48k Service and PWI

[Paul Fraser]

My '97 996 was in for a 48k service and Pre Warranty Inspection and I got a long list of defects from them. Most seem relatively trivial (wipers, exhaust bracket, sunvisor, discs, tyre wear, oil cap) but there are a number that look serious. Among these are:

#4-6 variocam oil leak

cam cover leak

#1-3 bank chain tensioner washer oil leak

DME fault #1-3 variocam

Anyone care to elaborate on what these faults might involve? I assume a "variocam oil leak" requires a new variocam and a "DME fault" requires a new DME unit? I know a variocam is around £1100; what is the cost of a DME unit, and how difficult to fit?

Are any of these a 'don't drive your car' fault?

Out of curiosity, are these common faults?

[PTEC]

Usually when the Variocam solenoid is leaking you just replace the seal which bolts around it, but if I remember the early cars had a different style of solenoid which the oil pressure would force oil out through the electrical connector. On these earlier style solenoids its necessary to place them but unless the oil is leaking from the connector, it just needs a new seal. The cam cover leak, you're pretty much just looking at a few hours of labor to remove the cam cover, clean it and reseal it. I cant tell much about your DME fault. Usually when the Variocam solenoid fails the car will run extremely rough and have misfire faults in the DME. I can almost gaurantee you wont need a new DME though, thats pretty rare.

Edited March 16, 2005 by PTEC

[Costa]

DME fault #1-3 variocam

This a reported fault indicating a problem with the varicam and not a fault with the DME as such. - Probably due to the oil leaks!

Edited March 16, 2005 by ZX7R