1999 C2, new RMS, clutch and flywheel last month

[DaveFL1976]

Well, I had a slow RMS leak and the clutch was slipping a little, so I took my '99 996 cabrio into the local Porsche dealer for some service. They were weary of the flywheel also, so they recommended a new flywheel. $3,800 later and the car ran like a champ.

Yesterday I got to escape from the 2-mile round trip to and from work that is my life and headed up to North Carolina for a week-long getaway. 600 highway miles from 70-90mph later and we got to our destination. Within an hour I had al all too familiar leak under the car. This time about the size of a drink coaster.

The leak's slowed down considerably since the car cooled down, and I'm going to watch the oil level like a hawk over the next week and take it back to the dealer when I get home.

I guess my question is, how common is it for a RMS fix to not 'take'? I'd think by now the dealer would be pretty adept at changing the things. I'm frustrated but not upset at this point, because the car's otherwise fine right now and I can only assume that the dealer's going to stand behind their work and give me a nice loaner while they're re-doing the RMS. I guess it'd just make me feel a bit better if I wasn't the first one that's got a bum RMS fix from a dealer.

[rb101]

Take it back t the dealer to fix again. If there is that much oil leaking, then they did something very wrong.

[wvicary]

Do you know if they performed the IMS seal and bolt case update at the same time?

[1schoir]

Dave:

In view of the fact that the dealer did this work, I'm not suggesting you do the following but it is worth noting nonetheless.

Since you mention that the leak slowed down quite a bit as the car cooled down, perhaps a change to a higher viscosity oil may "cure" the leak (or, G-d forbid, the next one). If the weather and temperature around your parts permit it, a change to an approved higher viscosity oil may be a good idea.

Pedro of Pedro's Garage had that problem and the higher viscosity oil he used stopped the leak completely.

I also agree that inspecting the IMS flange and the IMS bearing should have been a no-brainer for the dealer. If they end up going in there again, be sure to insist on that procedure.

$3,800 is not an insignificant amount of coin for what started out as an annoying leak!

Regards, Maurice.

Edited August 3, 2010 by 1schoir

[Dharn55]

If they go in again do the IMS bearing upgrade, once apart the bearing is only about $600 and maybe an extra hour labor. And it comes with a new flange, etc. Dealers are supposed to warranty repairs like the RMS for two years so you should be covered.