Niggling issues

[dave200]

So I have had my 996 C2Cab for about a month now and covered about 2000 miles which included a run to Le Mans and a week in France. I must have an aircon leak because I have have had it regassed for the third time, most annoying in this glorious weather. On top of this, the Independant trader I bought it from replaced disks and pads all round and throw have brakes that squeal like a banshee at low town speeds. Also noticed a knocking noise front right that sounds like a worn ball joint again at low speeds when the car is hot and the final issue is occasionally the car slams from 3rd into 2nd again at low speeds (tiptronic). Being a cabriolet, there is two annoying noises going on, roof up front right above the locking mechanism (a loud ticking noise) and roof down rattling rear left somewhere.

The trader has been quite good so far and accepted the car back for correction so let's see what they find.

Are these common 996 issues?

 

[Mike Barnett]

The knocking at the front is most likely the bottom coffin arm ball joint... Mine have started doing it when hot and dry weather... My brother cured his two years ago by making a tiny hole in the rear side of the rubber boot and injecting a small amount of wd40 in the joint, hasn't made a noise since.... The bottom coffin arms are very quick to change less than an hour and depending upon genuine or german pattern part vary in price from £75 to £150 each. Funnily enough i also had an zircon leak on my 2003 911 Targa this year which turned out to be one of the pipe work joints under the car just forward of the drivers side rear wheel where the two pipes run. The joints have small rubber O rings in them which cost a few pounds only... I noticed a small amount of green dye on the bottom of the car which is the leak indicator fluid commonly used in the system to detect leaks.. Caution if the aluminium joint there doesn't come apart I am told it is an engine out job to change the pipe according to local Porsche garage.. I went to an zircon independent who was far more confident about breaking the joint without stripping the threads by warming the aluminium blocks slightly and soaking in penetrating fluid and they came apart fine... of course you might have a condenser at the front gone which is also very common as they rot out when leaves get trapped between the engine rads and the air con condensers... an air con specialist will use a sniffer to find the leak if they haven't put any dye in it... gearbox wise mine did that until I had the fluid and internal filter changed (due at 90K but I think after 10 years mine just needed changing at 65K).... squealing brakes, I wonder if they changed the anti squeal shims which fit into the calliper pistons.... they might have thought they could get away without putting in new ones?

 

[JuliusF]

Knocking could also be the anti- roll bar - I had mine serviced for around £50 by my indy - they take it off clean it up and tape the ends before lubricating, refitting and bolting up - quite a difference to the sharpness of the ride and a lot less noisy over the bumps! Actually I'd say one of the best £50 I'd spent !

 

[Ripmax]

Aircon issues can be difficult to resolve in my experience but it could be your condensors/radiators. I had two new ones fitted for £400-odd from my indie last year but I still had to have a re-gas in May for reasons unknown.

Re tip 'box - check the oil level and see if it's ever been changed in the service history. This has been the most common source of clunkiness in my experience. It's about £150 for a tip service I think.

 

[dave200]

Thanks all, appreciate the feedback. I'll update once I get the car back...