1998 996 C2

[ATM]

I've noticed a bit of heat and smells from the rear wheels recently after a drive. So as I get out and lock the car. Not a particularly fast drive but a bit of motorway. I touched the wheels and i think the rear wheels feel hotter than the fronts. I'm surprised they are hot at all. Could they be binding at the rear possibly?

[Fast Bug]

They usually smell hot and rubbery after a blast, don't forget where the engine is and how much heat it can kick out

[ATM]

[nebpor]

That’s a bugger - going to try and claim the warranty on it?

[ATM]

nebpor said:

That’s a bugger - going to try and claim the warranty on it?

I didn't even know there was one?

[ATM]

The hot weather seems to have fixed my occasional ticking noise. Nothing else to report except I need an MOT soon. As a reminder to myself the MOT expires on 9 August 2019.

[CornedBeef]

It looks like it might benefit from a bit of a headlight polish, but other than that it's looking just right. Is the ticking noise a tappety one?

[ATM]

CornedBeef said:

Is the ticking noise a tappety one?

I hope so. It comes and goes so I cant imagine it being knock or something deep deep down in its bowels.

[Fast Bug]

Does it tick when warm, or just from cold when it's been stood for a while?

[CornedBeef]

Fast Bug said:

Does it tick when warm, or just from cold when it's been stood for a while?

Mine does the latter every single time for a minute. Normally the first few seconds it has a nice death rattle too

[Chris Stott]

Mine has a very feint tick when 1st started, but goes away once warm. Now past 173k miles.

[Fast Bug]

If it ticks until it's warm after being stood for a while it's because the oil has drained from the lifters. New lifters can resolve it, but it's not terminal and is there on many 996 engines. Lifters on one side is a doddle to replace, the other bank is an engine out job by all accounts.

[Chris Stott]

Don’t think mine is lifters. It’s not frequent enough. It’s more of a click, with about a 1s gap.

[snotrag]

Chris Stott said:

Don’t think mine is lifters. It’s not frequent enough. It’s more of a click, with about a 1s gap.

Check the tightness of your spark plugs.

Hear me out - I had a noise that I was convinced was part of the belt drive, a 'tick' or chirp at idle, too slow to be related to valves etc. Lots of troubleshooting, belts off, waterpuup, alternator etc all tried.

At my wits end, further googling (google "boxster loose plug" or 996 loose plug) suggest a number of people had found loose spark plugs.

I would never, ever have believed it myself , but lo and behold, 1 of 6 plugs was less than finger tight. No gas leakage etc, just a regular, (surprisingly slow, at idle) 'tick, tick, tick'.

Nipped up, noise gone.


I've replaced literally hundreds of plugs on all types of cars, never ever had one loose, the ones in the Boxster must have been in at least a year before this, but for whatever reason, it happens.

You will find a number of 996 and Boxster owners on various groups with the same findings as me.

Worth a try for nowt. I bet on a 996 you don't even need to jack it up.

[Chris Stott]

It would surprise me, but I’ll check!

[ATM]

I dont even know how to get to the spark plugs?

[was8v]

ATM said:

I dont even know how to get to the spark plugs?

You need to grow small hands and a 1/4 socket set with a wobble joint.

[ATM]

MOT now expired and car resting.

[ATM]

Wow has my 996 really been out of MOT since the 15th August. Need an enthusiasm injection here. Must try harder. I'm not making any bold statements about deadlines just in case I dont hit them. And I really must stop reading about 996TT cars in the twilight hours when I cant sleep....

[CornedBeef]

I think it's easy to forget how fun they are if you stop using them, and then get lazy. I've done it a few times, then when I go out for a good spirited drive it makes sense again.

I just got back from the ring in mine! Maybe get it a fresh ticket and see how you feel?