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Rust and the Porsche 993

December 26, 2007

I’ve received a lot of posts and searches to my blog lately on the Porsche 993 and rust. More specifically, people have wanted to know what is the likely-hood of rust forming on a 993? Where is it usually found? What if anything can be done about it?  This article is an attempt to give some answers to those questions in the hope it might help someone else.

  • What is the likelihood of rust forming on a Porsche 993? - The true answer is it depends. What it depends on is where you live and when you drive. 993s for the most part do very well with rust.
  • Where does rust form? -  There are a few known trouble spots that all cars have the potential for (regardless of where and when you drive them).
    • Windshield
    • Door Windows
    • Rear Windows
    • Inside Bottom Mounts where the headlights sit

The problems listed above are usually due to improperly replaced seals or faulty/aged/rotted seals. Let’s face it, even the newest 993s are now going on 10 years old. These seals don’t last forever. And if you have ever had to replace a windscreen or door window, it’s possible that even if the seal was done correctly, they may not have put on the proper coat of rust-proofing paint/primer under the seal to make sure there is no exposed metal.

  • What are the signs? - Finding rust on a 993 is pretty easy as for the most part , the corrosion can’t hide.
    • Finding a leaking windshield is easy as you will get water dripping into the interior on or around your feet. Your mats/rugs may be wet.
    • Door Windows are a bit tougher, but you can usually detect it from a rattling sound when opening and closing the door. I know in my old Jeep GrandWagoneer that the door seals go very easily. One way to drain them is to open the door and hold it open for a minute. This is because the drain seals are fit tight against the lower seal if the door is shut. So opening it allows for better draining. This is true of the 993 as well.
    • It’s easy to tell if the rear window is leaking because you will have water, wet spots or water stains on the rear shelf where the speakers are mounted.
    • The headlights are the tricky part as you need to actually take the assembly out and look for corrosion.

If you live in a cold climate where there is opportunity for snow and salt, or use your car as a daily driver and it gets wet frequently, you are even more likely to have additional rust problems. Some common ones that I have seen are:

  •  
    • support struts
    • any metal part that is exposed and not rust proofed (caps on ball joints)
  • Prevention/What can be done about it? - You need to carefully inspect your car and the seals, especially as it ages.
    • Windshield. You can gently lift up the seals (especially on the lower corners) and look for rust that can’t yet be seen. If rust is already forming, then you need to have the windshield replaced along with the gasket. The key in this replacement process is to get rid of any and all existing rust and to reseal the bare metal prior to replacing the gasket.
    • Door Windows. Keep both your doors open for a minute or two after getting the car wet (either driving in the rain or a car wash). This will allow the doors to properly drain in the event the seal is no good. Pay close attention to the passenger side as it may not be used as much and you may not notice it.
    • Rear Window. Same as the windshield.
    • Inside Bottom Mounts (headlights). You can take headlights out and look for corrosion. This can happen if the car is driven in wet conditions frequently. Does anyone know how to tighten this seal to not allow moisture in?

The info above is not meant to be comprehensive, so if anyone reading has additional information, please feel free to pitch in using the comment function or email me at johnsirving@gmail.com

Written by 993C4S · Filed Under Porsche Mainenance Tips | Leave a Comment 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

December 25, 2007

Well, I had a pre-written entry all set to post automatically, but not sure what happened to it.  I just got home from all the festivities and realized that no post had ever gone up today.  Technology is a wonderful thing; it always does what you tell it to do, never what you want it to do!

Anyway, very nice day today (but secretly glad it is over).  I’ve been spending a lot of time over at Rennlist lately and I have to say, I now know why I haven’t spent more time there in the past.  Not only is it a bit addictive, my head is spinning with possible mods for my 993 (more on this in a later post). 

 My friends and family were very generous with me this year (I hope they feel the same way about me).  I received way too many great gifts.  However, two of them get top billing here:

1. Porsche 911: Perfection by Design by Randy Leffingwell. Thanks Andrew!

2. A renewal on my subscription to Excellence Magazine.  Thanks Booge! 

The book mentioned above will end up on my coffee table (after it comes off the night stand).  This is my first exposure to books by Randy Leffingwell.  I did a bit of research on his stuff tonight and he seems to be well read in the Porsche community so many of you may already be familiar with his work.  The book itself has a great history, starting with the 901 right up to the 997 (great section on the 993 as well).  I have to say, what I like the most are the photos and the short non-technical history.

Anyway, Merry Christmas Everyone!  Looking forward to posting more about my upcoming mods and also looking forward to any suggestions on possible mods.

Written by 993C4S · Filed Under Miscellaneous | Leave a Comment 

Porsche 993TT vs. 997TT

December 24, 2007

The following was posted on Rennlist yesterday by eclou. I am reprinting it here with permission from the author. I thought this was a nice, short comparison of two iconic cars and the fact that the 993 won out makes it all the better.

Having had the 993tt for a couple of weeks now and the 997tt for a year, I have had a chance to formulate some opinions of the differences/similarities between the 2 cars.

Body - the 993tt is a visual treat. Very sensual lines in a tidy package that is not overly garish. The shape of the car itself is pleasing to the eye and needs no tacky add-ons to make it a stunner. The 997tt is larger and more modern appearing, but has lost some of the distinctive lines. The 997tt looks like it needs some additional “flair” to catch the eye.

Interior - the 993tt has a nice “cockpit” feel, with the more upright windshield allowing the best visibility possible in a sportscar. Switchwork while not as ergonomic certainly still has a quality tactile feel. The materials are high in quality and the interior has held up very well to time. The 997tt interior has a better layout for the driver to reach all the controls, quality is high save for the annoying volcano-grey plastic trim paint.

Suspension - the 993tt HD/M030 setup is extremely compliant and great for a daily driver. It gives up very little comfort to a Mercedes, yet is amazingly free of waddle in cornering. This combo outshines any of the comfort/performance duality that BMW is so famous for in its sports sedans. The 997tt suspension feels tighter and more edgy. Turn-in is much crisper with less softness to the handling. Some of this may be attributable to the 19″ roadwheels and short profile tires, but still the 997 setup is the sharper tool.

Engine - the 993tt motor is smooth, competent but not shocking anymore. There is mild lag and smooth firm torque thru the gears. The 997tt motor is much stronger and has more perceptible off-throttle lag, most likely since it is boosting to 1.2bar.

Overall the 993tt is a delight. I find myself reaching for these keys more than the 997tt. The car feels tight even at 75k miles. It does not rattle (I fixed the squeaking windshield trim with caulk filler foam), and the appearance is simply classic and majestic in a way that could never be dated (at the same time it could never be called garish). It is the “favorite blue jeans” vs the “chic European slacks” of the 997tt. I love this combo far more than the 997gt3/tt combo.

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Rennlist #040131-4711

I’m really interested in continuing this category of comparison rides. If any of you out there would like to contribute and have done a comparison of your 993 to anything else, let me know. You can either contact me directly at johnsirving@gmail.com or by leaving comments right on the blog. My intent is to continue to give you my comparisons, as the opportunity allows. However, living in the NorthEast, my cars are away for the winter as are most of the cars of my friends that I would compare it too.

Written by 993C4S · Filed Under Porsche vs. | Leave a Comment 

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