juankimalo

The intermediate shaft bearing problem is not well understood by anyone at this point in time. I just pulled one out of a 996 with 31,000 miles on the clock. I'm working on a replacement fix for the IMS that users can swap out when they perform a clutch replacement, using a standard stock bearing. I'm working on the tech article tonight, and we'll also be testing the prototype kit in the very near future. Stay tuned, this problem will be solved by the aftermarket very soon.

-Wayne

Why don't use a performance hybrid bearing?

They are 10 times stronger than stock ones

You can also could increase the stud support till 12 mm as I did:

http://pasionporsche...ims-996-36.html

In Soloporsche forum we have a star thread in which we ask Porsche employees for information (as you know). We have thousand of visitors. An important person (Porsche Centre owner) told us that in the headquarters of Porsche Iberica (oficial spanish import dealer and distribuitor) they are very worried and concerned about all the true. They had an important internal meeting to manage this problem. Soloporsche forum is very important in the spanish Porsche lovers colective, and they know that we are not going to shut up our mouths.

We know that in a single Porsche Centre in Barcelone they are changing about 40-50 a engines in a whole year, more or less one per week.

People are very angry and don't accept as normal what It shouldn't be.

The expensive cost of the extended warranty, the helplessness to renove the warranty if your car passes than 10 years-old, the neglect which suffer users who purchased it as a second hand car... imagine those who suffer a failure when we know that It's due to a fail desing.

I'm not sure if soloporschers affected are going to organize a claim group or not, because they have to prove with an expert engineer report the bad design of the internal parts. They have to collect all the invoice bill, etc.

If a courageus lawyer appears in this issue, he will have the chance to be well known. The Porsche expert engineer told us that the figures they have is around 20% of IMS failures.

I want to explain something about this thread title:

In Spain in our Soloporsche.com community, we are trying to give a solid step against the M96 engine failures.

International english-spoken Soloporsche forum

First of all we are compiling several dozens of IMS failures well documented. All of them are soloporsche users. We have opened some threads to get more information. Porsche AG workers had the chance to come into this discussion as anonymus user, to explain us about real percentage and what they really know. (Soloporsche admin are checking the real personality to avoid trolls)

Are people suffering hysteria? No they aren't.

We have lot of friends with engine failures and we know that the M96 engine is a complete design error. Engineers, Porsche Motorsport division, Mechanical experts, told us the real thing. Wendelin Wiedeking is the principal responsible. He tried to rise Porsche profits and order to develop a new platform (M96) to susbtitute air cooled family. This engine was developed half time, and half budget as it needed. Porsche was in troubles and Boxster and 996 were two new models to be the angular stone for a new era of benefits. Low cost materials, an IMS that never was to be born (as the new DFI engines), disalingment shaft problems, different expansion coefficient materials, low cost alluminun frame, a shaft that works in a false steel case that is closed in a twin alluminun cases,... Engines derived from GT1 block as GT3, GT3 RS GT2, TT were too expensive to produce. If they would decided to produce a light version of this block to be placed in Carrera models, surely would be the best decision, because we´ll never heard anything about blown engines. Besides it would cause a huge decrease of Porsche accounts due to the high cost of this platform. Porsche AG left this problem run until they changed the M97 engine for the new family without IMS, DFI, etc. They passed 11 years, so much time keeping the wrong thing. Meanwhile, there are a pile of blown engines in Porsche history, and whats more, there are a pile that are going to fail.

I prefer to listen Porsche experts, not urban legends. I'm always talking about this with real arguments. I'm a bit tired to read that they are a very small percentage, and what we have to do, is to enjoy our cars.

I've seen several failures with my eyes!

What would you think if a Porsche expert engineer tells you that the best thing to prevent the failure, is to reinforce the IMS with a solid kit?

(I don't sell anything, I don't have any commercial interest)

What can we do if you're out of warranty? Pay for a reman engine or throw the car to the river from a bridge.

Porsche should to give us a new engine everytime It happens.

We are trying to compile more data and some soloporsche people want to go to the justice court. Everyone know that It's too difficult to prove that It's a failed design, opposite a Judge, but we are very ungry to read a blown engine everyweek in our small Soloporsche comunity.

I enjoy driving my 996, I love it and I want to keep on with it for many years. I reinforced the IMS with a hand made kit, use a racing lubricant, etc

In Soloporsche, an expert motor engineer is developing a solution but It won't be ready yet because It's a critical idea and needs several test, but It would be probably the IMS 100% guard. Nevertheless there were thousand of failures here in Rennlist, Renntech, 6Speedonline, Pistonheads, Rennteam, and so on. We have lots of articles published in Total 911, Excellence, GT Purely Porsche magazines talking about this.

We want to get a good finish, and join efforts to solve this embarrased problem. All your contributions will be welcome.

Does anyone know a jugdgment that condemned Porsche AG?

Joaquin

In Soloporsche.com spanish forum we are trying to compile information as much as possible.A spaniard car magazine is going to publish a press file so if you'd like to help us, you could write any data about your engine failure in our English spoken international Soloporsche forum

http://www.soloporsche.com/showthread.php?t=35692

we'll be very pleased to received your post with car, model year, mileage, etcThanks in advance

Joaquin

Here is mine ...

3 pics of the old bearing, side seals and the support/stud:

The bearing was in pretty good condition. (Made in Poland by NSK)

But there is a huge difference between the OEM "little" bearing support and the one I did.

It's worth it

The car goes fine and the engine works fantastic

I'm glad with this upgrade.

If someone need information or help just contact to me

Bite your TONGUE! :o I've got an '04 build 997S 3.8, and I understand that if one wants to replace its single-row IMS bearing, the whole motor has to be taken apart. I'm therefore taking preventative measures by driving the HECK out of it. It's got 44000+ miles on the odo, and so far (touch wood), nothing's exploded.

You can do it without open the engine.

your IMS bearing is reference 6204 and what you mean is that 997 S produced after Spring 05 have the enlarged and reinforced bearing/support/stud

I have not heard of any but a fellow member here (who is also a Porsche mechanic) says he has. Although the 06 upgrades made the IMS failure less likely I guess it didn't eliminate it altogether. That is why I have an extended warranty on my 06 Carrera.... Just in case...

My mechanics nor my local dealership have never had an 06 engine failure.. For whatever that's worth...

Thanks Phillip

A soloporsche fellow and me are trying to have more information about engine failures

He helped me to do a home custom made IMS bearing support. (It's published in 996 forum)

So we wanted to know if any of you know about someone who suffered a 997 MY06 IMS engine failure, and if there's any 997 reman engine which suffered an IMS bearing failure

I read that Porsche upgraded the IMS in the early months of 2005, updating the IMS tube with an enlarge diameter single row bearing and a 14 mm bearing support/stud.

I don't know if there is any engine like this which suffered a failure, or the issue was fixed.

Could you help me please?

Thanks in advance

Truly an EXCELLENT write up and fantastic pictures. What a great job! He is to be commended. More than a "little" IMS bearing leakage into the IMS. How many km on your car?

37.500 km

But it was too much time stopped the first and second year after production 'cause his first owner down under depression

Our cars need to be moved to keep all the internal seals in good condition

Here you have lots of pics

My mechanic finished the work. My car has:

- new SKF hybrid ceramic compound balls bearing/steel hub

- new 12 mm bearing support F125 steel- helicopter engine special seals (the best material to seal for high temp)

- OEM 3 flange end piece modified to place the new bearing support

- Valvoline VR1 racing 5W50 engine oilThe bearing support and the the 3 flange were made/modified by an expert lathe operator. Besides we mounted the oil filter/oil filter adaptor/magnetic drain plug purchased to Raby.

Link with pics:

http://www.pasionpor...ims-996-36.html

My mechanic has over than 70 pics of the whole process

I'll post as much inf as possible to be useful for everybody

A motor engineer from Soloporsche is trying to design the best bearing support, the best 3 flange external stud and obtain a better pieces to do the upgrade with the best warranty, but we are not going to produce any piece, and we have not intention to sell anything. This will be for people who'd want to make a "home made" improve and get the pieces manufactured by a lathe operator, like I did.

LN Engineering and Jake Raby have an excellent retrofit kit, but our friend barracuda never had seen anything from them. He decided to dismantle the bearing and look for something to solve the problem. He's an amateur mechanic.

The IMS had a little leak... but the RMS was leaking too much.

Look at this:

And here is a little mod of the bearing support to make it better sealed

Hi guys:

My car had an oil leak. Yes! and the Oscar goes to......... "RMS" !!!!!!!

I've reading everything I could referred to f****** IMS failures for several years. I know LN Engineering technologies ready to fix the problem, but we have a corageous soloporsche fellow who did an special home made IMS bearing/bearing support to reinforce the engine.

So in Soloporsche.com we have a hero.

http://soloporsche.c...ead.php?t=33716

"Barracuda", a soloporscher user, opened his engine to check the IMS. He built a hand made extraction tool to check the single row bearing (996 '03). He's car had 115.000 km, and the bearing was in perfect condiction. Nevertheless he decided to change the bearing for a new one to keep the reability of the engine for 100.000 km more.

He searched the bearing in one of the world wide best know bearing manufacturer: SKF. Someone advise him to go for a ceramic compound reference instead of the OEM steel bearing. So he purchased this one:

SKF Part number = 6204-2RSLTN9/HC5C3WT (Price 110 $)

After that he thought that the bearing support wasn't strong enough and ordered to make a reinforced hand made to a professional lathe operator. He made a 12 mm high quality steel bolt instead of the 8 mm OEM bolt, and asked him to adapt the 3 flange end piece to the new bolt caliber.

Besides, he told us that he prefers to leave the bearing out both circlips to allow the engine oil running through the bearing balls. He argumented that the oil was inside the bearing, mixing to the balls grease, and was easy to come in but not too easy to get out the bearing, with the result of having contaminated oil into the bearing. This could make the balls to fail in the future, so he decided to allow clean engine running through the balls. To seal the hollow shaft tube, he used a hand made cork seal. Besides, he change the engine oil every 5.000 miles (Mobil 1 5W50) to keep the engine free from wear.

At now, my car is in the workshop. My mechanic dismatled the gearbox assembly last friday, and will continue tomorrow.

He's going to do something similar to barracuda's work, but we're not going to seal the IMS with a cork seal. We'll install the bearing without front faced seal out, and will keep the othe seal on to avoid the engine oil come into the IMS tube.

Besides, I purchased Jake Raby several parts (oil filter adapter, billet aluminum oil filter, magnetic drain plug and bearing extracting tool)

Here you can see the Porsche specialist workshop, 'Altozano Motorsport' (It isn't a very goog pic but there's my car in the left side being received by David):David Altozano close to my car, and a nice Slant nose:And a few pics with the materials to do the custom made retrofit:Extracting and pulling tool (we have to modify the pulling tool to adapt it to the largest bolt):And one of the best high performance oils in the world: Valvoline Racing 5W50

I'll keep you informed about the progress, and will try to document the whole process

Did mine today. I got a used Homelink Rolling code transmitter off ebay. Got my switch from Suncoast. Push one direction to control one door and push the other direction to control another door. I got the back light power from the intermitten wiper switch below. I believe the wires were brown and blue w/ red stripe. I got the power from the phone connector. That is also were I put the remote for right now.

SWEET!! :renntech:

I want to do it too.

I live in a state condominium (neighborhood). I have 2 gates (one for entry, and another one for exit)

Could I use only one switch to open the 2 gates? My existing door opener has two buttons.

Here you can see another conversion in Soloporsche Forum

996 Cab MK1 to 997:

http://www.soloporsche.com/showthread.php?...ghlight=996+997

Thank you very much Maurice

Very glad to read your explanation. Done!!!!!

:clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

At now I removed the other button too

Thanks everybody

Hello

I did several searches but I could't find the way to remove the lower conectors from the horse shoe (upper center console)

I'm going to upgrade it with a Carbon Fiber one and I removed the switches, but I can't remove the window wiper speed wheel and the lighter

Thanks in advance

Juan:

Here are a couple of approaches for removing the lighter that have been posted before, although I don't recall the sources:

There is a black clip above your lamp holder(green) for the ring.You will need to pop it out.

You must first remove the black clip and also the green piece.

Once your green piece is removed whole cylinder should slide out forward. I believe there are 2 tabs you will need to pry and hold.

Hold down the top (clear plastic) tab and push forward, the top half lighter assembly comes out first then the bottom tab will come loose. Easier than it looks.

Another Approach:

-Hold the trim ring part while twisting the cigarette lighter cylinder to unhook the tabs

-Push the cigarette lighter cylinder out the front of the trim ring (it's pretty tight so you have to push hard)

-You can now pull the trim ring out (have to tilt it a little because the light is attached to it)

Regards, Maurice.

I found this:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...mp;#entry122137

(lighter removal)

What I need now is the windscreen wiper button removal

Please any help! :(

Hello

I did several searches but I could't find the way to remove the lower conectors from the horse shoe (upper center console)

I'm going to upgrade it with a Carbon Fiber one and I removed the switches, but I can't remove the window wiper speed wheel and the lighter

Thanks in advance

Jack I'm glad to see that there is someone who is looking for alternatives to reman engines from the factory

Thanks for giving us new expectatives

:D :D

I found this 'problem' with a German 996TT Cabriolet my friend was working on recently. I believe it might be something to do with the way cars are set up for different countries, possibly due to safety regulations. UK cars are one-touch on both windows, BTW. I suspect the one-touch is controlled by the alarm system, and perhaps there might be another (LHD) country you could select in the country coding. However, I also suspect it might open another can of worms with radio frequencies, etc.

Thanks Richard

Perhaps spanish law says that passenger side window couldn't be raise with a one-touch.

I'll be looking for the way to do the hack and convert right side the same as driver's :thankyou:

Hello Loren

Some users of Soloporsche tried to do this, but It keeps on doing the same function

I can get the passenger window glass down with a one-touch, but I cannot lift it doing the same "one-touch"

I tried to retrain the switch but doesn't work as the driver's one (both down and lift with only one touch)

TIA

Hold the button down even after the window reaches it limit for an additional 10 seconds. Then do the same in the other direction.

If that does not fi it then you have another problem.

Thank you very much

:clapping:

Both are one-touch.

Have you tried retraining the window?

How could I do it?

Sorry Loren,

I don't understand "retrain" :(