80 replies to this topic

[Greimann]

I had an inspiration for another "must see" thread. I want to solicit simple one-liners of the "Golden Rules of 968 Ownership" or for the fans of "History of the World Part I" The 15 - oye - 10, 10 Commandments!

Please make these recommendations based on accepted Porsche service intervals or accepted common knowledge and personal experience.

OK, I'll start:

DO - change your timing and balance belts every 48,000 miles or 5? years, (my guess as my documents don't show a time interval). Doing the rollers every other change would be a prudent move too.

DON'T - Press the trip reset button while the vehicle is in motion. For some reason this can cause the gears in the odometer to strip and disable your odometer.

[968gene]

DO - Install the Bulldog remote
DO NOT - leave a perfectly flat surface after installing a front airdam splitter!

[flash]

DO NOT move vehicle with parking brake engaged - the resultant grinding sound from the brake shoes that locked up inside the rotor because the retainer pin snapped will ruin your favorite song on the radio, cause you to discover new muscles in your nether regions, loosen the fillings in your teeth, and send you searching for your AAA card

[Greimann]

DO NOT move vehicle with parking brake engaged - the resultant grinding sound from the brake shoes that locked up inside the rotor because the retainer pin snapped will ruin your favorite song on the radio, cause you to discover new muscles in your nether regions, loosen the fillings in your teeth, and send you searching for your AAA card

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

One, rather long, line. Someone was watching "Conjunction Junction"

Keep 'em coming

DO - feed the fuel tank the highest octane gas you can find. The 11:1 compression ratio dragon is HUNGRY.

DO - Change the DME relay when you buy the car and keep a spare in the glove box.

[SANDOVAL]

FUN...

DO: Change your heater control valve when you buy a 968 (For peice of mind)

DO NOT: Leave home without a Spare Heater Control Valve & DME

[SANDOVAL]

DO: keep your dash covered in direct sun (unless you are begging to get cracks)

DO NOT: Buy a car without having a Pre Purchase inspection done first.

[flash]

lol - yeah - was going for a little cadence

DO NOT try to raise the top with the boot cover on - BOINK - $1000

DO stop immediately if there are odd noises happening during operation - BOINK - $1000

[94SilverCab]

When the car suddenly stops running (belts snap) DO NOT try to jump start it...Boink $5,000

[Silver BLT]

When closing the hatch, place hands over the pin/latches, not in the middle of the Spoiler.
Renron

[Greimann]

Good one! To fine tune that:

DO: Close the hatch by pulling on the little winglet under the main wing. It helps relieve the stress on the fragile bolt attachemts and keeps the fingerprints off the visible part of the spoiler (credit: Mr. Midblue on this one)

More, more, more!

[Glau]

DO keep your RPMs high to enjoy the full 968 experience. The car was designed for high RPMs (variocam doesn't even kick in till after 4k or so), so make your car happy and give it what it wants.

Do upgrade to a LSD if you don't already have. A fellow over at R.L..com made a quote I have never been able to forget, "A Porsche without LSD is like a woman without a vagina". A little crude and extreme but gets the point across.

DO NOT leave your car parked for over a week or two (especially in very hot or cold weather) without a trickle charger and expect to return to a battery with enough charge to start your big ole' 3.0L engine. The parasitic current on these cars can be nasty, especially with alarm systems and aftermarket stereos or navigation systems... well you get the point.

[Dirk]

DO NOT leave your car parked for over a week or two (especially in very hot or cold weather) without a trickle charger and expect to return to a battery with enough charge to start your big ole' 3.0L engine.  The parasitic current on these cars can be nasty, especially with alarm systems and aftermarket stereos or navigation systems... well you get the point.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mwah, I frequently leave mine at the airport for up to 6 weeks, even in winter it is no problem with a good battery

[Glau]

Mwah, I frequently leave mine at the airport for up to 6 weeks, even in winter it is no problem with a good battery

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Bleh, well that's good to know. I had read about other 968 owners complaining of batteries draining quickly, so I just assumed when mine did also this was something normal for the model. The OP had a highend stereo shop put in a fairly over the top Alpine system in my 968. I will get out the old trusty multimeter and see exactly what is going on with my car and start a new thread about it soonish.

I only drive my 968 for fun to keep the miles low and as I am trying to get as many miles on the BMW as possible (its at 145k now and would like to get it up close to 300k some day). Anyway it would be nice to not have to worry about keeping the battery on the 968 charged if I don't get a chance to take it for a spin weekly.

Anyway, I guess I should add a new DO/DO NOT so I don't get accussed of highjacking this thread

DO NOT assume a problem you and a few others are having with these cars (whether it is poor low end torque, quick battery drains, or funny clutch vibrations) is just status quo for the model.

DO share any problems with your 968 to the online community to get others opinions and advise.

[SILVY968]

DO flush the hydraulic fluid in the clutch system when you flush the brake system.
I just had a clutch pack replacement and when they checked the clutch hydraulic fluid they discovered that when I had the car serviced they did not do the clutch fluids, only the brakes.

DO NOT assume that when you ask to have the hydraulic fluid replaced that they will also do the clutch hydraulics.

[SHA-JR968]

DO: Upgrade your brakes with drilled disks (e.g. Zimmermanns), new pads and stainless steel hoses.

DONT: If not all of the 'anti squeaking plates' are available, do not use (even partial) the old ones.

Joerg

(with 2 used anti sqeak plates in the left rear)

[Silver BLT]

Do protect those expensive Headlights and Driving lights with "Stoneguard" film
Cheap insurance!!!!

Renron

[happysails2you]

DO thank 968 friends for great tips, and referrals to sources! Where can I get "Stoneguard" film for my headlights and driving lights?

Thanks!!!

Do protect those expensive Headlights and Driving lights with "Stoneguard" film
Cheap insurance!!!!

Renron

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[SILVY968]

Invica-Shield
336-838-5947

http://www.invinca-s....asp?lsp_id=784

[sasilverbullet]

DO: Change the belts every 30,000 miles or three years while adjusting them at 1,000 after change, then at 10k, 20k and on the 30k is the belt change. My shop swears by this and they have the track record to prove it!

DON'T: fill your cooling system with the 'green' stuff - we're only supposed to use phosphate free coolant which is ORANGE in color.

[968Z]

No way on the Invinca-Shield. I got a complete StonGard set (headlights and foglights) for $2.00 plus $6.00 S&H from Ebay!