Help! 996C2 Check engine warning light on.

[quyen]

Hi All,

I was out for a drive this AM and AFTER overtaking a slower car at approx 70mph, I suddenly noticed the engine vibrating a lot and the emission control light coming on and the computer system advising me to drive to the garage to have it checked.

I changed down from 4th to 3rd gear to do the overtaking and given that you can drive the 996c2 at 90mph in 3rd gear, I am sure I have not over-rev it.

I managed to limp 30 miles to reach home and noticed during the journey that the engine was fairly smooth when it was traveling at a constant speed but vibrates a lot when it accelerates. Feels like it may be misfiring. Looking at the dials, the temp was 80C, oil level halfway between max and min, oil pressure 4 whilst traveling home at 60mph on the motorway.

I will of course take it to the garage tomorrow but does anyone know what might have happened?

Many thanks.

[sportsandclassic]

Hello

Its possible it will just be a misfire caused by a faulty ignition coil.

It will become apparant tomorrow on a diagnostic machine.

Mike

[quyen]

Thanks sportsandclassic, I hope you are right and it's nothing more serious.

Any idea on how much it would cost to fix a faulty ignition coil?

Cheers.

[sportsandclassic]

Hi

Parts for one ignition coil is £30 and labour with diagnostic check no more than £50...

Mike

[quyen]

Took car to Porsche Centre East London today. Will update on progress as and when (fingers crossed).

[quyen]

Mike, thank you for your expert input. You were spot on.

Porsche Centre East London diagnosed ignition coil failure this afternoon and quoted £390 for replacement of 6 ignition coils and spark plugs. Is this expensive, about right, or cheap?

I expect not all 6 ignition coils were broken (car was still running) but should I have them all replaced anyway to avoid similar problem in the near future?

Thanks,

Quyen

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

quyen said:

Mike, thank you for your expert input. You were spot on.

Porsche Centre East London diagnosed ignition coil failure this afternoon and quoted £390 for replacement of 6 ignition coils and spark plugs. Is this expensive, about right, or cheap?

I expect not all 6 ignition coils were broken (car was still running) but should I have them all replaced anyway to avoid similar problem in the near future?

Thanks,

Quyen

I thought it might be that too, as i've just had the same thing. Don't bother replacing just the one pack or trying to get away with fitting second hand units like I did. Lasted about 2 months.

Had the full set changed with new genuine parts plus new plugs at an independent for £290. So that price sounds about right from an opc.

[quyen]

Thanks Ray, I am going to have to cough up regardless but it's good to know that the money is well spent.

It looks like I will have to restrain myself from going into the 6,000rpm territory if I want to avoid similar problem in future. I guess there's no such things as cheap thrills in this world

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

quyen said:

Thanks Ray, I am going to have to cough up regardless but it's good to know that the money is well spent.

It looks like I will have to restrain myself from going into the 6,000rpm territory if I want to avoid similar problem in future. I guess there's no such things as cheap thrills in this world

Nah, it's nothing to do with 6000 rpm. The resin which the top part of the packs are constructed from eventually cracks after many heat cycles and being exposed to the elements, being as they are near the road and the proximity to the rear wheels.

Any small cracks allow water ingress and hence the misfires.

Don't worry about revs though, drive it like you stole it!

[thegoose]

quyen said:

It looks like I will have to restrain myself from going into the 6,000rpm territory if I want to avoid similar problem in future.

Don't be so hard on yourself like that.

Driving it hard won't wear out the coils in itself but I would imagine that heat build up is best avoided i.e. after a good hard blast drive the car slowly for a few miles before stopping.