1995 993 Problems???

[zumwoll]

I am aboiut to jump on a plane to buy a 993 which would be my first of the later years cars. Just sold my 74 Carrera clone ---sniff sniff. WHat should I look out for. I am prepared to spend a little money cause the price is low $20s and I have more than that in the budget.
Thanks in advance. I am in a hurry cause the seller will only hold for two days and there are others in line.

[88911coupe]

On the 95's make sure the wiring harness was updated with the factory recall version.

[Steve@Rennsport]

Make sure you get a thorough PPI from someone intimately familair with these cars,......don't be rushed.

[zumwoll]

I have heard of the wiring harness issue but thanks for reminding. Also there is someone who said something here aboiut some kind of hoses that would be big bucks to replace.

[Don Plumley]

Steve is certainly right about a PPI from someone familiar with 993's.

Since it seems you are jumping on a plane without lots of homework, I'd be looking for a great mechanic to look it over for you - and not the PO's wrench. Don't recall anything specific to hoses, but I'd be more concerned about valve guides for a "smoking deal".

Maintenance history - by whom and what. Disty belt replacement? Rear alignment spec change? HVAC controls?

They are wonderful cars. But my caution is a "great deal" car can easily end up costing you a "great deal."

Keep us posted....

[zumwoll]

The nice thing aboiut this car is it has all maintenance records and the reason it is cheap is people are really scared of cars with 100k on them, which I understand but since I got 225k out of a 2.7 to me its all about maintenance. I have a lead on a couple of good wrenches in So Cal so that is cool but by disty belt do you mean distributor belt? That is a new one on me. By HVAC controls do you mean AC and general cabin temp issues? I am beginning to feel like I need to stay with something more simple that I am familiar with like 74-89.???

AS TO HARNESS IS THERE A QUICK WAY TO TELL IF IT HAS HAD THE UPGRADE?
BTW, a Pelicanite looked this car over and recommended it to someone but shipping to Canada caused the deal to fall through.

[MarcW]

Hi,

I drove this car and it handles very good. The engine was not smoking. I noticed way to much oil pressure (gauge?), small oil leaks at the chain-cases, some inperfections at the passenger door to the front fender, rear tires are finished and a not so cold blowing ac.

(Bob is a really nice and honest person.)

Good luck!

marc

[zumwoll]

Seller told me a Pelicanite spent a lot of time with it. Thanks for sharing. I could tell by pics rear tires are gone. WIll price them if passes PPI. Seller also told me that it had been in hit in a parking lot so understand the door fit issue. I have a great P car body guy here.

[Don Plumley]

Disty belt = distributor belt. Should have records of at least one replacement.

HVAC = heating, ventilation, air conditioning (generic term). The cables and levers of pre 89 911's was replaced by an electronic control unit that regulates cabin temperature and controls the various dampers that let air in, direct air, etc.

Run the Vin through a Porsche dealer to see if the harness upgrade was performed. Hard to believe it would not have been done.

Tires are around $150-250 each for rears, they tend to eat rears 2x the fronts, so you might match the front tire manufacturer/type.

[Don Plumley]

From a 74, you'll be amazed at the transmission and low rpm torque. But you should drive another 993, preferably with less miles to compare.

Here's a great site to become more familiar with the various systems - I went from an 87 Carrera to my 993 and it's not that much harder from a DIY perspective, just more time to get at stuff.

www.p-car.com

[zumwoll]

Our local dealer is so lame he claims they have no records of cars that were not specifically serviced by them. I called to ask about the harness recall and they said they did not know. Do you have a good dealer where you are that I could call?

[Don Plumley]

I don't, but you might try Sunset Porsche in Portland. It works best if you do it in person - asking the service advisor to run the vin and see if the recall was performed.

I'm sure a competent PPI would pick it up as well. With whom in SoCal are you thinking of going?

[zumwoll]

is being done at Europa Motors which was recommended on another thread.
at 60k miles seller has docs that show 2.5% leakdown. If it is under 6% now I am good with it. Otherwise I have a lead on a cab in Spokane wiht really low miles that I will persue. But much spendier. : - (
(My German blood hates to see money leave my account.)

[Don Plumley]

BTW, as I'm sure your mechanic is telling you, leakdown is not necessarily a reliable indication of valve guide wear, which is probably the achilles heel of these motors.

[zumwoll]

I would assume that under heavy load or backing off it would smoke, no.
Seller tells me it uses no oil. He is a former LAPD. They don't lie do they. (Small Mark Fuhrman joke)

[MarcW]

Originally posted by zumwoll
I would assume that under heavy load or backing off it would smoke, no.
Seller tells me it uses no oil. He is a former LAPD. They don't lie do they. (Small Mark Fuhrman joke)

I agree - but he drove only 3Kmiles in 3years - how should he notice oil use