I'll start with the dreaded "Spoiler Failure" warning.
The 996tt has a spoiler on the rear that rises about 2 1/2 inches when the car reaches 75 mph. It came from the factory with a hydraulic actuation system. The factory system will break down - not an "if", but a "when". You will know when this happens mainly because you will get a huge red "spoiler failure" warning. Opinions vary on the actual effect it has on handling - some say they don't notice the difference, others say it is dangerous to drive the car much faster than 75 mph with a broken system. Oftentimes, you will find a 996tt listed for sale with a broken spoiler actuator. The options are to:
1. Take it back to the dealer for repair. They will replace the system at a cost of around $2,500 to $3,000. And it will break again in the future. This was the only "fix" until a few years ago.
2. Replace it with an electric actuation system called an "e-ram" by a small, enthusiast-owned company called Rennkit. You can find them at [url]
http://rennkit.com[\url] . This is the option I took and am very pleased with it. It is actually an upgrade as it adds functionality and the rise height can be increased to as much a 4 inches (stock being 2.5). It is considered a permanent fix that won't (or at least shouldn't) break in the future. Although cheaper than a fix at the dealer, it still is pricey, at between $1,500 and $1,800, depending on how you configure it. Plus you still need to install it yourself or pay someone to do it (but it is a pretty easy DIY).
3. Re-bleed the system yourself. There are several people who have successfully re-bled the system and gotten it to work again. The DIY is not difficult and only takes a couple of hours. But, if you have a broken part or a leak in your system, it won't help for long. And be prepared for it to happen again in the future.
4. Repair the system with parts from ultimatemotorwerks.com . This is a recent solution, introduced in 2017. Contact the inventor at
kevin@ultimatemotorwerks.com
5. Place the spoiler at a fixed height. There is an inexpensive kit sold on ebay that essentially locks the spoiler into a fixed position. It is basically just a bag of nuts, bolts and washers, but it works. You will continue to get the annoying "spoiler failure" warnings unless you buy an electronic module to override the warnings. Rennkit will sell you the module, but they do not sell the fixed wing height kits.
6. Replace the factory spoiler with an aftermarket, fixed spoiler. The most common option is a GT2 replica wing, which generally replaces not only the wing, but also the engine cover. But there are several various options available. With painting and bodywork, these can get pricey.
7. Ignore the problem and do nothing. Surprisingly (and disappointingly), this is a popular option. The biggest downsides are potentially having hydraulic fluid ruin the paint finish on the rear of your car (it will likely leak onto the paint) and instability at speeds above 75 mph. And of course, the annoying "spoiler failure" warnings.