...could it still possibly be the clutch accumulator if the steering is also difficult? Also it doesn't seem to get better as the car warms up, both are very difficult all the time. Any thoughts?

Thanks!!

-Ray

 

Accumulator, they are linked together. Check the fluid and also for leaks under the bonnet.

 

In the same vein as the previous post... Clutch and PS use the same hydraulic system. A symptom of this problem is that the PS level in the reservoir on the front firewall is too high, or even overflowing. Check the fluid level in the engine compartment as described in the users manual (as I recall, it's cold engine, run 30 seconds, turn off and check dipstick).

Changing the accumulator is a PITA, and there have been several of us who had it done and it wasn't made tight enough, causing a leak. You'll see a pool of green Pentosin under the car near the center of the rear axle. It can drip onto exhaust, and it is flammable, so be careful of this. Mikelly had a thread on this.

Good luck.

Jon

 

Thanks guys!

Sadly I've already lost one 996TT to a Pentosin fire back in late '04...I'm not looking for a repeat performance! (In the archives) Long story short I had a reoccurring whine from the power steering system, it was serviced once for this and I had another appointment scheduled for 3 days after the events below...but unfortunately it didn’t make it. I was driving to my summer home on a Friday afternoon, made a u turn to run into a store on the way out of town and the car immediately lost hydraulic pressure and started smoking. Pulled over and ran to the back of the car, fluid was dripping steadily from the right side of the engine compartment and it there were flames coming from the fluid. There was a 250 yard trail of Pentosin on the ground from where I made a u-turn to the car's final resting place. Grabbed my bag from the back seat, ran across the street and called 911...and that was all she wrote.

According to the automotive forensic expert hired by insurance, a fitting failed at the hydraulic pump and the fluid ignited on the Turbo as it was dripping down (just as in the recall). Insurance ended up totaling it and Porsche denied all responsibility and did nothing for me...initially because I had a K40 radar system 'that could have shorted' (which my Porsche dealer recommended and outsourced before i picked the car up) and then later in the battle because I had topped off the Pentosin myself while on vacation with the car in FL because the whine came back (at the recommendation of the service department of the most well known dealership in S Florida, perhaps the country.) The car was a 2002 996TT with 18k miles I had custom ordered, multiple winner of local PCA Concours in immaculate condition and completely stock mechanically...just some little stuff like a short shifter and K40 Radar which still bit me in the ***!

I will have the car towed to the local Porsche Indy to get the accumulator replaced...

 

You are right. One thing though, I know it's been said before and Mikelly's car burning and all that. Is Pentosin flammable? I tried setting it on fire with open flame - no go. It wouldn't burn. Let's discuss...

 

As I commented in another thread you just posted in, Pentosin has a "high" flash point. A bic lighter may not provide enough surface area or heat soak to set it off like a HOT turbo or HOT catalytic converter.

Mike

 

Ok, so I checked the Pentosin level and it was bone dry. Added some to bring it up to the required level, and now the power steering and clutch have pressure again....but it has the dread power steering whine now!! Would the clutch accumulator valve still fix this?? Any advice??

THANKS!! Ray

 

Well, the Pentosin went somewhere. You need to figure out where it went before going much further. Maybe running the system dry did some damage, but I really don't know.

Jon

 

Ray,

Go to a good shop/dealer ASAP. Tow it. I would not drive it personally. You are playing with fire, literally. The price of these parts is not low.... it sounds like your reservoir is toast.


Good luck. AAA will do this for free as you can claim it is undriveable (fire risk)....your call on who you trust to tow your AWD super low supercar....I'd contact the dealer for ideas....

JB

 

Definitely getting it towed in guys. I backed it out of the warehouse and checked the clutch and steering then pulled it back in...let it sit for a half hour and there was a puddle of Pentosin under the car, great! Good thing I didn't take it for a spirited test drive, heat up the turbos, and likely burn down 996 Turbo #2!

This is on a 996TT I just picked up mind you...not the other Black '02 I purchased new that actually did catch on fire from the Pentosin leak...