Tune up time for the 993

Brian993 · Brian993's Garage

Can I do it myself? I have plenty of tools. I have the patience and time. I just dont have the experience with these cars. Any imput?

Jim Richards · 09-12-2002, 01:19 PM

Hmmm, good question. What are planning on doing? Plugs and wires, that type of thing? I'm not sure how much more beyond that you can do. Check the belt for the dual ditributor? I'm going to do my first oil change sometime in the next few weeks. I'll probably also replace my belts and, if I'm feeling real adventurous, I might do the kinematic do-hickey update to my clutch pedal. Longer term, I'm saving up for the RoW M030 w/ HD shocks update so I don't have to feel like an astronaut with my current ride height.

Brian993 · Brian993's Garage

Hi Jim,

I need to do an oil change as well. I want to change the plugs, belts and fluids. I just ordered an air filter, mine was filthy. I am hoping someone will chime in and enlighten me with what else should be included in this tune up, if anything.

I hear the plugs are a real pain, well at least a few. I have 55k on my car now, a major service is scheduled by Porsche at 60k. I am not interested in turning my car over to a wrnech for this. I know with some help I can do this.

As far as ride height I agree and I am planning on doing the kit this winter.

Don Haney · 09-12-2002, 03:50 PM

Hi Guys,
Although my P-car is a 91 964, they should be pretty similar. Sorry, haven't been under a 993 yet.
I spent more hours on my first service than I care to admit. The plugs are a pain since you have to drop the exhaust and you might have to remove the steering pump. I didn't have to remove mine and was able to work around it. FYI-Depending on your tools, you might have to use several extension. If you do, make sure you tape them together or you might lose them down in the motor.
I just did the M030 spring upgrade with RS Boge struts and shocks. I wanted Bilstiens, but due to a back order problem that has lasted for months, so I opted for the Boge. The up side is a good ride that is not harsh or jarring. The car looks so much better now with the new ride height.
If you do not have the factory manuals, this might be helpful ?
Porsche Carrera 964 1989-1994 Technical Data, by Bentley Publishing PEL-PC94 $69.96

Hope this helps,
Don

Jim Richards · 09-12-2002, 04:27 PM

Hi Don. Your car looks great and I'm glad to hear that you like the ride as well. I imagine the Bentley tech data book might not be too useful for 993's since so much was changed from the 964's. I guess I could be wrong.

Don Haney · 09-12-2002, 08:21 PM

The Boges are a compromise compared to the Bilstiens, but I just got tired of waiting for the Bilstiens to come off nation wide backorder (I called everyone under the sun and no body had then on the shelf). Boges can be ordered in stock and RS versions although hard to tell if the RS versions are stiffer than stock since I lowered and changed the struts/shocks at the same time. I went with them because I do not track the car and the oem Boges struts/shocks provided a good ride and handled well for my driving needs, plus my kids ride in the car and they already put up with the less than roomy back seats I didn't want to bounce them to death too.
Yes the 993 is different than the 964, but its very similar to the 964 in design. Prior to 964 manual, I used Wayne's 101 book to help with my projects. The 101 book is based on the SC, but with similarities even between these models it helped. The only work shop type manuals for the 993 is the factory versions for 350.00 and I thought this was a cheaper alternative at 69.00.
The only manual to have is the factory work shop manuals and although I refer to both I usually end up using the fact manual.

Hope to see you guys at Ventura,
Don

Tyson Schmidt · 09-13-2002, 08:49 PM

You'll want to adjust valves while you're at it.

#6 intake spark plug is a special kind of whore. Even worse than on a 964. (Which is pretty easy once you've done a few. Not so with the 993!!!) Either do it with the intake cam cover off, or remove the engine sheet metal from the right side and do it from the bottom. The latter is the more time consuming, but in the long run, the MUCH easier way to do it. Your knuckles, fingers and forearms will thank you for it.

Also, the pollen filters in the front HVAC unit will need replacement. It's a little tricky, but is pretty easy to do once you've done it once. However it's easy to screw up the first time.

Jim Richards · 09-13-2002, 09:09 PM

Tyson, I thought the 993 doesn't need valve adjustments.

Tyson Schmidt · 09-15-2002, 08:16 PM

Sorry. You're correct, of course. I was comparing the 993 and 964 in my brain, and somewhere the two got swapped amongst my sometimes misfiring neural synapses. I've been doing this a lot lately. Need sleep.

Roland Kunz · 09-16-2002, 02:15 AM

Hello

993 have a hydros except X299 or RS cars.

On p-car.com is nearly everything doable covered with pictured how to.

Grüsse

tshih · tshih's Garage

The factory manual for the 993 indicated the need for a complicated tool for adjusting the belt tensions correctly.
I wonder what has changed from the earlier car's shim system?

The need to clear away lot's of heating ducts and exhausts have made working on the newer cars a pain in the ass.

Tyson Schmidt · 09-30-2002, 09:03 PM

Yeah, the 993 is a bear to work on in many cases. The 996 though, is pretty easy for the most part. The pollen filter is a snap. The plugs are relatively easy to get at. Accessible from the bottom, and only 6 to change since they only have one plug per cylinder. They are also coil-on-plug, so no plug wires to deal with. Oil changes are WAY easier than on a 993. Jiffy Lube will feel right at home doing a 996 oil change. A 993 oil change requires an engineering degree. Or at least some S&M tendencies. Don't get me wrong though, I love the 993 and much prefer it to the 996. I just prefer to work on the 996.

Roland Kunz · 10-01-2002, 04:23 AM

Hello

IFIR the tool was also recomended for the 964.

1991on 964/993 have asimilar belt drive system using still shims

Grüsse

Jim Richards · 10-01-2002, 04:26 AM

What's the part # for the tool? Thanks!

Jim Richards · 10-05-2002, 06:55 PM

Oil change is now done. Gonna try to squash a squeek tomorrow. I'm waiting on the "special" Porsche tool for changing my belts. Maybe next weekend...

tshih · tshih's Garage

If the shims are being used for the belts then why does one need the tool (only as a check for correct tension?).

The 993 oil change is not too bad if you have the correct tool for removing the oil filter at the center of the engine behind the rubber boot for the heater air duct. A real lift that you can stand under is also necessary withoput resorting to S&M gyrations of your elbows and hand joints. I have made my own oil filter removal tool by adapting a correctly sized (end of filter cap-type) tool by cutting off about 40 degrees of the round cap to provide clearance around the bottom of the filter. This way the straight extension to a ratchet wrench can fit the cap onto the bottom of the filter and allow removal and tightening (to ensure proper seating- not to ensure never being able to remove it again!).

Tom

Jim Richards · 10-07-2002, 06:51 AM

I'm not sure about the tool...will need to review the DiY procedure from p-car.com. The oil filter under the engine wasn't as bad as I was expecting. After removing the heater duct, I had easy access using a ratchet wrench with an extension and an oil filter socket. I bought the oil filter socket for ~$7. If I remember correctly, it's a 76mm 14 flute model. I can verify this tonight if anyone is interested. With my car up on 4 jack stands it was very easy to do this job, just a little time consuming.

Roland Kunz · 10-08-2002, 01:14 PM

Hello

Said tool is sold from several companys ( Stahlwille, Hazet, Facom, Ucla ) and made for optimum fan/ alternator/ AC compressor adjustment.

Porsche used them as there maintaince scedules moved up and out of the timewindow a missspanned belt could be detectet before it got lost, burnt up or killed the bearings on the alternator.

It also makes possible to employ "less sensitive" or expirienced mechanics on those cars.

Grüsse