Guards Red 996
Discussion
Update time! So the repair saga on the power steering failure is ongoing, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I booked it in with my local mechanic to take a look, and he confirmed that it was unfortunately the high pressure power steering line which runs the length of the car that failed. The low pressure return line going the length of the car back was intact, but looking tired too.
Conversely, the cheap copper lines on the rack itself that I'd prayed were the cause - clean as a whistle! Naturally.
So I sent it over to Angus at AMS, who I always recommend. He looked up the prices for both of the pipes, £562 for the high pressure line and £294 for the return line. Jesus Christ says I, thats just Porsche ownership says everyone else
But I suppose it is what it is, and Angus goes to order to parts. The next nightmare rears its head, the high pressure line is on back order until January! This prompted a bit of scratching around at alternatives, and a hydraulic lines specialist named Pirtek came up in various conversations. I emailed them, and they're happy to make the part up for me for far less - result. Angus is going to whip it off this week and take it down there to be blueprinted and made.
Hopefully then we're back on the road - in the meantime shes tucked away with some good company.
Conversely, the cheap copper lines on the rack itself that I'd prayed were the cause - clean as a whistle! Naturally.
So I sent it over to Angus at AMS, who I always recommend. He looked up the prices for both of the pipes, £562 for the high pressure line and £294 for the return line. Jesus Christ says I, thats just Porsche ownership says everyone else
But I suppose it is what it is, and Angus goes to order to parts. The next nightmare rears its head, the high pressure line is on back order until January! This prompted a bit of scratching around at alternatives, and a hydraulic lines specialist named Pirtek came up in various conversations. I emailed them, and they're happy to make the part up for me for far less - result. Angus is going to whip it off this week and take it down there to be blueprinted and made.Hopefully then we're back on the road - in the meantime shes tucked away with some good company.
shalmaneser said:
I used pirtek to knock up a ps line for my e36 m3. Worked very well and much cheaper than the bmw part. If my ps line ever goes ill be using them for sure.
They've estimated about £150 to make the part, vs nearly £600 for the same thing from Porsche. Definitely keeping them in mind from now on - funnily enough a mate had suggested them off of the back of something being made up for an E46 M3. Nik Gnashers said:
Just wanted to say thank you OP, as I really love the 90's 911's, and I have really enjoyed reading the thread.
Maybe one day I will own one, fingers crossed.
Thank you very much! Same sentiment to me going out really, I love reading some of the threads on here - its normally this or Reddit for my coffee breaks.Maybe one day I will own one, fingers crossed.
Great news too, the car is back. Angus at AMS did the work and sorted me out as usual! In the end the car got the two long high/low pressure lines replaced, and the two short lines on the rack done while we were at it. Pirtek remade the high pressure line as Porsche couldn't supply it until next year, which ended up being a blessing in disguise with the cost savings. So, shes all back and driving well again after a 4 wheel alignment.
The hero in all this, the power steering pump which has shrugged off 6-8 hours of running dry without any complaints!
Was just logging in to update this! Yep, sadly up for sale.
I want to replace it, with whatever money the 996 can bring back in - my current sights are set on the SL500's from Mercedes terrible reliability period
If anyone is interested drop me a line, I'd love for it to go to a PHer.
Little picture of it all tucked up at my parents garage currently:
I want to replace it, with whatever money the 996 can bring back in - my current sights are set on the SL500's from Mercedes terrible reliability period
If anyone is interested drop me a line, I'd love for it to go to a PHer.Little picture of it all tucked up at my parents garage currently:
I did sell it in the end, I loved the car but I think I'd had enough with the repairs and it was time to go. I did have a lot of good times with it though, and hopefully its not my last 911.
I've freed up some cash which is going to a wedding fund, but also bought an SL! I'll start a thread on it soon, but its a 2002 SL500 with only 52k on the clock - very tidy. I wanted to get a V8 and fancied a convertible, its a different drive to the 911 as you can imagine
I've freed up some cash which is going to a wedding fund, but also bought an SL! I'll start a thread on it soon, but its a 2002 SL500 with only 52k on the clock - very tidy. I wanted to get a V8 and fancied a convertible, its a different drive to the 911 as you can imagine
MrC986 said:
CornedBeef said:
I did sell it in the end, I loved the car but I think I'd had enough with the repairs and it was time to go. I did have a lot of good times with it though, and hopefully its not my last 911.
I've freed up some cash which is going to a wedding fund, but also bought an SL! I'll start a thread on it soon, but its a 2002 SL500 with only 52k on the clock - very tidy. I wanted to get a V8 and fancied a convertible, its a different drive to the 911 as you can imagine
My dad has an SL500 of that vintage....I agree it’s a different drive to a 996! Just don’t let the consumer battery go flat as it’s a nightmare!I've freed up some cash which is going to a wedding fund, but also bought an SL! I'll start a thread on it soon, but its a 2002 SL500 with only 52k on the clock - very tidy. I wanted to get a V8 and fancied a convertible, its a different drive to the 911 as you can imagine
I started keeping track for the first year or two and then realised it was bad for my sanity haha! Truth be told it wasn't too bad to run, I'd say around £1-2k a year but after a while I think I lost a bit of faith in it with the final coolant leak. I've not heard from the new owner but hopefully he's had some success!
Yeah the SL will likely be a different type of beast for maintenance, I've so far fixed a seat not folding forward properly (memory reset sequence - £0!) but I've noticed the rear demist doesn't work (hopefully fuse) and the hot air can be intermittent (common issue apparently, an electric valve under the scuttle panel - £50 for the part surprisingly!). The V8 sounds lovely and returns about 24mpg on average so far, which is about the same as the 996.
The plans are to maintain and enjoy, I think I might replace the ancient command headunit with an android unit (one of those ones that looks the same so as not to spoil the looks of the interior, but is actually modern). And then strap a supercharger on it for a baby SL500 AMG. Not really, thats a bit above budget at the moment...Its definitely had a gentle life, the rear tyres are stamped as 2013. So they're also on the list.
Couple more pictures:
Another free fix, I've sorted out that horrible bit of netting...
And next to a CLK in the work car park, similar designs and all that.
Yeah the SL will likely be a different type of beast for maintenance, I've so far fixed a seat not folding forward properly (memory reset sequence - £0!) but I've noticed the rear demist doesn't work (hopefully fuse) and the hot air can be intermittent (common issue apparently, an electric valve under the scuttle panel - £50 for the part surprisingly!). The V8 sounds lovely and returns about 24mpg on average so far, which is about the same as the 996.
The plans are to maintain and enjoy, I think I might replace the ancient command headunit with an android unit (one of those ones that looks the same so as not to spoil the looks of the interior, but is actually modern). And then strap a supercharger on it for a baby SL500 AMG. Not really, thats a bit above budget at the moment...Its definitely had a gentle life, the rear tyres are stamped as 2013. So they're also on the list.
Couple more pictures:
Another free fix, I've sorted out that horrible bit of netting...
And next to a CLK in the work car park, similar designs and all that.
MrC986 said:
I had to replace both batteries (they were completely knackered) & my dad had kindly unplugged my battery conditioner and closed the boot 
I found that the high level brake light is the way in & that some parts are readily sourced from EBay at considerably less than the dealers. However, if you replace both batteries you need a specialist to sort the ECU error messages. My dads’ car is an 03 with only 45k miles & sadly lack of use is the issue. It’s a nice GT car but sadly has limited luggage space with the roof down.
Typical that. I assume just the standard Ctek battery conditioner to that boot battery is all thats needed? I found that the high level brake light is the way in & that some parts are readily sourced from EBay at considerably less than the dealers. However, if you replace both batteries you need a specialist to sort the ECU error messages. My dads’ car is an 03 with only 45k miles & sadly lack of use is the issue. It’s a nice GT car but sadly has limited luggage space with the roof down.I did discover that the space behind the rear seats is a storage area, and that the seatbelts there are actually to strap in luggage while you're off touring about with the roof down! Love details like that.
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