buildling company in Essex (no jokes please), who claim to be able to whip out my engine, re-bore the block, replace the liners with steel ones (like Autofarm), replace all the gubbins with genuine Porsche bits and fit the engine for 4k...mmmm... a new engine fitted for 4K, and guarantee it for 2 years.... and they'll make me coffee while I wait and not try and sell me another car!!!!

they have a website -
http://www.gearboxengines.co.uk/

Any thoughts?

Ta


Migration info. Legacy thread was 73944
 
Andrew - sorry is about all you can can when something like this happens. I have always found the boys at PCT good, but if the work has to be done the Autofarm 3.7 option is worth considering (assuming that you have 1998-2000 3.4 engine). At least that way you get a better car then before.

I have not heard about the boys in Essex myself, so wouldn't use them until I could find a recomendation. But it is your money.


Migration info. Legacy thread was 74003
 
Good answer and I think that would be my reaction as well:) no relationship at all though. Got a call from them out of th blue after I filled in one of the 'find a part' forms on the net. Have a contact in the trade in the area so I'm asking for a recommendation.

The Autofarm 3.7 option sounds great but its lots more dosh.

Anyone thought of going back to an older model for that 'bomb proofness' or should I just stick it out with the water cooled one. Is it a myth? the older reliability?

Ta

just want my car back


Migration info. Legacy thread was 74011
 
engine failed last weekend, filled in a 'find a engine' form on the internet. The engine company called me, still making my mind up what to do, still looking for recommendations. I know someone in the trade who is looking to checkout the engine company. Car is still sitting with PCT.

I agree I have always used PCT and they are a great bunch. Would normally have it done there or as Poo says go next door and do the candy shop half hour. Prob for me is that I'm building a house this year which kind of reduces my options a bit.

No figs from PCT to 'dispose' of the car yet but not hopeful that they would stack up for me. The mentioned 15Kfor a car with a working engine, ie thats trade price for a working car. Can only think that they are looking at 12k as is which is a bit scary. I bought the car for a helluva lot more nearly 3 yrs ago


Migration info. Legacy thread was 74026
 
It's interesting, I am now starting to get a bit worried about my '98 996 with 54,000 kilometres!!!

I have had a few niggly problems - all following a service from an OPC. Told me I had a worn synchro, RMS went one week later and water pump bearing and expansion tank a week after that - I really don't know what they did in the service.

Seems to be the same the world over, an independent mechanic that now works on my car (trained with Porsche in Germany) told me about a client of his who had a 996 C4S that was 4 months out of warranty when he had a problem. Porsche Cars Australia didn't want to know about it. Apparently Porsche are pretty bad for after sales service. Not real good when you are paying AUD$250k for a 997S and there is plenty to choose from at this price in Oz.

Watch out with the OPC's as they will gladly take your money however imo the level of service is questionable - from my experience anyway!

One thing is certain, this does not hold well for Porsche in terms of repeat business. One thing can be said for the Americans though, despite all of their faults, they know good service and how to get the paying customer coming back.

Please keep us posted on how you go - maybe we can expand into a world wide action! Now that would be interesting!!!


Migration info. Legacy thread was 74212
 

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