I finally solved a long running turbo boost problem. My problem was intermittent but significant. There were times where I would step on the gas and get full boost and others when the car would totally bog. I checked for boost leaks, checked diverter valves, replaced plugs and coil packs and boost solenoids and finally waste gates all with no resolution. Very Frustrating.

Then finally on the third trip to the shop, they found the problem. My Europipe Stage II quiet exhaust was at fault. The cat discs in the cats had come loose and were sometimes oriented correctly while at other times they rotated 90 degrees and where blocking the exhaust. Crazy problem. I will try to upload a picture.

So with all of this, I have to say that my Tuners, Dave and Tony at EPL were incredibly supportive. They took my car in on short notice and got me back out in time to make my next track event and they were very reasonable in charging me for diagnostic time and working the problem even when it was hard to replicate. Also, once identified, Europipe totally stood behind the product and repaired it for free, including round trip rush shipping. This was a great lesson in using a good tuner you can trust and buying quality parts from companies who stand behind them.

So in closing, thank you Dave and Tony, and thank you Europipe for being real professionals and standing behind your products. Service like this is not easy to come by these days and I for one certainly appreciate it.

 

i am not a realy fan of europipe...heavy..and make a lot heat under the engine...

 

Glad you got that sorted out!! Looks like the wrap that goes around the catalyst brick got blown out. That happens sometimes when you don't get the brick hot enough the first time out and you really romp on it. The mat has to get "set" and you do that with a good warm up cycle. Cold weather can also play a role in not getting the mat set.

Jon
(Works for Magnaflow Exhaust Components)

 

Nice to hear that all is fine now.

If the cats were the initial problem then you should have gotten a CEL from the very beginning. I've informed you that the damage on the cats is due to backfires and that the backfires are caused by ignition problems.
At least it's good to see that you have replaced the coil packs and the plugs.

This is the first time that we had a cat failure or any type of failure on a 996 Turbo exhaust sold in the U.S.

Enjoy your car!

 

Does the brick show signs of melting? Just a casual interested observer.

Thanks!

 

stef, are you saying there is an issue with the tuning and that is what caused the the cats to give in ?

 

Not an issue with the tuning but an issue with failing coil packs and plugs.

With erratic ignitions the unburned fuel gets into the exhaust and explodes inside the cats.

Had the same issue over here a couple of years ago. Customer goes to the dealer because his engine is shaking a bit while driving. The Porsche dealer's diagnosis is bad coil packs but the customer is in a hurry and keeps driving.

Customer comes back to the dealer after two weeks with a CEL: both cats exploded.

 

Bricks are too damaged to show anything. No mats with these metal cats.

 

Interesting failure mode.

Kudos to Stef and EP for fixing this and supporting the product.

These puppies (ie the cats they use) are NOT cheap!

A

 

Ah, understood. I thought it was a ceramic brick. Great info! Thanks for sharing!

 

Glad it all worked out. And I agree with buy quality and use a good shop. My question is how did you not hear the cat rattling around? also did you get a cell for the cat's? Or are the rear o2's shut off?