hi folks, just bought a 2004 996TT and had a few questions. i'm trying to learn a little bit more about the car and think this is the best resource for answers. 1. when i put in the clutch, there is a faint clicking noise behind the dash. it sounds like a switch or something. when i put the clutch in a certain amount, the "tick" or "click" occurs. what is that? almost sounds like an electronic click or something. 2. i have owned a few turbo-charged cars (1994 3rd Gen RX-7 and 2005 Volvo S-60R) and the turbos always had a high pitch whining noise. The turbos in the 996TT almost sound like a hoofing noise or LOW pitch vacuum suck. is this normal? thanks a bunch for the information. -steve

 

You talking of the start interlock ("idiot switch") that doesn't allow the car to be started without the clutch fully depressed?

 

I'm sure that's what he is hearing. These cars switches are much louder than anything I've ever driven...

 

The pre 996 cars do not have clutch start idiot switches. (Even back then most of us idiots knew to depress the clutch when starting the car or at least check if the tranny was in neutral) Then Porsche went on a mass marketing binge and thought just perhaps a new group of idiots (born post moon walk .... Apollo 11, 1969...... not Michael Jackson, March 1983 ) might not understand this somewhat arcane method of starting a car. Since this was Porsche first experience, they made the switches extra loud. I still miss non power assist steering, non power assist brakes, , blaupunkt radios that didn't get any channels, a heater that smelled like the exhaust, and real gauges. Maybe I'll go buy a 356.

Regarding the Turbo sound, check your diverters, they may have failed. Very common problem. Replace them with billets, they don't fail.

 

BTW, I grew up in Europe with a generation of cars that didn't have them. It took me a while to get used to cars with the switches. And one time i've got to admit I was the idiot, the switch saved my bacon when I was working on the car and for some reason left it in gear

 

oooh. i think that is exactly what i am asking about.<br>

how about the turbos? are they supposed to sound like a low pitch vacuum (as opposed to a high pitch whining noise like my previous turbocharged cars)?

 

^ I couldn't heard the turbos on my stock 996, just sounded like a vacuum cleaner on crack (similar to a stock FD).

 

With my current exhaust and 100 cell cats I can hear them whistle, before that not. You could have a leak in the piping get noises from that. The stock diverter valves (as Duane said) are crap, they are known to "honk" when leaking by.

 

I just got a new 2001 and was bothered by the same clicking noise. Very unusual as I've never noticed this click on any of my other lesser quality cars.

I was paranoid they maybe missed something on my PPI at the dealer.