Mags

I'm new in the world of Porsche and I have recently began probing the market for a 996 C2.

Looking at pictures of the engine bay, I have noticed that the component in the lower left corner (marked with a red arrow in the picture below) is there in some cars while missing in others.



So my first question simply is - what component/system is this (part of)?

Further questions (may or may not be obvious to me when I know the answer of the first question ) - would the presence of this component be model year specific, option specific or else?

Any enlightenment is much appreciated.

5CHN3LL

Secondary air injection pump. It's a smog component. Definitely required on California cars; I believe it's required on all US-destined cars since all US cars are homologated to CA emissions. It's a blower that adds additional air (and thus more oxygen) to the exhaust stream while the catalytic converters are getting up to temp to ensure "fuller combustion of exhaust gases" and to get the catalysts up to temp more quickly.

If you get a RoW (Rest of world - i.e. anywhere that ISN'T the US) reflash on a car equipped with the SAI pump, you can delete the smog pump and related plumbing.

There are a couple of such items for US-spec cars - I believe the US-Spec '98/'99 C4 has a fuel cooler, while it was not required for non-US markets.

You will also see references to M030 suspension kits being RoW or US-spec. The US has peculiar requirements about ride height, distance of the headlights from the ground, etc.

Mags

That was quick, thank you! Very helpful info.

JMLavoie

Canadian cars will have those as well: US Spec usually means US/CAN Specs.
We are too small to be North American separatists.

5CHN3LL

If you'd stop using metric and start pronouncing 'z' properly, we'd go ahead and annex you as state 51...South Alaska.

Cuda911

By the way, that pump is what makes the funny sound for a few seconds after the car is started.

Woodman71

The slide whistle noise?

Slakker

Cuz goodness knows inches, feet and miles make a lot more since than cm, meter, kilometer. If we don't start getting better presidential candidates Canada might just annex us! Well, the US minus Texas.

Although I've been trying to think of a way for the 49 states to secede from The United State of Texas and saddle them with our national debt. I just haven't thought of what we'd name the new country yet. Taking California with us would be the out big concession at the bargaining table.... Wait, there isn't anyone from California or Texas on here is there?

5CHN3LL

Totally. Getting rid of oil and timber from TX and the tech industry in CA would leave you with everything you need for an EPIC 3rd world country.

Slakker

Hmmm. It's like the ramps thread, just give me a minute and I'll think of something..... Nope, still got nothing.

Cuda911