I think my 996 has just eaten itself !!!

[benaldo]

Bad News last night - Came off the motorway and then suddenly the car's revs dropped and there might have been a bit of a clunk at the same time. The engine then sounded like a bag of spanners and wouldn't go above 3000 rpm. Gear selection all fine and managed to get to a hotel car park nearby and then wait for 2 hrs for a flatbed to pick me up from Porsche Assist. When I tried starting it again (hoping it was just a cough) it sounded terrible and died within a couple of seconds. Sounds pretty ominous - I'm now praying to High Lord of OPC Warranty to come to the rescue........

No dashboard warning lights at all which was strange.

Also, earlier in the day the key fob stopped working to open/close the car which I thought must just be new key battery required but it now seems a bit too much of a coincidence although I can't imagine a link ?

I have a bad feeling about new engine / rebuild required.....

('99 996 C2)

[sportsandclassic]

Oil everywhere ?

1st thoughts are intermediate shaft has broken...

Mike

[benaldo]

No oil - unless it dumped all over the motorway and then didn't drip at all for 2 hours later. There was still oil pressure on the meter.

[james s]

Down to a specialist with you as soon as you can or at lease ring one to see if you can get a diagnosis of whether its safe to drive

I don't want to fill you with false hope but this is pretty much what happened to my 964 when the air flow meter went. Cost £35 to get it cleaned and then £250 to replace it a year later

[benaldo]

As part of Porsche Assist - they take it to the nearest OPC, and I have a warranty so hopefully it should be covered. It sounded much worse than an air flow issue (not that I know what that sounds like !).

Best outcome will be a nice convertible courtesy car and a warranty fix..... crossed fingers (and any other crossible limbs....)

[jonny996]

benaldo said:

As part of Porsche Assist - they take it to the nearest OPC, and I have a warranty so hopefully it should be covered. It sounded much worse than an air flow issue (not that I know what that sounds like !).

Best outcome will be a nice convertible courtesy car and a warranty fix..... crossed fingers (and any other crossible limbs....)

best outcome would be a brand new engine

[benaldo]

I would take a brand new engine but they seem to be doing rebuilds more at the moment from what a few people have said on here.

Maybe they could stuff a 3.6 in there, instead !

Any bets on how long that would take ?

[nine6four]

Sorry to hear about these problems. Have been coming round to the idea recently of moving into the millennium and getting a water Porsche. Think if I do will def get the full monty warranty.

Good luck fella.

Edited by nine6four on Wednesday 2nd May 10:22

[silver996]

Warranty at £895 is a no brainer - you can drive the car as it was intended without having to listen to every odd noise, thinking it's the engine about to go pop

[Vesuvius 996]

Bad luck mate.

Still, will be interesting to hear the outcome with the OPC warranty.

Shouldn't imagine they'll do anything other than a rebuild or a new engine. Two year warranty on all work, remember.

MAKE SURE you keep us posted.

[benaldo]

Thanks for the support, guys.

At the moment I don't feel too bad because I have the warranty and believe that it is covered. If it isn't under the warranty (or if I didn't have one at all) then I would be a gibbering wreck in a dark corner talking to my little friend called 'RMS'......

[Vesuvius 996]

benaldo said:

Thanks for the support, guys.

At the moment I don't feel too bad because I have the warranty and believe that it is covered. If it isn't under the warranty (or if I didn't have one at all) then I would be a gibbering wreck in a dark corner talking to my little friend called 'RMS'......

Are they going to call you to let you know what the score is?

[ballcock]

Crikey!

OPC Warranty every time .. Glad I listened to you guys when I first joined your motley group and went and got one.

very best of luck with it .. Keep us in the know..

[benaldo]

I'm currently waiting on a courtesy car which you get from Porsche Assist for 2 days. The garage will look at the car either today or tomorrow and get back to me. It's the usual thing of authorizing 1 hr for them to establish the fault and deciding if it is warranty or not. If it's warranty then its all free and the OPC extends the courtesy car for as long as the repair takes.

Hopefully I may know more at the end of today or tomorrow

[Vesuvius 996]

benaldo said:

I'm currently waiting on a courtesy car which you get from Porsche Assist for 2 days. The garage will look at the car either today or tomorrow and get back to me. It's the usual thing of authorizing 1 hr for them to establish the fault and deciding if it is warranty or not. If it's warranty then its all free and the OPC extends the courtesy car for as long as the repair takes.

Hopefully I may know more at the end of today or tomorrow

Jesus it's not even my car and I'm crapping it.

[ballcock]

Vesuvius 996 said:

benaldo said:

I'm currently waiting on a courtesy car which you get from Porsche Assist for 2 days. The garage will look at the car either today or tomorrow and get back to me. It's the usual thing of authorizing 1 hr for them to establish the fault and deciding if it is warranty or not. If it's warranty then its all free and the OPC extends the courtesy car for as long as the repair takes.

Hopefully I may know more at the end of today or tomorrow

Jesus it's not even my car and I'm crapping it.

Do I have to drive my car today!!

[Lurking Lawyer]

I know it's the nature of internet forums to magnify the extent of these problems but there do seem to have been a rash of 996 engine failures in the months I've been reading here. I do hope it's not going to turn into a Speed Six-esque "trait" of the engine as they start to get older.

Fingers crossed it's a warranty job and you can get it sorted with a minimum of expense and hassle, Benaldo.

[benaldo]

The actual incident was very weird - no warning at all - car has been running fine then suddenly 'POP' - no dashboard warning lights before or after, no oil explosion.

I would have expected something to show up.

At least the weather was nice !

[Erik997]

If its a major rebuild or engine replacement then that £895 will be the best investment you made this year...

Good luck and let us know what happens.

PS - Just make sure they don't fob you off with a 3.2 Cayenne as a courtesy...!

[subversive]

aren't people aware that all pre 2001 996 cars are prone to intermediate shaft failure.. its been well documented and if you ring any good specialist they will tell you if your buying a 996 to get one after 2001 when the issue is less apparent...

happend to a m8 of mine on the ring..although he was gunning it.. .