Are the '96-'97 993s defective?

[Brent Seidel]

I think I have read bits and pieces of some inherent problems with the 993s. Maybe a problem with the OBDII or the cylinder heads in the '96 and up cars. Can anybody confirm or deny this rumor?

[the]

I was looking to buy one a few months ago. From what I could see in researching them, some seem to wear out valve guides quickly, like before 60 or 70K. They seem to run hot. They have an air injection system (supplemental air injection - SAI) as part of the emissions system, it gets carboned up and triggers the check engine light (CEL). It can be expensive to fix, although some people seem to have figured out some "workarounds."

They are good cars, prices are coming down and there are some tempting bargains out there. I drove a couple, and they are nice, but I decided to just stick with the antique 911s that appeal to me the most (the 87-89 cars). The 993 is just to "modern" for my tastes, both in the way it drives, and the additional complexities of the car that I don't want/need/like.

[ischmitz]

Brent, do a search in the 993/964 section - there are lots of posts about that topic. Just search for CEL- there is even a sticky post.

In general I wouldn't consider a late 993 defective. Every engine ever made by Porsche has its known shortcomings. Some are worse than others and the 993 is one of the better ones IMHO.

Ingo

[livi]

Are there any differences between the US and ROW cars as far as the engine in the 993 series? Or was it the same item from the 964 and on? Asking because I here very little of any problems with the 993 here in Sweden.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Brent Siegel

I think I have read bits and pieces of some inherent problems with the 993s. Maybe a problem with the OBDII or the cylinder heads in the '96 and up cars. Can anybody confirm or deny this rumor?

As I mentioned you ought to go to the 964/993 area, where there is a lot of info, if you look & ask

short answer(to you and Livi)
US cars comply w/ US EPA OBD2 regs implemented for 1996 and newer cars. OBD2 is a nightmare(more for some than others) for all new cars sold in the US from MY96 up. I suspect that at least a quarter of all sold are running around w/ CELLs, that only are a problem when the car has to pass it's annual or biannual or whatever inspection. Here in NY it's annual and a real PIA for '96 up cars.

Specifically wrt to 993, yes, the '96 up temp to throw CELLs because the SAI system tends to get plugged up or rot out(depends on where and how the car is used). The car will not pass inspection w/o spending a lot of money to try to correct it.

RoW do not suffere from this issue and will not have a problem.

Porsche owners have been complaining about oem vlave guides since the '70s, w/ good reason, they all have used softish Cu alloys that do wear relatively quickly.