judgejon

Totally agree.  

Had a fuel gauge sender issue in my '79SC.  So... get new sender from Sunset, open hood, pull back carpet and thin cover piece, and there's the fuel tank.  Out with the old sender, in with the new sender, and all done in about 10 minutes.  Back in the day.....

That's a great photo of a good looking 996.  2003?  Headlamps are end of 996-model style.

Cheers...

Yes, I recall you go into through the right side of the front end, right at the fill tube.  good time to fix that little plastic emergency opening pull as well.

My issue was a wire chewed up by a mouse that had built a nest right on top of the fuel tank.  Had to take out battery, and everything around it to get to the spot.  Decided to go from top down.  Took 2 min to fix the wire. Problem solved.  Valve opened.  Took $750 in labor to get to it.  Really.  The thread is out there on the forum somewhere.

Good luck on this.  Not sure where else the gas fumes could be coming from if not from the filler pipe area somewhere.

Ugh, use a flashlight, ok?  No matches.  😉 Cheers.  Be well, j

Hi Mitch.  Check out some of the posts re the vent valve on the fill tank.  I wonder if fumes could escape if it's somehow stuck open.  I think the usual issue there is if that valve doesn't open to allow the tank to be filled.  But it's a thought.

Light candles and pray for rain.  Sorry to read about this.  Good luck on the project. I’d bet every one reading your story shares the obvious joy of driving those 996’s. 

Short block? I recall some posts from a fellow in Santa Rosa, CA, if I recall correctly, who actually put a Chevy 327, or possibly a 283, in his Porsche.  It fit, though tight.  He had to do some suspension work too I recall.  Check search engine, it’s probably in there somewhere.  How about a blower scoop coming up from the engine through the air grate?  Good luck. 

1 hour ago, JFP in PA said:

 

Seriously doubt a head gasket as they are multi layer steel and acutally stronger than the heads or engine case.

i really never knew that. Good info. I’ve been known to almost literally blow my gasket once in awhile, but only did that once in a car.  Pushing my hot Fiat 124 over a mountain years ago. Next rear car was the 911SC. Real car, not a toy car. Never looked back. Thanks, J

Head gasket?

Ps:  at 72k you are in danger zone.  IMS, yes!!!  Just because.  Valves are not right. 

No, imho not normal. Change oil, even overfill to test.  Adjust lifters, timing, etc. 
Don’t wait to do this.  All, imho.  Good luck. 

Do you notice any noise or vibration now?  I used paper matches, heads removed, to deal with a bass speaker vibration issue once, so the rubber gasket thingy is not out of the question.  Hope you consider this a “solve.”  Carry on...

Are there any loose tube or small hose ends down in that area? Looks like a hose or tube connector that fits in a hole in the frame or in a metal brace to protect a tube going through. 

Safety blowback relief port for drag chute?

good hunting...

All modern cars, sure. But not my point. I don’t think anyone would make a kit to do a conversion. It’s all a do-it-yourself project. Good luck. Don’t hit anything head on. 

here’s a pic of the sc:

I had a similar Momo on my 911sc. It was a Momo “corse” with a Porsche emblem horn button.  I do not believe you will find any commercial adapter kit for a 996. To put on a Momo-style wheel you would have to disable and remove the airbag.  Too much liability for any manufacturer to put anything like that on the market.  It is a do-it-yourself all the way.  It’s very unlikely any reputable shop would even help with the work. imho of course. 

I occasionally noticed same gunk on my 911sc. With 996, think it’s especially important to always allow engine to reach op temp before pushing up the rpms. Also, unlike the older air cooled engines, the 996 is not, imho, meant for quick trips to the market. Once started I think it’s best to drive the car easy until thermostat opens up.  And then drive it with a little emphasis.  In heavy traffic, if engine properly warmed up, and fans working, temp should not raise dramatically.  Joe is right on the money. Good luck. Hope this is an easy fix. 

Forget it.  Use the friendly search engine.  Lots of stuff on this. Is this mostly a random unknown cause Issue?  Bottom line , imho, is to get a Durametric and a nice laptop to take on road trips.  When you get a random airbag light just clear it.  If light does not clear, or immediately returns, then check it all out as you mentioned.  I’m sure I read somewhere on the forum that the seatbelt light issue is a known quantity.  Good luck. 
 

Cdr 23 Becker?  This happened to me all the time.  Fix was to turn off and restart car.  Sometimes more than once.  For sure an early death of ignition switch.  A Porsche mystery I never really solved. I think it’s weirdness built into radio.  

I’d bet they are the same, depending on the model year.  I’d guess C4$ would for sure be the same. 

From past experiences, I think you will likely find it easier to replace the entire module.  But you found the 996 solution to overdriving your headlights without constant hi beam/lo beam flicking.  Set the lows up just a few clics. “Back in the day” with older 911’s the trick was to replace the Bosch low-hung fog lights with real driving lights or to remove the internal lamp shrouds.  Problem either way is you might get some blinks from other irritated drivers or attract a LEO.  Have to balance that with your driving pattern..ie, lots of night driving on twisty mountain roads?  Easiest solution is just replacing the needed headlight module. Good luck. 

Good point.  But would that produce the complained of noise?   I still love Mysterious Porsche Mysteries.  

Did you wash up into the undercarriage with car up on rack and wheels off?

my guess is accumulated road salt.

J'espère que vous comprendrez.

Very weird, but possible if car driven in cold country with rock salt on roads for melting ice.  Where are you located?  Ever hose off underneath chassis and up into suspension?  That said, not sure if water from garden hose would even get up in there.  High pressure hose with car up on rack maybe.  Good luck with all this...better stay off the track until replacement accomplished.  

Right on re sound travel. I was thinking shifter linkage, cables, etc, anything, something carrying sound up along center hump to front end.  E-gas too, right? So no throttle cable rattles.  Jeff is great source. 
good look with this mystery.  Post up answer for us curious types. 

The posting of your links needs to be cleaned up.  But, not sure how, I did see video and hear sounds.  
Bizarre.  Only thing that initially comes to mind is that sounds are somehow travelling up along clutch cable.  Not even sure that’s possible.  Is pedal secured?  Is cable from clutch ok?  I don’t think there are any pulleys in front of firewall.  Mystery. Good luck