Just to share with you all, and to hear your thoughts on aspects of the service.
After a major service, the car was driven for ~150 miles, and it was then discovered that brake fluid was flowing out of a bleed valve, down the caliper and all over the front rim.
A Porsche technical document states "If the front wheel brake fails, the deceleration is less, due to the relief of the rear axle. In addition, the vehicle may swerve due to locking up of the rear wheels.”
After taking the wheel off for cleaning (as brake fluid is corrosive), it was discovered that the inner bleed valves hadn’t been opened. Bleeding all these valves is mentioned multiple times in the official service manual.
According to technical documentation, old brake fluid has increased moisture levels and this causes the boiling point to lower. When brake fluid boils, steam bubbles form and it is difficult or impossible to exert any force to the brakes and will result in brake failure. In addition, vapour pockets can occur causing a spongy pedal. So therein is a subtle and serious safety issue.
The brake failure and missed service items were reported to Porsche, and the car was collected some five days later. After replacing all bleed valves, correctly bleeding the brakes, plus some other work the car was returned.
All should have been well at this stage, but the saga continued – After ~20 miles, during acceleration, a pop and whoosh was heard, followed by an immediate loss of power. It was then discovered that a turbo to intercooler pipe had blown off.
Pictures of the clip the technician refitted:
This was not picked up on when the car was initially serviced, nor the second time when the car was returned to correct the initial batch of problems; the car had to go in for a third time.
What would have happened had the vehicle been overtaking when this hose blew off?
Looking back, these three safety issues were concurrently present after the initial service. Two adults and an unborn child were in the car for much of the 150 miles driven afterwards.
After a major service, the car was driven for ~150 miles, and it was then discovered that brake fluid was flowing out of a bleed valve, down the caliper and all over the front rim.
A Porsche technical document states "If the front wheel brake fails, the deceleration is less, due to the relief of the rear axle. In addition, the vehicle may swerve due to locking up of the rear wheels.”
After taking the wheel off for cleaning (as brake fluid is corrosive), it was discovered that the inner bleed valves hadn’t been opened. Bleeding all these valves is mentioned multiple times in the official service manual.
According to technical documentation, old brake fluid has increased moisture levels and this causes the boiling point to lower. When brake fluid boils, steam bubbles form and it is difficult or impossible to exert any force to the brakes and will result in brake failure. In addition, vapour pockets can occur causing a spongy pedal. So therein is a subtle and serious safety issue.
The brake failure and missed service items were reported to Porsche, and the car was collected some five days later. After replacing all bleed valves, correctly bleeding the brakes, plus some other work the car was returned.
All should have been well at this stage, but the saga continued – After ~20 miles, during acceleration, a pop and whoosh was heard, followed by an immediate loss of power. It was then discovered that a turbo to intercooler pipe had blown off.
Pictures of the clip the technician refitted:
This was not picked up on when the car was initially serviced, nor the second time when the car was returned to correct the initial batch of problems; the car had to go in for a third time.
What would have happened had the vehicle been overtaking when this hose blew off?
Looking back, these three safety issues were concurrently present after the initial service. Two adults and an unborn child were in the car for much of the 150 miles driven afterwards.