Which year of 993 is the best?

[caliber60]

I assumed the newer the better?

Caliber

[Blackdimonds]

Go with the 97 or 98! Variocam does make a big difference.

[Bill Verburg]

No 993 had variocam, that was a 996 feature. The '96-98 993 did have varioram. 96 has some issues w/ wiring and a non supported chip architecture in the brain. Soooo... /97-98 is best, S models are usually the most desired.

[Kevin Reilly]

There is no issue with the '96 's wiring.

Unless you are talking about a small number of early 96's that might have the wiring harness problems that plagued some of the '95's. If that is the case, there is a PCNA "recall" in the works right now to replace the wiring harnesses on affected cars. Contact the dealer with the car's VIN to see if you are affected.

[widebody911]

I think he means there's issues in getting the VarioRam to work properly when the engine is retrofitted to an earlier 911.

Originally posted by Kevin Reilly
There is no issue with the '96 's wiring.

Unless you are talking about a small number of early 96's that might have the wiring harness problems that plagued some of the '95's. If that is the case, there is a PCNA "recall" in the works right now to replace the wiring harnesses on affected cars. Contact the dealer with the car's VIN to see if you are affected.

[Bill Verburg]

No I mean there was an issue w/ wiring on 95 and 96. I had already eliminated 95 from the running as bast because of the absence of varioram.

"PCNA states that "not every vehicle in the listed "range" of VIN numbers is affected. "Use the ranges below as a general guideline. Specific VIN numbers can only be checked thru dealer.
"The affected Vehicles Identification Numbers are contained in the following VIN-ranges.

Model Year 1995 vehicles:
WP0AA299XSS320061 to WP0AA2998SS324139 (US Coupe)
WP0CA2997SS340065 to WP0CA2998SS343718 (US Cab)
WP0AA2993SS320158 to WP0AA2990SS324104 (Camada Cp
WP0Ca2990SS340389 to WP0CA2990SS343535 (Canada Cb

Model Year 1996 vehicles:
WP0AA2996TS320074 to WP0AA2990TS321902 (US Coupe)
WP0CA2998TS340061 to WP0CA2990TS341155 (US Cab)
WP0DA2990TS385063 to WP0DA2990TS385273 (US Targa)
WP0AA299XTS320143 to WP0AA2991TS321620 (Canada Cp
WP0CA2999TS340120 to WP0CA2993TS341098 (Canada Cb
WP0DA299XTS385068 to WP0DA2994TS385244 (Canada Tg"

In addition for transplanters there is an issue of OBDII. However that issue is only pertinent to a small #of folks.

[john_colasante]

Bill,
Fantastic Bill! How did you get this information? I have been trying to find out if my car is covered by the recall and every dealer I ask in my area seems to be clueless about how to find out.

Now I'm trying to see if my car is affected. I have a '96 USA coupe. Why does the range appear to go down? You wrote:

WP0AA2996TS320074 to WP0AA2990TS321902

So the range starts at WP0AA2996... and goes thru WP0AA2990...

Why does the range go from 6 down to 0? Ranges usually go up. What am I missing?

My VIN is WP0AA2991...

[Jim Richards]

Is it really a recall or just a TSB?

Regards,

[Bill Verburg]

There was a discussion of the recall over on Rennlist, here are some relevant links

Link1

Link2

Link 3

Don Watson seems to have the best info.

[john_colasante]

Thanks Bill,

I can't figure out how to read that range as far as that 9th digit is concerned.

[pbs911]

As Bill V. mentioned, the S model is the most sought after. I would take a 95 S over any other naturaly aspired 993 with varioram. HP is easy to gain, albeit $$$, body styling is not. From what I have seen the S seems to command about a $7K premium over the standard model. The wiring harness of the early 95 (and apparently some 96's) can also be replaced faily easily and relatively inexpensive considering the cost of the 993.

[Eric Coffey]

John -

Just guessing here, but I would assume that the range is listed from "newest car affected to oldest car affected". So, it looks like your car is within that range, and is one of the cars that MIGHT have an issue. If it is in fact a recall, not just a TSB, I would definitely bring it in to the dealer for further inquiry.


Paul -

I don't believe there were any "S" models in 1995.

[pbs911]

I don't believe there were any "S" models in 1995.

Damn, I'm showing my ignorance. No wonder I coudn't find a 95 S when I was looking. But you get my point.

[john_colasante]

I don't believe there were any "S" models in 1995.

Further, there were no non-S coupes in '98.

[Eric Coffey]

Yep, I couldn't agree more Paul . IMO, the `97-`98 C2/C4 "S" (turbo-look) cars are incredible, and the true "last of the best" air-cooled 911's. Although, I would probably consider the Euro RS or Clubsport models (3.8L Varioram) to be the cream of the normally aspirated 993 crop.

[Bill Verburg]

Jim R, PCNA Service Action Notice W301(whatever that means?)

I couldn't figure out how to get a legal 993RS over here so I'm doing the next best thing, a 993RS engine in my Carrera

[Jim Richards]

Hi Bill, I talked to the folks at PCNA a week after W301 came out and they said that there was no recall. But what this really means, I have no clue. My local P-dealer doesn't go out of its way to help with these matters either. I really would like to get my engine harness updated, just for piece of mind.

Regards,

[Bill Verburg]

I know nothing about it but what I've read on Rennlist. Here's another

link 4

[Jim Richards]

Yesterday I received a letter from PCNA notifying me of the "recall" on certain 1995/1996 993 engine wiring harnesses. My car is in the recall group, so I called my local P-car dealer and now I'm on the list for a harness inspection and possible replacement. Cool. I haven't seen any electrical anomalies yet but I've always wondered if one day flames will start leaping out of my engine bay.