PMc4S

No, only on Tips to get to the AOS. From what I've read, the Tip needs to be dropped to gain access to the AOS, but what if I wasn't doing the AOS? My understanding from above is that I can only drop the tranny & engine together, regardless of the work being done, which is entirely due to awd? And I can still access the AOS over the top from the rear of the engine if I do a partial engine drop and remove intake parts etc., correct? That should have no bearing on whether I have a Tip or not?

So let me get this straight...if I need to drop the Tip on my C4S (to inspect RMS/IMS and change AOS), with AWD I must absolutely drop it with the engine as well??

Welcome to the forums. The maintenance schedules are posted on this site at http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?app=maint&do=maint_menu_car The only known free service manual available is at http://cannell.co.uk/Manuals.htm , and is for the 1999 model year. however your car should be virtually identical.

The answer is simple -- they are the same engine design and thus are just as susceptible. Manual Transmissions on P-Cars often need clutch replacements at some point in their lifetime. The additional labor to do the IMS is small -- thus it is economical to consider an IMS-Retrofit at the time. I have one Tip that i have done and IMS Retrofit for -- but we were swapping the engine DUE TO AN IMS Failure. I have a second Tip that will get a new transmission, and I will do an IMS Retrofit when I pull that transmission. Mike Thread revival time.... Mike, I have a Tip and am considering doing the IMS bearing retrofit as a DIY. Any pointers or tricks on dropping a Tip on a 4S? All the info I've found is for manual gearbox & 2wd. Thanks Paul

I have a 2003 C4S and actually for these 996s, the 60K maintenance is not that big at all unless it's being performed at a dealer w/ their sky-high hourly rate. Besides various visual inpections it's pretty much an oil & filter change, new plugs, and air filter - see http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?a...=maint_us_mj_03

Thanks for your advice Hans. The replacement was installed back in 2005 so I'm SOL for warranty. I would rather not get into draining & changing the fluid if the transmission will still have to be serviced afterwards. From everything I've read and the possibility of an internal leak, I'm going to guess I have a bad valve. My next step is to find another indie mechanic who knows Tiptronics to have a look - hopefully I can squeak out of this without needing a rebuild or replacement. Izzy, are you able to diagnose with the info I shared?

First of all, I wish everyone an enjoyable 4th of July holiday weekend :D Was hoping I wouldn't be one of the unlucky ones, but my hopes seem to have gone south along with my transmission. The single-owner 2003 C4S I bought at the end of last year came with a complete service history. The transmission had been replaced with a new unit under warranty at 32K due to an "internal problem". I was OK with that since I figured the odds of another failure on a new transmission were slim. Not quite I guess. Third gear started to slip last week with 63K on the odometer - which signalled bigger problems to follow. Threw a CEL and so I parked it. By the time I drove it to the dealer Wednesday, it was having difficulty engaging drive and couldn't get past third gear whether in auto or manual mode. However, coming home from the dealer it was almost 100% OK (?). The code thrown was a P0701 which is "transmission slips/implausible gear" and the dealer's diagnosis was terminal: transmission has an internal leak and requires replacement. The ATF fluid & filter are original to the replacement transmission. Before I sink funds into a rebuilt unit (used transmissions are not easy to find thus far), should I try changing the fuild & filter using the DIY method posted here, in hopes that might bring it back? I have read that clogged filter can result in slippage, hesitation, and gear engagement issues. Or is this thing a goner for sure with the symptoms I described above? Any & all insight appreciated before I dip hard into the wallet - but please refrain from "shoulda gone with CPO" comments...live & learn. Thanks! Paul