JeTexas

Yeah, it's really a shame that Becker couldn't coax the same performance and sound quality out of the radio that they do from the CD player. On my unit CDs play the equivalent of a full 10 digits higher on the volume scale than the radio. I've got to be conscientious to turn in down when I put in an album. My FM modulator is even worse than the radio, but I ordered the BNA-1319 kit with the phone cable, aux cable and removal tools today. When it gets here I'll hack together an interface for the iPhone and post the results.

I was shopping around for brake pads today. The Advance Auto Parts, Parts America, by my house carried Wearever pads as the house brand and they actually have a set available for 996. It's $57.48 for the front Wearever Silver MKD776 and $44.44 for the rear Wearever Silver MKD738. The description says that they're semi-mettalic OE replacement pads, and they have a limited lifetime warranty, which means if you keep the receipt they're good for one free swap when you wear them out. Has anyone tried these? The fact that both front and rear is cheaper than most front sets I've seen is giving me pause, but I've always used house brand pads on my other vehicles with no problems. Anyone have other suggestions?

Check the alternator. Sometimes they develop a short which will actually drain the battery when off.

Ok, I was making this list up anyway, so here's a complete rundown of all known maintenance. The car currently has 94K miles and the driver's side window is starting to squeal, the ds seat warmer has quit, the load/eject mechanism of the CDR-220 has quit, and I've got an intermittent brake wear light. I'm going to have to do a coolant flush and replace some hoses soon, and a brake pad replacement isn't too far behind that. All known maintenance for 1999 Porsche 996 Carrera Cabriolet 12-29-03 Mileage: 53,861 Symptoms: 45k service, Shorting coils due to tube seal leaks, bottom out left hose bad Repaired by: Sports Car Repair Service Performed: Oil change Replaced pollen filter Replaced spark plug tubes Replaced large O-rings Replaced small O-rings Replaced air filter Replaced spark plugs Replaced left rear bottom out radiator hose Notes that slow leak in RR tire, clutch worn out Total: $640.32 09-08-04 Mileage: 59,538 Symptoms: CEL 1125, 1123 Repaired by: P.S. Foreign Car Care Service Performed: Replaced Mass Air Sensor Replaced coolant temp sensor Total: $647.80 01-04-05 Mileage: Uknown Symptoms: Oil seepage, alignment Repaired by: P.S. Foreign Car Care Service Performed: Replaced head cover Replaced front cover seal Replaced rear plug Replaced upper tube seal Replaced lower tube seal Replaced exhaust bolt Replaced Manifold gasket Replaced rear main seal Four wheel alignment Total: $938.59 10-06-05 Mileage: 65,317 Symptoms: Ignition switch sticks, oil leak, door pocket lid broken Repaired by: Momentum Porsche, Houston Service Performed: Premium Oil Change Replace complete ign lock assembly Brake system flush Replaced cigarette lighter complete assembly No oil leak found Door pocket lid repair declined Total: $1156.07 07-01-06 Mileage: 76,817 Symptoms: CEL, codes P1124, P1126 Repaired by: The Bug Clinic Service Performed: Replaced serpentine belt Replaced air filter Replaced fuel filter Total: $554.47 07-21-06 Mileage: 77,809 Symptoms: CEL, codes P1124, P1126 Repaired by: The Bug Clinic Service Performed: Fuel Injection cleaning Total: $105.97 09-20-07 Mileage: 82,000 Symptoms: Airbag light, CEL, slipping clutch Repaired by: Sports Car Repair Service Performed: Replaced seatbelt sensor Replaced leaking motor mount Replaced clutch Reupholstered rear deck Fixed driver's side door pocket lid Replaced Exhaust gas recirculation valves Total: $1200.00 01-10-08 Mileage: 88,000 Symptoms: Airbag light Repaired by: Sports Car Repair Service Performed: Replaced seatbelt sensor Total: Warranty 02-24-08 Mileage: 89,112 Symptoms: Metal showing through tire tread Repaired by: Firestone, Champion Forest Service Performed: Oil Change Bridgestone Tires with Uni-T package Lifetime alignment, wheel balance, tire protection plan Brake system flush Total: $1565.78 05-01-08 Mileage: 92,179 Symptoms: Won't hold idle, stalls Repaired by: Firestone, Champion Forest Service Performed: Replaced Mass Airflow Sensor Replaced Air Filter Fuel System Cleaning Total: $849.31 05-31-08 Mileage: 93,500 Symptoms: CEL, high idle Repaired by: Firestone, Champion Forest Service Performed: Premium Oil Change Replaced cracked Oil Filler Tube Replaced Oil Pan & Plug Replaced Battery Total: $892.34

I gave it a try, but it didn't change anything. I have an email in to Becker along with a price request on the telephone and aux cables, which I plan to use to hack together an iPhone interface. We'll see what they say. I finally heard back from Becker. They said I'd have to send in the unit, and it will be a $120 flat fee plus part costs to repair it. I think I'll just keep listening to my ipod. If I get brave and tear the unit apart I'll post photos.

Thanks so much Maurice. I'll test this and report back.

I have heard water pumps tick before but by that point the weep hole is leaking some fluid, but that was on a Vw and not Porsche. I've had my 996 less than a year, so I'm not experienced with Porsche death sounds yet. I know on my old Ford the clicking nose meant the u-joints on the drive shaft were frozen, but there's not a drive shaft these cars.

Just shop around and get some various quotes. I got rear-ended by a drunk at stoplight last October, so my rear bumper cover had to be removed and repainted. It was $565. Don't forget, it you want to customize you can always shop around for Turbo-style front bumpers and whatnot. You could have one of those painted to match and installed instead.

Have you heard the clicking sound again? I don't know why a stuck thermostat or bad water pump would make a clicking sound.

I gave it a try, but it didn't change anything. I have an email in to Becker along with a price request on the telephone and aux cables, which I plan to use to hack together an iPhone interface. We'll see what they say.

Update. These hoses came in from the dealer and are the correct hoses. 996-106-250-55 A 996-106-212-52 996-106-233-51 A 996-106-222-57 I got full exploded parts printouts of the entire cooling system from the dealer, and I still can't match the hoses from Pelican Parts to anything on there, so I'm sending them back.

The switch tested functional. Could you post the photo? I was digging between the seat cushions a bit when I was wiping down the leather, and I wonder if I could have bumped/broken something.

If you don't want the cost of replacing the entire cover, a shop can fill that and repaint it. I would guess that it would be about $500 to have a shop pull the bumper and repaint it. As far as ordering one yourself, I'm sure it's not too complicated, but the pros know all the little tricks to get the best fitment. Also, I don't know that they come painted.

My CDR220 was acting a little funny the other day. I inserted a disc, and the unit shut itself off. I turned it back on, and it ejected the disc. I put the disc back in, and it played fine. HOWEVER, after I ejected that disc, it now refuses to accept another disc. I can't get it in at all, and if it on FM, my attempts to insert a disc do trigger the CD player, but then it just beeps and says "No Disc." Any ideas? Is there some kind of reset/release switch for the CD mechanism that might unfreeze it?

Sorry for the BAD news, but the Blau/8-3NPUT has been discontinued Looks like they've got a new cable available, but it's pricier. http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=993 Blau/8-POD Too bad it says it's not compatible with iPhone. I may try it anyway.

I was detailing my 99 C2 Cabriolet this afternoon, and after washing it, I pulled it into the garage and noticed the light on the driver-side seat warmer switch was flashing yellow. It continued to flash yellow until I turned the car off. When I restarted the car, it stopped, but the switch doesn't seem to be working now. I'm guessing a flashing switch light means it's broken?

Good luck.

Definitely have a lawyer examine everything. It sounds like either someone gave you a really great deal that they weren't supposed to or that there's another leinholder on the car.

I think you and I have the same work process. I don't know that I ever finish a job without something else being broken. But I LEARN. That probably counts for something.

Perhaps you could shim them into place since your molding isn't tight enough. I wouldn't though ... I'm just saying, you could.

I've got a 996, so I'm not sure if it's the same plug/pan setup, but I just had a huge headache with this too. I took the car to the local Firestone for an oil change, and they came back saying that the Hex key insert of the plug was too stripped to remove it. Then they came back saying it wasn't the plug that was stripped, but the pan that was stripped and it wouldn't seal back up. Then they made some excuses about how you can't tap out the plug because the pan is aluminum and it would crack or not seal. I had taken the car in to get a check engine light diagnosed because I couldn't figure out why it was running lean, so the oil change was just an afterthought since it was already there, and I had a coupon. That coupon ended up costing me a completely new oil pan. I was not happy.

It really depends on how hard you're driving it. These engines can get 25 mpg highway if you set the cruise control at 65 mph. In town with conservative driving in traffic, expect 18 mpg. If you're constantly stomping the pedal, don't expect better than 12 mpg.

WD40 is a penetrating oil, which means it's made to clean and remove crud from the nooks and crannies where it gets sprayed. That's why it's good for helping clean a contact in a rotating cylinder or getting a bolt loose, but not good for long-term lubrication situations. Since there's no moving parts in the MAF, you don't need the lubrication properties of the WD-40 and are better off just using the electronics cleaner.

I am buying it! :) Can't wait! Always wanted a 911! Will definitely going to be checking this place out thoroughly!!! Thanks for all the help I am going to ask for in the future!! Just out of curiosity, is that the airport in Fort Worth?