soverystout

It could be the clutch switch going/gone bad. Is your car manual? If so, push the clutch in to where you normally would for start up. If nothing happens, push the clutch in as far as it will go and then see if it starts. If it starts fully depressed, the clutch switch is going bad.

Take the car and the wheel lock to your local dealer. I just recently had the same issue and broke the key.

They have a master set of over 30 different wheel lock keys that they will have to try on your car if the lock itself has no visible #s.

The other issue is that Porsche is no longer producing most of the 996 wheel lock sets. My dealer took all of my locks off and I had to buy a new 997 set that came with a new key.

The 3.6 liter engine had the oil tube returns re-designed - there are no o-rings (I corrected my post above).

If it was a little oil then I would not worry as in that case perhaps the spark plug was not tightened or the spark plug gasket failed.

I spoke with one of the parts guys at Sunset. The 3.6 does have a set of orings but they are not accessible from the spark plug, you have to remove the valve covers.

I wish your theory of a spark plug seal was possible. Even after I changed and correctly seated the plugs, when i start the car after sitting (just overnight) I get a quick small plume of exhaust smoke from the passenger side exhaust. I also use 1 bar (electronic readout on the dash) worth of oil after a day of driving.

A MY03 should have the newer oil tubes - no o-rings. Was the plug fouled with oil? If so, you may have a larger problem.

Newer o rings meaning they don't go bad? Plug wasn't fouled but it was the only plug that had a little bit of oil drip from the threads.

All the other plugs looked just like the wet plug except for the fact that they were dry.

When I changed out my spark plugs a few months ago, I noticed one of the old plugs (on the passenger side) had oil driping off of the threads after I pulled it out.

When I start the car (after letting it sit overnight) I get a small plume of smoke from the exhaust on the same side.

Has anyone had the o rings replaced on a 02 and newer 996? I know the setup is far different on the earlier 996s.

Youhave to access these o rings by removing the valve covers as opposed to pulling the spark plug tubes when changing the plugs.

Anyone have a ballpark guess on $$$ at the dealer to replace? Should/could it be covered under CPO?

32 2003 996 coupe. Last year.

You're a class act all the way. Thank your son for us and I wish you and yours all the best in this holiday season.

All the best,

Jim

Hi there,

Did you have the clutch installed already?

I have the same problem, 03 4S with 75k on it.

Just so you know this is a standard problem, the motor seal to the dry clutch starts leaking and the oil gums up the clutch.

My brother in Germany had the same problem and Porsche does the entire work for free, not over here.

Porsche went to a better seal in 2007, this one will last.

I have a 03 996 with 36K on the clock.

I bought the car this past July from a private owner.

I too thought the clutch pedal was rather stiff.

Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on how you look at it) my RMS started to leak. MY car is CPO'd so the dealer said I should get the new seal installed. I called sunset Porsche and got the complete clutch kit for $490 shipped.

I told my service advisor to "throw" in the new clutch kit when they did the RMS under warranty. Labor cost to me $0.

The clutch pedal is much smoother/lighter now. I imagine that the pressure plate has alot to do with some of the additional tension of an older clutch.

Don't forget to change the oil, check for flat spots in the tires and if so replace, hope and pray that the IMS bearing wasn't corroded from sitting for so long.

Also fill it up with fresh premium and you may want to replace the fuel filter. It's crying shome to let these cars sit outside unused for so long. Or unused period for that matter.

My question may sound stupid; what is CPO?

:huh:

Porsche Certified Pre-Owned

You can download the brochure here

Thanks everyone for their reply.

So what do you think is a fair price for a 02 Coupe with 56k miles, lightly optioned? Cosmetics in pretty nice condition, no accidents, verifiable service history, 60k service done and CPO from the dealer (2 yrs)? I am thinkning $29-30, am I high?

$32K is too high for an 02 with that Mileage. Even with the CPO. Shoot for $29K.

I'm bucking the system, 60k is nothing for these cars. Work the dealer over for another $1k and get 2 years and 40,000 worth of worry free (not maintenence free) driving.

At the end of he warranty period, you will know whether you want to keep the car or make it someone elses problem.

Don't pay anymore than $1700 for the CPO. On that model car, that is what they pay. It's still a buyers markert and I think the new version CPO (8/2008 and newer) is worth it's weight in gold.

I bought a 03 6spd coupe from the second owner (he owned for 6 months, wife wanted a beach house so the car had to go) and I have the CPO until 2/2011.

I have used it 3 times already. When the RMS needed replacing I bough a clutch from Sunset and told the service manager to "throw it in" while the RMS was being done. So I paid no labor and got the clutch right near cost.